n. (pl. rachides)
1. Bot. a a stem of grass etc. bearing flower-stalks at short intervals. b the axis of a compound leaf or frond.
2 Anat. the vertebral column or the cord from which it develops.
3 Zool. a feather-shaft, esp. the part bearing the barbs.
Derivatives:
rachidial adj.
Etymology: mod.L f. Gk rhakhis spine: the E pl. -ides is erron.