An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Any of numerous vertical → spikes of → gas visible in the → monochromatic light of certain strong → spectral lines beyond the → Sun’s limb. Spicules are short-lived phenomena, corresponding to rising → jets of gas that move upward at about 30km/sec up to 10,000 km and last only about 10 minutes.

Etymology (EN): From L. spiculum “spearhead, arrowhead, bee stinger,” from spica “ear of grain” + -ulum, → -ule.

Etymology (PE): Sixak, from six “spur, spit; thorn; any pointed thing.”