Chapter 1591

Field sparrow , Fox sparrow , etc. See under Field , Fox , etc. -- Sparrow bill , a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. -- Sparrow hawk . (Zo\'94l.) (a) A small European hawk ( Accipiter nisus ) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon ( Falco sparverius ). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk ( Accipiter torquatus ). The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk. -- Sparrow owl (Zo\'94l.) , a small owl ( Glaucidium passerinum ) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls. -- Sparrow spear (Zo\'94l.) , the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]

Sparrowgrass <Xpage=1378>

Spar"row*grass` (?) , n. [Corrupted from asparagus .] Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note under Asparagus .

Sparrowwort <Xpage=1378>

Spar"row*wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica ( E. passerina ).

Sparry <Xpage=1378>

Spar"ry (?) , a. [From Spar .] Resembling spar, or consisting of spar; abounding with spar; having a confused crystalline structure; spathose.

Sparry iron (Min.) , siderite. See Siderite (a) . -- Sparry limestone (Min.) , a coarsely crystalline marble.

Sparse <Xpage=1378>

Sparse (?) , a. [ Compar. Sparser (?) ; superl. Sparsest .] [L. sparsus , p.p. of spargere to strew, scatter. Cf. Asperse , Disperse .] 1. Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together; as, a sparse population .

Carlyle.

2. (Bot.) Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; -- applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the like.

Sparse <Xpage=1378>

Sparse , v. t. [L. sparsus , p.p. of spargere to scatter.] To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Sparsedly <Xpage=1378>

Spars"ed*ly (?) , adv. Sparsely. [Obs.]

Sparsely <Xpage=1378>

Sparse"ly , adv. In a scattered or sparse manner.

Sparseness <Xpage=1378>

Sparse"ness , n. The quality or state of being sparse; as, sparseness of population .

Sparsim <Xpage=1378>

Spar"sim (?) , adv. [L., fr. spargere to scatter.] Sparsely; scatteredly; here and there.

Spartan <Xpage=1378>

Spar"tan (?) , a. [L. Spartanus .] of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively, a person of great courage and fortitude.

<-- marked by avoidance of luxury or comfort; spare, simple; marked by self-denial -->

Sparteine <Xpage=1378>

Spar"te*ine (?) , n. (Chem.) A narcotic alkaloid extracted from the tops of the common broom ( Cytisus scoparius , formerly Spartium scoparium ), as a colorless oily liquid of aniline-like odor and very bitter taste.

parterie <Xpage=1378>

par"ter*ie (?) , n. [F., from Sp. esparto esparto, L. spartum , Gr. <?/.] Articles made of the blades or fiber of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa (or Macrochloa ) tenacissima , kinds of grass used in Spain and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses.

Loudon.

Sparth <Xpage=1378>

Sparth (?) , n. [Cf. Icel. spar<?/a .] An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd. [Obs.]

He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight. Chaucer.

<page="1379"> Page 1379

Sparve <Xpage=1379>

Sparve (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]

Spary <Xpage=1379>

Spar"y (?) , a. Sparing; parsimonious. [Obs.]

Spasm <Xpage=1379>

Spasm (?) , n. [F. spasme , L. spasmus , Gr. <?/, from <?/, <?/, to draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. Span , v. t. ] 1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.

&hand; Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic . In clonic spasm , the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm , the contraction is steady and uniform, and continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.

2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance .

Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic . -- Spasm of the chest . See Angina pectoris , under Angina .

Spasmatical <Xpage=1379>

Spas*mat"ic*al (?) , a. Spasmodic. [Obs.]

Spasmodic <Xpage=1379>

Spas"mod"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ a convulsion + <?/ likeness: cf. F. spasmotique .] 1. (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma .

2. Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as, spasmodic zeal or industry .

Spasmodic croup (Med.) , an affection of childhood characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also laryngismus stridulus , and childcrowing . -- Spasmodic stricture , a stricture caused by muscular spasm without structural change. See Organic stricture , under Organic .

Spasmodic <Xpage=1379>

Spas*mod"ic , n. (Med.) A medicine for spasm. <-- = antispasmodic -->

Spasmodical <Xpage=1379>

Spas*mod"ic*al (?) , a. Same as Spasmodic , a. -- Spas*mod"ic*al*ly (#) , adv.

Spastic <Xpage=1379>

Spas"tic (?) , a. [L. spasticus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to draw: cf. F. spastique . See Spasm .] (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; spasmodic; especially, pertaining to tonic spasm; tetanic.

Spastically <Xpage=1379>

Spas"tic*al*ly (?) , adv. Spasmodically.

Spasticity <Xpage=1379>

Spas*tic"i*ty (?) , n. 1. A state of spasm.

2. The tendency to, or capability of suffering, spasm.

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat (?) , imp. of Spit . [Obs. &or; R.]

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat , n. [From the root of spit ; hence, literally, that which is ejected.] A young oyster or other bivalve mollusk, both before and after it first becomes adherent, or such young, collectively.

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat , v. i. & t. To emit spawn; to emit, as spawn.

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat , n. [Cf. Pat .] 1. A light blow with something flat. [U.S. & Prov. Eng.]

2. Hence, a petty combat, esp. a verbal one; a little quarrel, dispute, or dissension. [U. S.]

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat , v. i. To dispute. [R.]

Smart.

Spat <Xpage=1379>

Spat , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spatted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spatting .] To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together; as the hands. [Local, U.S.]

Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands. Judd.

Spatangoid <Xpage=1379>

Spa*tan"goid (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Spatangoidea. -- n. One of the Spatangoidea.

Spatangoidea <Xpage=1379>

Spat`an*goi"de*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Spatangus , and -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of irregular sea urchins, usually having a more or less heart-shaped shell with four or five petal-like ambulacra above. The mouth is edentulous and situated anteriorly, on the under side.

Spatangus <Xpage=1379>

Spa*tan"gus (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. spatangius a kind of sea urchin, Gr. <?/.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of heart-shaped sea urchins belonging to the Spatangoidea.

Spatchcock <Xpage=1379>

Spatch"cock` (?) , n. See Spitchcock .

Spate <Xpage=1379>

Spate (?) , n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. speid .] A river flood; an overflow or inundation.

Burns.

Gareth in a showerful spring Stared at the spate . Tennyson.

Spatha <Xpage=1379>

Spa"tha (?) , n ,; pl. Spath\'91 (#) . [L.] (Bot.) A spathe.

Spathaceous <Xpage=1379>

Spa*tha"ceous (?) , a. (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spathal.

Spathal <Xpage=1379>

Spa"thal (?) , a. (Bot.) Furnished with a spathe; as, spathal flowers .

Howitt.

Spathe <Xpage=1379>

Spathe (?) , n. [L. spatha , Gr. <?/: cf. F. spathe . See Spade for digging.] (Bot.) A special involucre formed of one leaf and inclosing a spadix, as in aroid plants and palms. See the Note under Bract , and Illust . of Spadix .

&hand; The name is also given to the several-leaved involucre of the iris and other similar plants.

Spathed <Xpage=1379>

Spathed (?) , a. (Bot.) Having a spathe or calyx like a sheath.

Spathic <Xpage=1379>

Spath"ic (?) , a. [Cf. F. spathique , fr. F. & G. spath spar.] Like spar; foliated or lamellar; spathose.

Spathic iron (Min.) , siderite. See Siderite (a) .

Spathiform <Xpage=1379>

Spath"i*form (?) , a. [F. spathiforme .] Resembling spar in form. "The ocherous, spathiform , and mineralized forms of uranite."

Lavoisier (Trans.).

Spathose <Xpage=1379>

Spath"ose` (?) , a. (Min.) See Spathic .

Spathose <Xpage=1379>

Spath"ose` , a. [See Spathe .] (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spatheceous; spathal.

Spathous <Xpage=1379>

Spath"ous (?) , a. (Bot.) Spathose.

Spathulate <Xpage=1379>

Spath"u*late (?) , a. See Spatulate .

Spatial <Xpage=1379>

Spa"tial (?) , a. Of or pertaining to space. " Spatial quantity and relations."

L. H. Atwater.

Spatially <Xpage=1379>

Spa"tial*ly (?) , adv. As regards space.

Spatiate <Xpage=1379>

Spa"ti*ate (?) , v. t. [L. spatiatus , p.p. of spatiari , fr. spatiatum . See Space .] To rove; to ramble. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Spatter <Xpage=1379>

Spat"ter (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spattered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spattering .] [From the root of spit salvia.] 1. To sprinkle with a liquid or with any wet substance, as water, mud, or the like; to make wet of foul spots upon by sprinkling; as, to spatter a coat; to spatter the floor; to spatter boots with mud .

Upon any occasion he is to be spattered over with the blood of his people. Burke.

2. To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around; as, to spatter blood .

Pope.

3. Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.

Spatter <Xpage=1379>

Spat"ter , v. i. To throw something out of the mouth in a scattering manner; to sputter.

That mind must needs be irrecoverably depraved, which, . . . tasting but once of one just deed, spatters at it, and abhors the relish ever after. Milton.

Spatterdashed <Xpage=1379>

Spat"ter*dashed` (?) , a. Wearing spatterdashes. [Colloq.]

Thackeray.

Spatterdashes <Xpage=1379>

Spat"ter*dash`es (?) , n. pl. [ Spatter + dash .] Coverings for the legs, to protect them from water and mud; long gaiters.

Spatter-dock <Xpage=1379>

Spat`ter-dock` (?) , n. (Bot.) The common yellow water lily ( Nuphar advena ).

Spattle <Xpage=1379>

Spat"tle (?) , n. Spawl; spittle. [Obs.]

Bale.

Spattle <Xpage=1379>

Spat"tle , n. 1. A spatula.

2. (Pottery) A tool or implement for mottling a molded article with coloring matter

Knoght.

Spattling-poppy <Xpage=1379>

Spat"tling-pop"py (?) , n. [Prov. E. spattle to spit + E. poppy .] (Bot.) A kind of catchfly ( Silene inflata ) which is sometimes frothy from the action of captured insects.

Spatula <Xpage=1379>

Spat"u*la (?; 135) , n. [L. spatula , spathula , dim. of spatha a spatula: F. spatule . See Spade for digging.] An implement shaped like a knife, flat, thin, and somewhat flexible, used for spreading paints, fine plasters, drugs in compounding prescriptions, etc. Cf. Palette knife , under Palette .

Spatulate <Xpage=1379>

Spat"u*late (?) , a. [NL. spatulatus .] (Nat. Hist.) Shaped like spatula, or like a battledoor, being roundish, with a long, narrow, linear base. [Also written spathulate .]

Spauld <Xpage=1379>

Spauld (?) , n. [See Spall the shoulder.] The shoulder. [Scot.]

Spavin <Xpage=1379>

Spav"in (?) , n. [OE. spaveyne , OF. esparvain , F. \'82parvin ; akin to OF. espervier a sparrow hawk, F. \'82pervier , fr. OHG. sparw\'beri (G. sperber ), fr. OHG. sparo sparrow, because this disease makes the horse raise the infirm leg in the manner of a sparrow hawk or sparrow. See Sparrow .] (Far.) A disease of horses characterized by a bony swelling developed on the hock as the result of inflammation of the bones; also, the swelling itself. The resulting lameness is due to the inflammation, and not the bony tumor as popularly supposed.

Harbaugh.

Bog spavin , a soft swelling produced by distention of the capsular ligament of the hock; -- called also blood spavin . -- Bone spavin , spavin attended with exostosis; ordinary spavin.

Spavined <Xpage=1379>

Spav"ined (?) , a. Affected with spavin.

Spaw <Xpage=1379>

Spaw (?) , n. See Spa .

Spawl <Xpage=1379>

Spawl (?) , n. A splinter or fragment, as of wood or stone. See Spall .

Spawl <Xpage=1379>

Spawl , n. [Cf. AS. sp\'betl , fr. sp&aemac;tan to spit; probably akin to sp\'c6wan , E. spew . Cf. Spew .] Scattered or ejected spittle.

Spawl <Xpage=1379>

Spawl , v. i. & t. [ imp. & p. p. Spawled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spawling .] [Cf. AS. sp\'betlian .] To scatter spittle from the mouth; to spit, as saliva.

Why must he sputter, spawl , and slaver it In vain, against the people's favorite. Swift.

Spawling <Xpage=1379>

Spawl"ing , n. That which is spawled, or spit out.

Spawn <Xpage=1379>

Spawn (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spawned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spawning .] [OE. spanen , OF. espandre , properly, to shed, spread, L. expandere to spread out. See Expand .] 1. To produce or deposit (eggs), as fishes or frogs do.

2. To bring forth; to generate; -- used in contempt.

One edition [of books] spawneth another. Fuller.

Spawn <Xpage=1379>

Spawn , v. i. 1. To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs do.

2. To issue, as offspring; -- used contemptuously.

Spawn <Xpage=1379>

Spawn , n. [&root;170. See Spawn , v. t. ] 1. The ova, or eggs, of fishes, oysters, and other aquatic animals.

2. Any product or offspring; -- used contemptuously.

3. (Hort.) The buds or branches produced from underground stems.

4. (Bot.) The white fibrous matter forming the matrix from which fungi.

Spawn eater (Zo\'94l.) , a small American cyprinoid fish ( Notropis Hudsonius ) allied to the dace.

Spawner <Xpage=1379>

Spawn"er (?) , n. 1. (Zo\'94l.) A mature female fish.

The barbel, for the preservation or their seed, both the spawner and the milter, cover their spawn with sand. Walton.

2. Whatever produces spawn of any kind.

Spay <Xpage=1379>

Spay (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spayed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spaying .] [Cf. Armor. spac'hein , spaza to geld, W. dyspaddu to geld, L. spado a eunuch, Gr. <?/.] To remove or extirpate the ovaries of, as a sow or a bitch; to castrate (a female animal).

Spay <Xpage=1379>

Spay , n. [Cf. Spade a spay, Spay , v. t. ] (Zo\'94l.) The male of the red deer in his third year; a spade.

Spayad, Spayade <Xpage=1379>

Spay"ad (?) , Spay"ade (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A spay.

Speak <Xpage=1379>

Speak (?) , v. i. [ imp. Spoke (?) ( Spake (<?/) Archaic ); p. p. Spoken (?) ( Spoke , Obs. &or; Colloq. ); p. pr. & vb. n. Speaking .] [OE. speken , AS. specan , sprecan ; akin to OF.ries. spreka , D. spreken , OS. spreken , G. sprechen , OHG. sprehhan , and perhaps to Skr. sph&umac;rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. Spark of fire, Speech .] 1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak .

Till at the last spake in this manner. Chaucer.

Speak , Lord; for thy servant heareth. 1 Sam. iii. 9.

2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.

That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak . Boyle.

An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. Shak.

During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history. Macaulay.

3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally.

Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty. Clarendon.

4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.

Lycan speaks of a part of C\'91sar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake. Addison.

5. To give sound; to sound.

Make all our trumpets speak . Shak.

6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will .

Thine eye begins to speak . Shak.