Where does “Spica” come from?

Spica (English) comes from Latin spīca, from Proto-Italic speikā, from Proto-Indo-European spey- — sharp point, stick.

Spica (English): A binary star in the constellation Virgo; alpha (α) Virginis

Definitions

  1. A binary star in the constellation Virgo; alpha (α) Virginis

Ancestry of “Spica”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinspīcaa head, ear, spike
2Proto-Italicspeikā—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanspey-sharp point, stick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European spey- →Every word from Proto-Italic speikā →Every word from Latin spīca →