Where does “spinetail” come from?

spinetail (English) comes from English spine, from Middle English spyne, from Old French espine, from Latin spīna, from Proto-Italic speinā, from Proto-Indo-European spēy- — to stretch; thrive; succeed.

spinetail (English): Any of several species of swifts of Acanthylis,...

Definitions

  1. Any of several species of swifts of Acanthylis,...

Ancestry of “spinetail”, step by step

spinetail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English spine

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspineThe series of bones situated at the back from the...
2Middle EnglishspyneA spine
3Old Frenchespinespine; backbone; spine; spike
4Latinspīnaa thorn or a thorny tree or shrub, such as whitethorn, hawthorn, or blackthorn
5Proto-Italicspeināthorn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanspēy-to stretch; thrive; succeed

via English Tail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishTailA Chinese constellation coinciding with the tail of Scorpius, one of the 28 lunar mansions and the tail of Azure Dragon
2Middle EnglishtaylA tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A...
3Old Englishtæġltail
4Proto-Germanictagląhair; ponytail; hair of a tail; tail
5Proto-Indo-Europeandoḱ-hair of the tail
6Proto-Indo-Europeandeḱ-take; perceive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European spēy-