[ad. mod.L. cuspidāt-us, f. cuspid-em CUSP. In mod.F. cuspidé.]
Having a cusp or sharp point. spec. a. Bot. Of leaves: Ending in a rigid point or spine. b. Applied to the canine teeth, each of which ends in a single point; a name first given by J. Hunter.
1692. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (1693), 157/1. Parasentesis … a Perforation of the Chest and Abdomen through a cuspidate Channel.
[1771. J. Hunter, Nat. Hist. Teeth, Wks. 1835, II. 21. I choose to divide them [teeth] into the four following classes viz. Incisores, commonly called fore teeth; Cuspidati, vulgarly called canine; Bicuspides, or the first two grinders; and Molares, or the last three teeth.]
1835. Lindley, Introd. Bot. (1848), II. 356. Cuspidate, tapering gradually to a rigid point. It is also used sometimes to express abruptly acuminate.
1848. Dana, Zooph., 485. Long cuspidate branches.
1882. Syd. Soc. Lex., Cuspidate teeth, the canine teeth, so called from their shape.
