aculeus

From Latin aculeus.

aculeus (plural aculei)

1. (botany) A prickle growing on the bark, as in some brambles and roses.
2. A sting.

Derived from ac(us) (“needle”) +‎ -uleus (diminutive suffix).

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /aˈku.le.us/, [aˈkʊ.ɫe.ʊs]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /aˈku.le.us/, [aˈkuː.le.us]

aculeus m (genitive aculeī); second declension

1. sting, spine, thorn

Second declension.

• ăcūlĕus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• aculeus in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• aculeus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• ăcŭlĕus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette, page 26/3
• “aculeus” on page 31/2 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)