Anat. and Zool. ? Obs. Also 7, 9 verteber. [a. F. vertèbre: see VERTEBRA. In sense 1 ad. L. vertebrum.]

1

  † 1.  The rounded top of the thigh-bone. Obs.–1

2

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., I v. The endes of the bones of the thyghes, called vertebres.

3

  2.  = VERTEBRA 1.

4

  α.  1578.  Banister, Hist. Man, I. 19 b. The first Vertebre … of the necke is more solid,… then all the bones els of the backe.

5

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., 9. That part of the neck which is next to the Atlantick Vertebre.

6

1692.  Ray, Disc., 109. The Vertebres of Thornbacks and other Cartilagineous Fishes.

7

1738.  Phil. Trans., XL. 37. The upper extremity of the medulla spinalis, in the first vertebre of the neck. Ibid. (1769), LX. 32. A kitten … had its head cut off betwixt the first and second vertebre of the neck.

8

1834.  Caunter, Orient. Ann., viii. 107. A morah, or footstool, formed of a vertebre of some huge creature. Ibid., 108. The attendants brought away the jaw and half a dozen of the vertebres.

9

  β.  1828–32.  Webster, Verteber.

10

a. 1843.  Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VII. 292/2. The spine consists of a set of consecutive, cartilaginous, horny pieces,… called Vertebers.

11

  † 3.  The spine; = VERTEBRA 2. Obs.–0

12

1623.  Cockeram, I. Verteber, the chine or backe bone.

13

  † b.  pl. = prec. Obs.–0

14

1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), Vertebers, the whole Ridge of the Back-Bone.

15