The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1598
Spider ant . (Zo\'94l.) Same as Solitary ant , under Solitary . -- Spider crab (Zo\'94l.) , any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab ( Macrocheira Kempferi ), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended. -- Spider fly (Zo\'94l.) , any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscid\'91 . They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick , and bat tick . -- Spider hunter (Zo\'94l.) , any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera . -- Spider lines , filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines . -- Spider mite . (Zo\'94l.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera . See Argas . (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants. -- Spider monkey (Zo\'94l.) , any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles , having very long legs and a long prehensile tail. -- Spider orchis (Bot.) , a European orchidaceous plant ( Ophrys aranifera ), having flowers which resemble spiders. -- Spider shell (Zo\'94l.) , any shell of the genus Pteroceras . See Pteroceras .
Spidered <Xpage=1385>
Spi"dered (?) , a. Infested by spiders; cobwebbed.
Wolcott.
Spiderlike <Xpage=1385>
Spi"der*like` (?) , a. Like a spider.
Shak.
Spider web, ∨ Spider's web <Xpage=1385>
Spi"der web" (?) , ∨ Spi"der's web" . (Zo\'94l.) The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider , Triangle spider , under Geometric , and Triangle . <-- = cobweb -->
Spiderwort <Xpage=1385>
Spi"der*wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) An American endogenous plant ( Tradescantia Virginica ), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.
Spied <Xpage=1385>
Spied (?) , imp. & p. p. of Spy .
Spiegelelsen <Xpage=1385>
Spie"gel*el`sen (?) , n. [G. spiegel mirror + eisen iron.] See Spiegel iron .
Spiegel iron <Xpage=1385>
Spie"gel i`ron (?) . [G. spiegel mirror + E. iron .] (Metal.) A fusible white cast iron containing a large amount of carbon (from three and a half to six per cent) and some manganese. When the manganese reaches twenty-five per cent and upwards it has a granular structure, and constitutes the alloy ferro manganese , largely used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel. Called also specular pig iron , spiegel , and spiegeleisen .
Spight <Xpage=1385>
Spight (?) , n. & v. Spite. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Spight <Xpage=1385>
Spight , n. A woodpecker. See Speight . [Obs.]
Spignel <Xpage=1385>
Spig"nel (?) , n. (Bot.) Same as Spickenel .
Spignet <Xpage=1385>
Spig"net (?) , n. [Corrupted fr. spikenard .] (Bot.) An aromatic plant of America. See Spikenard .
Spigot <Xpage=1385>
Spig"ot (?) , n. [From spick ,or spike ; cf. Ir. & Gael. spiocaid a spigot, Ir. spice a spike. See Spike .] A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; also, the plug of a faucet or cock.
Spigot and faucet joint , a joint for uniting pipes, formed by the insertion of the end of one pipe, or pipe fitting, into a socket at the end of another.
Spigurnel <Xpage=1385>
Spi*gur"nel (?) , n. (Eng. Law) Formerly the title of the sealer of writs in chancery.
Mozley & W.
Spike <Xpage=1385>
Spike (?) , n. [Akin to LG. spiker , spieker , a large nail, D. spijker , Sw. spik , Dan. spiger , Icel. sp\'c6k ; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine .] 1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.
2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison.
3. An ear of corn or grain.
4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
Spike grass (Bot.) , either of two tall perennial American grasses ( Uniola paniculata , and U. latifolia ) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. -- Spike rush . (Bot.) See under Rush . -- Spike shell (Zo\'94l.) , any pteropod of the genus Styliola having a slender conical shell. -- Spike team , three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.]
Spike <Xpage=1385>
Spike , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spiked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiking .] 1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks .
2. To set or furnish with spikes.
3. To fix on a spike. [R.]
Young.
4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.
<-- (Sport) To throw violently to the ground, so that it bounces. Sometimes done by football players after scoring a goal, as a victory celebration. -->
Spike <Xpage=1385>
Spike , n. [Cf. G. spieke , L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard .] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender .
Oil of spike (Chem.) , a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic ( Lavendula Spica ), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.
Spikebill <Xpage=1385>
Spike"bill` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The hooded merganser. (b) The marbled godwit ( Limosa fedoa ).
Spiked <Xpage=1385>
Spiked (?) , a. Furnished or set with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes; stopped with spikes.
A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by those spikes. Wiseman.
Spikefish <Xpage=1385>
Spike"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Sailfish (a)
Spikelet <Xpage=1385>
Spike"let (?) , n. (Bot.) A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust . of Quaking grass .
Spikenard <Xpage=1385>
Spike"nard (?) , n. [For spiked nard ; cf. G. spieknarde , NL. spica nardi . See Spike an ear, and Nard .] 1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa , often called spignet , and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi , a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.
2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi .
Spiketail <Xpage=1385>
Spike"tail` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]
Spiky <Xpage=1385>
Spik"y (?) , a. 1. Like a spike; spikelike.
These spiky , vivid outbursts of metallic vapors. C. A. Young.
2. Having a sharp point, or sharp points; furnished or armed with spikes.
Or by the spiky harrow cleared away. Dyer.
The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore. Pope.
Spile <Xpage=1385>
Spile (?) , n. [Cf. LG. spile , dial. G. speil , speiler , D. spijl . \'fb170.] 1. A small plug or wooden pin, used to stop a vent, as in a cask.
<page="1386"> Page 1386
2. A small tube or spout inserted in a tree for conducting sap, as from a sugar maple.
3. A large stake driven into the ground as a support for some superstructure; a pile.
Spile hole , a small air hole in a cask; a vent.
Spile <Xpage=1386>
Spile (?) , v. t. To supply with a spile or a spigot; to make a small vent in, as a cask.
Spilikin <Xpage=1386>
Spil"i*kin (?) , n. [OD. spelleken a small pin. See Spill a splinter.] One of a number of small pieces or pegs of wood, ivory, bone, or other material, for playing a game, or for counting the score in a game, as in cribbage. In the plural ( spilikins ), a game played with such pieces; pushpin. [Written also spillikin , spilliken .]
Spill <Xpage=1386>
Spill (?) , n. [&root;170. Cf. Spell a splinter.] 1. A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
2. A slender piece of anything. Specifically: --
(a) A peg or pin for plugging a hole, as in a cask; a spile .
(b) A metallic rod or pin .
(c) A small roll of paper, or slip of wood, used as a lamplighter, etc.
(d) (Mining) One of the thick laths or poles driven horizontally ahead of the main timbering in advancing a level in loose ground .
3. A little sum of money. [Obs.]
Ayliffe.
Spill <Xpage=1386>
Spill , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spilt (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling .] To cover or decorate with slender pieces of wood, metal, ivory, etc.; to inlay. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Spill <Xpage=1386>
Spill (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spilled (?) , or Spilt (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling .] [OE. spillen ,sually, to destroy, AS. spillan , spildan , to destroy; akin to Icel. spilla to destroy, Sw. spilla to spill, Dan. spilde ,G. & D. spillen to squander, OHG. spildan .] 1. To destroy; to kill; to put an end to. [Obs.]
And gave him to the queen, all at her will To choose whether she would him save or spill . Chaucer.
Greater glory think [it] to save than spill . Spenser.
2. To mar; to injure; to deface; hence, to destroy by misuse; to waste. [Obs.]
They [the colors] disfigure the stuff and spill the whole workmanship. Puttenham.
Spill not the morning, the quintessence of day, in recreations. Fuller.
3. To suffer to fall or run out of a vessel; to lose, or suffer to be scattered; -- applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill quicksilver from a vessel; to spill powder from a paper; to spill sand or flour .
&hand; Spill differs from pour in expressing accidental loss, -- a loss or waste contrary to purpose.
4. To cause to flow out and be lost or wasted; to shed, or suffer to be shed, as in battle or in manslaughter; as, a man spills another's blood, or his own blood .
And to revenge his blood so justly spilt . Dryden.
5. (Naut.) To relieve a sail from the pressure of the wind, so that it can be more easily reefed or furled, or to lessen the strain.
Spilling line (Naut.) , a rope used for spilling, or dislodging, the wind from the belly of a sail.
Totten.
<-- Spill, n. An instance of spilling. Oil spill, an accidental release of oil, usually into the ocean, due to damage to an oil tanker or uncontrolled release from an underwater well. -->
Spill <Xpage=1386>
Spill , v. i. 1. To be destroyed, ruined, or wasted; to come to ruin; to perish; to waste. [Obs.]
That thou wilt suffer innocents to spill . Chaucer.
2. To be shed; to run over; to fall out, and be lost or wasted. "He was so topful of himself, that he let it spill on all the company."
I. Watts.
Spiller <Xpage=1386>
Spill"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, spills.
2. A kind of fishing line with many hooks; a boulter.
Spillet fishing, Spilliard fishing <Xpage=1386>
Spil"let fish`ing (?) , Spil"liard fish`ing (?) , A system or method of fishing by means of a number of hooks set on snoods all on one line; -- in North America, called trawl fishing , bultow , or bultow fishing , and long-line fishing .
Spillikin <Xpage=1386>
Spil"li*kin (?) , n. See Spilikin .
Spillway <Xpage=1386>
Spill"way` (?) , n. A sluiceway or passage for superfluous water in a reservoir, to prevent too great pressure on the dam.
Spilt <Xpage=1386>
Spilt (?) , imp. & p. p. of Spill . Spilled.
Spilter <Xpage=1386>
Spil"ter (?) , n. [From Spill , n. ] Any one of the small branches on a stag's head. [Obs.]
Howell.
Spilth <Xpage=1386>
Spilth (?) , n. [From Spill .] Anything spilt, or freely poured out; slop; effusion. [Archaic] "With drunken spilth of wine."
Shak.
Choicest cates, and the flagon's best spilth . R. Browning.
Spin <Xpage=1386>
Spin (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spun (?) ( Archaic imp. Span (<?/) ); p. pr. & vb. n. Spinning .] [AS. spinnan ; akin to D. & G. spinnen , Icel. & Sw. spinna , Dan. spinde , Goth. spinnan , and probably to E. span . &root;170. Cf. Span , v. t. , Spider .] 1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair ; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material.
All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Shak.
2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out ; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject .
Do you mean that story is tediously spun out? Sheridan.
3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness .
By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives. L'Estrange.
4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top .
5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.
To spin a yarn (Naut.) , to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale. -- To spin hay (Mil.) , to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition. -- To spin street yarn , to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
Spin <Xpage=1386>
Spin (?) , v. i. 1. To practice spinning; to work at drawing and twisting threads; to make yarn or thread from fiber; as, the woman knows how to spin ; a machine or jenny spins with great exactness.
They neither know to spin , nor care to toll. Prior.
2. To move round rapidly; to whirl; to revolve, as a top or a spindle, about its axis.
Round about him spun the landscape, Sky and forest reeled together. Longfellow.
With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head. G. W. Cable.
3. To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet; as, blood spins from a vein .
Shak.
4. To move swifty; as, to spin along the road in a carriage, on a bicycle, etc. [Colloq.]
Spin <Xpage=1386>
Spin , n. 1. The act of spinning; as, the spin of a top; a spin a bicycle . [Colloq.]
2. (Kinematics) Velocity of rotation about some specified axis.
<-- go for a spin take a spin , take a trip in a wheeled vehicle, usu. an automobile. -->
Spina bifida <Xpage=1386>
Spi"na bif"i*da (?) . (Med.) [L., cleft spine.] A congenital malformation in which the spinal column is cleft at its lower portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord project as an elastic swelling from the gap thus formed.
Spinaeous <Xpage=1386>
Spi*na"eous (?) , a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant spinach, or the family of plants to which it belongs.
Spinach, Spinage <Xpage=1386>
Spin"ach , Spin"age (?) , n. [OF. espinache , espinoche , F. \'82pinard ; cf. F. spinace , Sp. espinaca ; all fr. Ar. isf\'ben\'bej , isfin\'bej , aspan\'bekh , probably of Persian origin.] (Bot.) A common pot herb ( Spinacia oleracea ) belonging to the Goosefoot family.
Mountain spinach . See Garden orache , under Orache . -- New Zealand spinach (Bot.) , a coarse herb ( Tetragonia expansa ), a poor substitute for spinach.
&hand; Various other pot herbs are locally called spinach .
Spinal <Xpage=1386>
Spi"nal (?) , a. [L. spinalis , fr. spina the spine: cf. F. spinal . See Spine .] 1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the backbone, or vertebral column; rachidian; vertebral.
2. Of or pertaining to a spine or spines.
Spinal accessory nerves , the eleventh pair of cranial nerves in the higher vertebrates. They originate from the spinal cord and pass forward into the skull, from which they emerge in company with the pneumogastrics. -- Spinal column , the backbone, or connected series or vertebr\'91 which forms the axis of the vertebrate skeleton; the spine; rachis; vertebral column. -- Spinal cord , the great nervous cord extending backward from the brain along the dorsal side of the spinal column of a vertebrate animal, and usually terminating in a threadlike appendage called the filum terminale ; the spinal, or vertebral, marrow; the myelon. The nervous tissue consists of nerve fibers and nerve cells, the latter being confined to the so-called gray matter of the central portions of the cord, while the peripheral white matter is composed of nerve fibers only. The center of the cord is traversed by a slender canal connecting with the ventricles of the brain.
Spinate <Xpage=1386>
Spi"nate (?) , a. Bearing a spine; spiniform.
Spindle <Xpage=1386>