Spanker Spank"er noun A small coin. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.]
Spanking Spank"ing adjective 1. Moving with a quick, lively pace, or capable of so doing; dashing. Four spanking grays ready harnessed.
G. Colman, the Younger. 2. Large; considerable. [ Colloq.]
Spanking breeze Spanking breeze (Nautical) , a strong breeze.
Spanless Span"less adjective Incapable of being spanned.
Spanner Span"ner noun 1. One who, or that which, spans. 2. The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee or carbine itself. [ Obsolete]
3. An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench; specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the couplings of hose. 4. plural A contrivance in some of the ealier steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
Spannishing Span"nish·ing noun [ From Old French
espanir to spread, French
épanou... . See
Expand .]
The full blooming of a flower. [ Obsolete]
Rom. of R.
Spanpiece Span"piece noun (Architecture) The collar of a roof; sparpiece.
Spanworm Span"worm` noun (Zoology) The larva of any geometrid moth, as the cankeworm; a geometer; a measuring worm.
Spanæmia Spa·næ"mi·a noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... scarce + ... blood.]
(Medicine) A condition of impoverishment of the blood; a morbid state in which the red corpuscles, or other important elements of the blood, are deficient.
Spanæmic Spa·næ"mic adjective (Medicine) Of or pertaining to spanæmia; having impoverished blood.
Spar Spar noun [ Anglo-Saxon
spær in
spærstān chalkstone; akin to Middle High German
spar , German
spar kalk plaster.]
(Min.) An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar , or calcite, fluor spar , etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue minerals of a metalliferous vein. Blue spar ,
Cube spar ,
etc. See under Blue , Cube , etc.
Spar Spar noun [ Middle English
sparre ; akin to Dutch
spar , German
sparren , Old High German
sparro , Dan.& Swedish
sparre , Icelandic
sparri ; of uncertain origin. ... 171. Confer
Spar ,
transitive verb ]
1. (Nautical) A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff. 2. (Architecture) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters. 3. The bar of a gate or door. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer. Spar buoy (Nautical) ,
a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water. --
Spar deck (Nautical) ,
the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed. See under Deck . --
Spar torpedo (Nautical) ,
a torpedo carried on the end of a spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.
Spar Spar transitive verb [ Middle English
sparren , Anglo-Saxon
sparrian ; akin to German
sperren , Icelandic
sperra ; from the noun. √171. See
Spara beam, bar.]
1. To bolt; to bar. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer. 2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel. » A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be
oversparred or
undersparred .
Spar Spar intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Sparred ;
present participle & verbal noun Sparring .] [ Of uncertain origin; confer Old French
esparer to kick, French
éparer , or Icelandic
sperra to stretch out the legs, to struggle.]
1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do. 2. To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box. Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.
Dickens. 3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [ Colloq.]
Spar Spar noun 1. A contest at sparring or boxing. 2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
Spar-hung Spar"-hung` adjective Hung with spar, as a cave.
Sparable Spar"a·ble noun [ Corrupted from
sparrow bill .]
A kind of small nail used by shoemakers.
Sparada Spar"a·da noun (Zoology) A small California surf fish ( Micrometrus aggregatus ); -- called also shiner .
Sparadrap Spar"a·drap noun [ French
sparadrap ; confer Italian
sparadrappo , New Latin
sparadrapa .]
1. A cerecloth. [ Obsolete]
2. (Medicine) Any adhesive plaster.
Sparage Spar"age (?; 48),
Spar"a*gus Spar"a*grass` noun Obsolete or corrupt forms of Asparagus .
Sparble Spar"ble transitive verb [ Old French
esparpiller to scatter, French
éparpiller .]
To scatter; to disperse; to rout. [ Obsolete]
The king's host was sparbled and chased.
Fabyan.
Spare Spare transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Spared ;
present participle & verbal noun Sparing .] [ Anglo-Saxon
sparian , from
spær spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & German
sparen , Old High German
spar...n , Icelandic & Swedish
spara , Danish
spare See
Spare ,
adjective ]
1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. "No cost would he
spare ."
Chaucer. [ Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare .
Milton. He that hath knowledge, spareth his words.
Prov. xvii. 27. 2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give. Be pleased your plitics to spare .
Dryden. Spare my sight the pain
Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you.
Dryden. 3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to. Spare us, good Lord.
Book of Common Prayer. Dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages.
Milton. Man alone can whom he conquers spare .
Waller. 4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty. All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he ...estowed on . . . serving of God.
Knolles. 5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with. Where angry Jove did never spare
One breath of kind and temperate air.
Roscommon. I could have better spared a better man.
Shak. To spare one's self .
(a) To act with reserve. [ Obsolete]
Her thought that a lady should her spare .
Chaucer. (b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.
Spare Spare intransitive verb 1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious. I, who at some times spend, at others spare ,
Divided between carelessness and care.
Pope. 2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance. He will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Prov. vi. 34. 3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Spare Spare adjective [
Compar. Sparer ;
superl. Sparest ; -- not used in all the senses of the word.] [ Anglo-Saxon
spær sparing. Confer
Spare ,
transitive verb ]
1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet. 2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary. He was spare , but discreet of speech.
Carew. 3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous; as, I have no spare time. If that no spare clothes he had to give.
Spenser. 4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room. 5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt. O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones.
Shak. 6. Slow. [ Obsolete or prov. Eng.]
Grose.
Spare Spare noun 1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [ Obsolete]
Killing for sacrifice, without any spare .
Holland. 2. Parsimony; frugal use. [ Obsolete]
Bacon. Poured out their plenty without spite or spare .
Spenser. 3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. [ Obsolete]
4. That which has not been used or expended. 5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare ; in two bowls, a single spare .
Spareful Spare"ful adjective Sparing; chary. [ Obsolete]
Fairfax. --
Spare"ful*ness ,
noun [ Obsolete]
Sir P. Sidney.
Spareless Spare"less adjective Unsparing. Sylvester.
Sparely Spare"ly adverb In a spare manner; sparingly.
Spareness Spare"ness noun [ Confer Anglo-Saxon
spærnis frugality.]
The quality or state of being lean or thin; leanness.
Sparer Spar"er noun One who spares.
Sparerib Spare"rib` noun [
Spare , adjective +
rib .]
A piece of pork, consisting or ribs with little flesh on them.
Sparge Sparge transitive verb [ Latin
spargere ; confer French
asperger .]
To sprinkle; to moisten by sprinkling; as, to sparge paper.
Spargefaction Spar`ge·fac"tion noun [ Latin
spargere to strew +
facere ,
factum , to make.]
The act of sprinkling. [ Obsolete]
Swift.
Sparger Spar"ger noun [ Confer French
asperger to sprinkle, Latin
aspergere ,
spargere .]
A vessel with a perforated cover, for sprinkling with a liquid; a sprinkler.
Sparhawk Spar"hawk` noun [ Middle English
sperhauke .]
(Zoology) The sparrow hawk. [ Prov. Eng.]
Sparing Spar"ing adjective Spare; saving; frugal; merciful. Bacon. --
Spar"ing*ly , adverb --
Spar"ing*ness ,
noun
Spark Spark noun [ Middle English
sparke , Anglo-Saxon
spearca ; akin to Dutch
spark ,
sperk ; confer Icelandic
spraka to crackle, Lithuanian
spragëti , Greek ... a bursting with a noise, Sanskrit
sph...rj to crackle, to thunder. Confer
Speak .]
1. A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion. Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Job v. 7. 2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle. 3. That which, like a spark, may be kindled into a flame, or into action; a feeble germ; an elementary principle. "If any
spark of life be yet remaining."
Shak. "Small intellectual
spark ."
Macaulay. "Vital
spark of heavenly flame."
Pope. We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge .
Locke. Bright gem instinct with music, vocal spark .
Wordsworth. Spark arrester ,
a contrivance to prevent the escape of sparks while it allows the passage of gas, -- chiefly used in the smokestack of a wood-burning locomotive. Called also spark consumer . [ U.S.]
Spark Spark noun [ Icelandic
sparkr lively, sprightly.]
1. A brisk, showy, gay man. The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
Prior. 2. A lover; a gallant; a beau.
Spark Spark intransitive verb To sparkle. [ Obsolete]
Spenser.
Spark Spark intransitive verb To play the spark, beau, or lover. A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed, sparking , within.
W. Irwing.
Spark Spark intransitive verb (Electricity) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at the commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes.
Spark coil Spark coil (Electricity) (a) An induction coil, esp. of an internal-combustion engine, wireless telegraph apparatus, etc. (b) A self- induction coil used to increase the spark in an electric gas-lighting apparatus.
Spark gap Spark gap (Electricity) The space filled with air or other dielectric between high potential terminals (as of an electrostatic machine, induction coil, or condenser), through which the discharge passes; the air gap of a jump spark.
Spark plug Spark plug In internal-combustion engines with electric ignition, a plug, screwed into the cylinder head, having through it an insulated wire which is connected with the induction coil or magneto circuit on the outside, and forms, with another terminal on the base of the plug, a spark gap inside the cylinder.
Sparker Spark"er noun A spark arrester.
Sparkful Spark"ful adjective Lively; brisk; gay. [ Obsolete] "Our
sparkful youth."
Camden.
Sparkish Spark"ish adjective 1. Like a spark; airy; gay. W. Walsh. 2. Showy; well-dresed; fine. L'Estrange.
Sparkle Spar"kle noun [ Dim. of
spark .]
1. A little spark; a scintillation. As fire is wont to quicken and go
From a sparkle sprungen amiss,
Till a city brent up is.
Chaucer. The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper.
Prescott. 2. Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.
Sparkle Spar"kle intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Sparkled ;
present participle & verbal noun Sparkling .] [ See
Sparkle ,
noun , Spark of fire.]
1. To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles ; the stars sparkle . A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging
Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling .
Chaucer. 2. To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash. I see bright honor sparkle through your eyes.
Milton. 3. To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine. Syn. -- To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.
Sparkle Spar"kle transitive verb To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. "Did
sparkle forth great light."
Spenser.
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