n.
Pronunciation: i- ' k ī -n ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ni \ - ˌ n ī \
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek echinos hedgehog, sea urchin ― more at OPHITE
Date: 14th century
1 : SEA URCHIN
2 a : the rounded molding that lies directly beneath the abacus in the capital of a column in the Greek Doric order b : a similar member in other orders