Spaghetti Spa·ghet"ti noun [ Italian ] A variety or macaroni made in tubes of small diameter.

Spagyric Spa·gyr"ic noun A spagyrist. [ Obsolete] Bp. Hall.

Spagyric, Spagyrical Spa·gyr"ic, Spa·gyr"ic·al adjective [ Late Latin sparygicus , from Greek ... to draw, to separate + ... to assemble; confer French spagirique .] Chemical; alchemical. [ Obsolete]

Spagyrist Spag"y·rist noun [ Confer French spagiriste .] 1. A chemist, esp. one devoted to alchemistic pursuits. [ Obsolete]

2. One of a sect which arose in the days of alchemy, who sought to discover remedies for disease by chemical means. The spagyrists historically preceded the iatrochemists. Encyc. Brit.

Spahi Spa"hi Spa"hee noun [ Persian , Turk., & Hind. sipāhī : confer French spahi . See Seroy .] 1. Formerly, one of the Turkish cavalry.

2. An Algerian cavalryman in the French army.

Spaid Spaid noun See 1st Spade .

Spake Spake archaic imperfect of Speak .

Spakenet Spake"net` noun [ Etymol. uncertain.] A net for catching crabs. Halliwell.

Spaky Spak"y adjective Specky. [ Obsolete] hapman.

Spalding knife Spald"ing knife` A spalting knife.

Spale Spale noun [ Confer Spell a splinter.] 1. A lath; a shaving or chip, as of wood or stone. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. (Shipbuilding) A strengthening cross timber.

Spall Spall noun [ Old French espaule ; confer Italian spalla . See Epaule .] The shoulder. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Spall Spall noun [ Prov. English spall , spell . See Spale , Spell a splinter.] A chip or fragment, especially a chip of stone as struck off the block by the hammer, having at least one feather-edge.

Spall Spall transitive verb 1. (Mining) To break into small pieces, as ore, for the purpose of separating from rock. Pryce.

2. (Masonry) To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering.

Spall Spall intransitive verb To give off spalls, or wedge-shaped chips; -- said of stone, as when badly set, with the weight thrown too much on the outer surface.

Spalpeen Spal"peen noun [ Ir. spailpin , from spailp a beau, pride, self-conceit.] A scamp; an Irish term for a good-for-nothing fellow; -- often used in good-humored contempt or ridicule. [ Colloq.]

Spalt Spalt noun [ Confer German spalt stein, from spalten to split. See 1st Spell .] (Metal.) Spelter. [ Colloq.]

Spalt Spalt adjective [ See 1st Spell .] 1. Liable to break or split; brittle; as, spalt timber. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. Heedless; clumsy; pert; saucy. [ Prov. Eng.]

Spalt Spalt transitive verb & i. [ Confer Middle English spalden . See Spalt , adjective ] To split off; to cleave off, as chips from a piece of timber, with an ax. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.]

Spalting knife Spalt"ing knife` A knife used in splitting codfish. [ Written also spalding knife .]

Span Span archaic imperfect & past participle of Spin .

Span Span noun [ Anglo-Saxon spann ; akin to Dutch span , Old High German spanna , German spanne , Icelandic spönn . √170. See Span , transitive verb ] 1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.

2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.

Yet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound.

Pope.

Life's but a span ; I'll every inch enjoy.

Farquhar.

3. The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.

4. (Nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.

5. [ Confer Dutch span , Swedish spann , Danish spænd , German gespann . See Span , transitive verb ] A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.

Span blocks (Nautical) , blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards. -- Span counter , an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters. Halliwell. "Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns." Shak. -- Span iron (Nautical) , a special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat. -- Span roof , a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides. Gwilt. -- Span shackle (Nautical) , a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Span Span transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spanned ; present participle & verbal noun Spanning .] [ Anglo-Saxon pannan ; akin to D. & German spannen , Old High German spannan , Swedish spänna , Danish spænde , Icelandic spenna , and perhaps to Greek ... to draw, to drag, Latin spatium space. √170. Confer Spin , transitive verb , Space , Spasm .] 1. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.

My right hand hath spanned the heavens.

Isa. xiviii. 13.

2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.

The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.

prescott.

3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.

Span Span intransitive verb To be matched, as horses. [ U. S.]

Span-new Span"-new` adjective [ Icelandic spānn...r , properly, new as a ship just split; spānn chip + n...r new. See Spoon , and New .] Quite new; brand-new; fire-new. "A span- new archbishop's chair." Fuller.

Spancel Span"cel noun [ Perhaps span + Anglo-Saxon sāl a rope.] A rope used for tying or hobbling the legs of a horse or cow. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Grose.

Spancel Span"cel transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spanceled or Spancelled ; present participle & verbal noun Spanceling or Spancelling .] To tie or hobble with a spancel. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Malone.

Spandogs Span"dogs` noun plural A pair of grappling dogs for hoisting logs and timber.

Spandrel Span"drel noun [ From Span .] 1. (Architecture) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the inclosing right angle; or the space between the outer moldings of two contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch above and inclosing them.

2. A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture. [ Cant]

Spane Spane transitive verb [ Akin to German spänen , LG. & Dutch spennen , Anglo-Saxon spanu a teat.] To wean. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.]

Spang Spang transitive verb To spangle. [ Obsolete]

Spang Spang intransitive verb To spring; to bound; to leap. [ Scot.]

But when they spang o'er reason's fence,
We smart for't at our own expense.

Ramsay.

Spang Spang noun A bound or spring. [ Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Spang Spang noun [ Anglo-Saxon spange a clasp or fastening; akin to Dutch spang , German spange , Old High German spanga , Icelandic spöng a spangle.] A spangle or shining ornament. [ Obsolete]

With glittering spangs that did like stars appear.

Spenser.

Spangle Span"gle noun [ Middle English spangel , dim. of Anglo-Saxon spange . See Spang a spangle.] 1. A small plate or boss of shining metal; something brilliant used as an ornament, especially when stitched on the dress.

2. Figuratively, any little thing that sparkless. "The rich spangles that adorn the sky." Waller.

Oak spangle . See under Oak .

Spangle Span"gle transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spangled ; present participle & verbal noun Spangling .] To set or sprinkle with, or as with, spangles; to adorn with small, distinct, brilliant bodies; as, a spangled breastplate. Donne.

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty?

Shak.

Spangled coquette (Zoology) , a tropical humming bird ( Lophornis reginæ ). See Coquette , 2.

Spangle Span"gle intransitive verb To show brilliant spots or points; to glisten; to glitter.

Some men by feigning words as dark as mine
Make truth to spangle , and its rays to shine.

Bunyan.

Spangler Span"gler noun One who, or that which, spangles.

Spangly Span"gly adjective Resembling, or consisting of, spangles; glittering; as, spangly light.

Spaniard Span"iard noun A native or inhabitant of Spain.

Spaniel Span"iel noun [ Old French espagneul , French épagneul , espagnol Spanish, Spanish españnol , from España Spain, from Latin Hispania .] 1. (Zoology) One of a breed of small dogs having long and thick hair and large drooping ears. The legs are usually strongly feathered, and the tail bushy. See Illust. under Clumber , and Cocker .

» There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels , are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under Blenheim ). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers , and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber ). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence.

As a spaniel she will on him leap.

Chaucer.

2. A cringing, fawning person. Shak.

Spaniel Span"iel adjective Cringing; fawning. Shak.

Spaniel Span"iel intransitive verb To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [ R.] Churchill.

Spaniel Span"iel transitive verb To follow like a spaniel. [ R.]

Spanish Span"ish adjective Of or pertaining to Spain or the Spaniards.

Spanish bayonet (Botany) , a liliaceous plant ( Yucca alorifolia ) with rigid spine-tipped leaves. The name is also applied to other similar plants of the Southwestern United States and mexico. Called also Spanish daggers . -- Spanish bean (Botany) See the Note under Bean . -- Spanish black , a black pigment obtained by charring cork. Ure. -- Spanish broom (Botany) , a leguminous shrub ( Spartium junceum ) having many green flexible rushlike twigs. -- Spanish brown , a species of earth used in painting, having a dark reddish brown color, due to the presence of sesquioxide of iron. -- Spanish buckeye (Botany) , a small tree ( Ungnadia speciosa ) of Texas, New Mexico, etc., related to the buckeye, but having pinnate leaves and a three-seeded fruit. -- Spanish burton (Nautical) , a purchase composed of two single blocks. A double Spanish burton has one double and two single blocks. Luce (Textbook of Seamanship). -- Spanish chalk (Min.) , a kind of steatite; -- so called because obtained from Aragon in Spain. -- Spanish cress (Botany) , a cruciferous plant ( lepidium Cadamines ), a species of peppergrass. -- Spanish curiew (Zoology) , the long-billed curlew. [ U.S.] -- Spanish daggers (Botany) See Spanish bayonet . -- Spanish elm (Botany) , a large West Indian tree ( Cordia Gerascanthus ) furnishing hard and useful timber. -- Spanish feretto , a rich reddish brown pigment obtained by calcining copper and sulphur together in closed crucibles. -- Spanish flag (Zoology) , the California rockfish ( Sebastichthys rubrivinctus ). It is conspicuously colored with bands of red and white. -- Spanish fly (Zoology) , a brilliant green beetle, common in the south of Europe, used for raising blisters. See Blister beetle under Blister , and Cantharis . -- Spanish fox (Nautical) , a yarn twisted against its lay. -- Spanish grass . (Botany) See Esparto . -- Spanish juice (Botany) , licorice. -- Spanish leather . See Cordwain . -- Spanish mackerel . (Zoology) (a) A species of mackerel ( Scomber colias ) found both in Europe and America. In America called chub mackerel , big-eyed mackerel , and bull mackerel . (b) In the United States, a handsome mackerel having bright yellow round spots ( Scomberomorus maculatus ), highly esteemed as a food fish. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to other species. See Illust. under Mackerel. -- Spanish main , the name formerly given to the southern portion of the Caribbean Sea, together with the contiguous coast, embracing the route traversed by Spanish treasure ships from the New to the Old World. -- Spanish moss . (Botany) See Tillandsia . -- Spanish needles (Botany) , a composite weed ( Bidens bipinnata ) having achenia armed with needlelike awns. -- Spanish nut (Botany) , a bulbous plant ( Iris Sisyrinchium ) of the south of Europe. -- Spanish potato (Botany) , the sweet potato. See under Potato . -- Spanish red , an ocherous red pigment resembling Venetian red, but slightly yellower and warmer. Fairholt. -- Spanish reef (Nautical) , a knot tied in the head of a jib-headed sail. -- Spanish sheep (Zoology) , a merino. -- Spanish white , an impalpable powder prepared from chalk by pulverizing and repeated washings, -- used as a white pigment. -- Spanish windlass (Nautical) , a wooden roller, with a rope wound about it, into which a marline spike is thrust to serve as a lever.

Spanish Span"ish noun The language of Spain.

Spank Spank transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spanked ; present participle & verbal noun Spanking .] [ Of unknown origin; confer LG. spakken , spenkern , to run and spring about quickly.] To strike, as the breech, with the open hand; to slap.

Spank Spank noun A blow with the open hand; a slap.

Spank Spank intransitive verb To move with a quick, lively step between a trot and gallop; to move quickly. Thackeray.

Spanker Spank"er noun 1. One who spanks, or anything used as an instrument for spanking.

2. (Nautical) The after sail of a ship or bark, being a fore-and-aft sail attached to a boom and gaff; -- sometimes called driver . See Illust. under Sail . Totten.

3. One who takes long, quick strides in walking; also, a fast horse. [ Colloq.]

4. Something very large, or larger than common; a whopper, as a stout or tall person. [ Colloq.]

Spanker boom (Nautical) , a boom to which a spanker sail is attached. See Illust. of Ship .

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