[L. spīca ear of grain, etc.: see SPIKE sb.1 In senses 3 and 4 after Gr. στάχυς.]
† 1. Oil of spica, oil of spike. Obs.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 226. It is good … to comforte þe place wiþ oile of mastic, & oile of spica.
2. Bot. A flower-spike.
1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Spica, the long Tops of Herbs, as of Lavender, &c.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Spica-Nardi, The Ear or Spica, is about the Length and Thickness of a Finger.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., III. iv. (1765), 173. Spica, a Spike, has sessile Flowers that are alternate and dispersed about a common Peduncle that is simple.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Bot., s.v.
1856. Henslow, Dict. Bot. Terms, 177.
3. Astr. A bright star in the constellation Virgo.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Virgo, First of three [stars] under Spica. Ibid., Last, and North of 3 under Spica.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVI. 373/1. Spica (a Virginis), a star of the first magnitude, is in the hand, which holds ears of corn, typical of the harvest.
1886. Sir R. Ball, Story of Heavens, xviii. (1897), 380. There is a fine equilateral triangle, whereof Arcturus and Spica form two of the corners.
4. Surg. A form of bandage, the arrangement of which is suggestive of an ear of wheat or barley. Also attrib.
1731. Bailey (vol. II.), Spica (with Surgeons), a band used in Hernias.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 193. Covering the Wound with a proper Dressing, sustained by the Spica.
1846. Brittan, trans. Malgaigne’s Man. Oper. Surg., 420. A compress [was] laid on the course of the canal, with a spica bandage.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2265/2. Spica,… a form of bandage resembling a spike of barley. The turns of the bandage cross like the letter V, each leaving a portion uncovered.
