echinus

[ ih-kahy-nuhs ]

noun

, plural e·chi·ni [ih-, kahy, -nahy].

1. any sea urchin of the genus Echinus.
2. Architecture.
   1. an ovolo molding, especially one having an outline with several radii or one carved with an egg-and-dart pattern.
   2. the prominent circular molding supporting the abacus of a Doric or Tuscan capital.
   3. Also called cymatium. the circular molding, usually carved with an egg-and-dart pattern, forming part of an Ionic capital between the volutes and under the balteus.

echinus

/ ɪˈkaɪnəs /

noun

1. architect an ovolo moulding between the shaft and the abacus of a Doric column
2. any of the sea urchins of the genus Echinus, such as E. esculentus ( edible sea urchin ) of the Mediterranean

Word History and Origins

Origin of echinus¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin < Greek echînos hedgehog, sea urchin

Word History and Origins

Origin of echinus¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek ekhinos

Example Sentences

The 2¼ miles of raised boardwalks and trails leading from the museum pass fumaroles; geysers; hot springs; colorful pools; boiling mud; Echinus Geyser, the largest known acid-water gusher; and Green Dragon Spring, a sulfur-lined cave filled with emerald-green boiling water that generates so much steam it looks as if the cave is exhaling smoke.

From Washington Post

Credit: When a raindrop hits the inside of a Chrysosplenium echinus flower, it gathers speed, collects a few seeds, and jets back out of the 10-cm-tall plant, landing as far as a meter away.

From Science Magazine

T. Boveri made experiments on the cross-fertilization of non-nucleated fragments of the eggs of Sphaerechinus granularis with spermatozoa of Echinus microtuberculatus, and obtained dwarf larvae with only the paternal characters; but the nature of his experiments was not such as absolutely to exclude doubt.

From Project Gutenberg

The echinus, or sea-urchin, is another species of the class and order vermes, mollusca.

From Project Gutenberg

Zoology: Orb-fish — Echinus, known to the ancients — Hippocampus — Trumpet-fish — Toad-fish — Sea-blubber, and galley-fish — Sea-polypus — Cat-fish — Crabs, oysters, &c.

From Project Gutenberg