From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
spiny
adj 1: having spines; "the dorsal fin is spinous" [syn:
spinous, spiny] [ant: spineless]
2: having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines
or thorns or setae etc.; "a horse with a short bristly mane";
"bristly shrubs"; "burred fruits"; "setaceous whiskers" [syn:
barbed, barbellate, briary, briery, bristled,
bristly, burred, burry, prickly, setose,
setaceous, spiny, thorny]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Spiny \Spin"y\, a. [From Spine.]
1. Full of spines; thorny; as, a spiny tree.
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2. Like a spine in shape; slender. "Spiny grasshoppers sit
chirping." --Chapman.
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3. Fig.: Abounding with difficulties or annoyances.
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The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy. --Bp.
Warburton.
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Spiny lobster. (Zool.) Same as Rock lobster, under
Rock. See also Lobster.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Spiny \Spin"y\, n.
See Spinny.
[1913 Webster]