Chapter 1599

Spin"dle (?) , n. [AS. spinal , fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil , G. spille , spindel , OHG. spinnala . &root;170. See Spin .] 1. The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound; also, the pin on which the bobbin is held in a spinning machine, or in the shuttle of a loom.

2. A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as, the spindle of a vane . Specifically: --

(a) (Mach.) The shaft, mandrel, or arbor, in a machine tool, as a lathe or drilling machine, etc., which causes the work to revolve, or carries a tool or center, etc.

(b) (Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a grinding mill turns .

(c) (Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is formed .

3. The fusee of a watch.

4. A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.

5. A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.

6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.

7. (Zo\'94l.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria ; -- called also spindle stromb . (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus .

Dead spindle (Mach.) , a spindle in a machine tool that does not revolve; the spindle of the tailstock of a lathe. -- Live spindle (Mach.) , the revolving spindle of a machine tool; the spindle of the headstock of a turning lathe. -- Spindle shell . (Zo\'94l.) See Spindle , 7. above. -- Spindle side , the female side in descent; in the female line; opposed to spear side . Ld. Lytton . [R.] "King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side , of Oceanus." Lowell . -- Spindle tree (Bot.) , any shrub or tree of the genus Eunymus . The wood of E. Europ\'91us was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood .

Spindle <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Spindled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling (?) .] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender.

It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality. Lowell.

Spindle-legged <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle-legged` (?) , a. Having long, slender legs.

Spindlelegs <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle*legs` (?) , n. A spindlehanks.

Spindle-shanked <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle-shanked` (?) , a. Having long, slender legs.

Addison.

Spindleshanks <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle*shanks` (?) , n. A person with slender shanks, or legs; -- used humorously or in contempt.

Spindle-shaped <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle-shaped` (?) , a. 1. Having the shape of a spindle.

2. (Bot.) Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; -- applied chiefly to roots.

Spindletail <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle*tail` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spindleworm <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dle*worm` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The larva of a noctuid mmoth ( Achatodes ze\'91 ) which feeds inside the stalks of corn (maize), sometimes causing much damage. It is smooth, with a black head and tail and a row of black dots across each segment.

Spindling <Xpage=1386>

Spin"dling (?) , a. Long and slender, or disproportionately tall and slender; as, a spindling tree; a spindling boy.

Spine <Xpage=1386>

Spine (?) , n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine , F. \'82pine . Cf. Spike , Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny .] 1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A rigid and sharp projection upon any part of an animal. (b) One of the rigid and undivided fin rays of a fish.

3. (Anat.) The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; -- so called from the projecting processes upon the vertebr\'91.

4. Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.

Spineback <Xpage=1386>

Spine"back` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A fish having spines in, or in front of, the dorsal fins.

Spinebill <Xpage=1386>

Spine"bill` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of Australian birds of the genus Acanthorhynchus . They are related to the honey eaters.

Spined <Xpage=1386>

Spined (?) , a. Furnished with spines; spiny.

Spine-finned <Xpage=1386>

Spine"-finned` (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having fine supported by spinous fin rays; -- said of certain fishes.

Spinel, Spinelle <Xpage=1386>

Spi*nel" (?) , Spi*nelle" (?) , n. [F. spinelle , or LL. spinellus , perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its pointed crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in octahedrons of great hardness and various colors, as red, green, blue, brown, and black, the red variety being the gem spinel ruby. It consist essentially of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains iron and sometimes also chromium.

&hand; The spinel group includes spinel proper, also magnetite, chromite, franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of which may be regarded as composed of a sesquioxide and a protoxide in equal proportions.

Spinel <Xpage=1386>

Spin"el (?) , n. Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle ; unwrought inkle.

Knight.

Spineless <Xpage=1386>

Spine"less (?) , a. Having no spine.

Spinescent <Xpage=1386>

Spi*nes"cent (?) , a. [L. spinescens , -entis , p. pr. of spinescere to know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent .] (Bot.) Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradually to a rigid, leafless point; armed with spines.

Gray.

Spinet <Xpage=1386>

Spin"et (?) , n. [OF. espinete , F. \'82pinette (cf. It. spinetta ), fr. L. spina a thorn; -- so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine .] (Mus.) A keyed instrument of music resembling a harpsichord, but smaller, with one string of brass or steel wire to each note, sounded by means of leather or quill plectrums or jacks. It was formerly much used.

Dumb spinet . (Mus.) See Manichordon .

Spinet <Xpage=1386>

Spi"net (?) , n. [L. spinetum . See Spinny .] A spinny. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Spinetail <Xpage=1386>

Spine"tail` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of the genus Acanthylis , or Ch\'91tura , and allied genera, in which the shafts of the tail feathers terminate in rigid spines. (b) Any one of several species of South American and Central American clamatorial birds belonging to Synallaxis and allied genera of the family Dendrocolaptid\'91 . They are allied to the ovenbirds. (c) The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spine-tailed <Xpage=1386>

Spine"-tailed (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips.

Spine-tailed swift . (Zo\'94l.) See Spinetail (a) .

Spineted <Xpage=1386>

Spin"et*ed (?) , a. Slit; cleft. [Obs. & R.]

Spiniferous <Xpage=1386>

Spi*nif"er*ous (?) , a. [L. spinifer ; spina thorn + ferre to produce.] Producing spines; bearing thorns or spines; thorny; spiny.

Spiniform <Xpage=1386>

Spin"i*form (?) , a. Shaped like a spine.

Spinigerous <Xpage=1386>

Spi*nig"er*ous (?) , a. [L. spiniger ; spina spine + gerere to bear.] Bearing a spine or spines; thorn-bearing.

Spininess <Xpage=1386>

Spin"i*ness (?) , n. Quality of being spiny.

Spinii-spirulate <Xpage=1386>

Spin`ii-spir"u*late (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule .

Spink <Xpage=1386>

Spink (?) , n. [Cf. dial. Sw. spink a kind of small bird, Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/, and E. finch .] (Zo\'94l.) The chaffinch.

Spinnaker <Xpage=1386>

Spin"na*ker (?) , n. (Naut.) A large triangular sail set upon a boom, -- used when running before the wind.

Spinner <Xpage=1386>

Spin"ner (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, spins one skilled in spinning; a spinning machine.

2. A spider. "Long-legged spinners ."

Shak.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A goatsucker; -- so called from the peculiar noise it makes when darting through the air.

4. (Zo\'94l.) A spinneret.

Ring spinner , a machine for spinning, in which the twist, given to the yarn by a revolving bobbin, is regulated by the drag of a small metal loop which slides around a ring encircling the bobbin, instead of by a throstle.

Spinneret <Xpage=1386>

Spin"ner*et (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the special jointed organs situated on the under side, and near the end, of the abdomen of spiders, by means of which they spin their webs. Most spiders have three pairs of spinnerets, but some have only two pairs. The ordinary silk line of the spider is composed of numerous smaller lines jointed after issuing from the spinnerets.

Spinnerule <Xpage=1386>

Spin"ner*ule (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the numerous small spinning tubes on the spinnerets of spiders.

Spinney <Xpage=1386>

Spin"ney (?) , n. ; pl. Spinneys (<?/) . Same as Spinny .

T. Hughes.

<page="1387"> Page 1387

Spinning <Xpage=1387>

Spin"ning (?) , a. & n. from Spin .

Spinning gland (Zo\'94l.) , one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other larv\'91. -- Spinning house , formerly a common name for a house of correction in England, the women confined therein being employed in spinning. -- Spinning jenny (Mach.) , an engine or machine for spinning wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles revolving simultaneously. -- Spinning mite (Zo\'94l.) , the red spider. -- Spinning wheel , a machine for spinning yarn or thread, in which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.

Spinny <Xpage=1387>

Spin"ny (?) , n. ; pl. Spinnies (#) . [OF. espinaye , espinoye , espinei , espanoi , F. \'82pinaie , from L. spinetum a thicket of thorns, fr. spina a thorn. See Spine .] A small thicket or grove with undergrowth; a clump of trees. [Written also spinney , and spinny .]

The downs rise steep, crowned with black fir spinnies . C. Kingsley.

Spinny <Xpage=1387>

Spin"ny , a. [Cf. Spiny , a. ] Thin and long; slim; slender. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spinose <Xpage=1387>

Spi*nose" (?) , a. [L. spinosus , from spina a thorn.] Full of spines; armed with thorns; thorny.

Spinosity <Xpage=1387>

Spi*nos"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being spiny or thorny; spininess.

Spinous <Xpage=1387>

Spi"nous (?) , a. 1. Spinose; thorny.

2. Having the form of a spine or thorn; spinelike.

Spinous process of a vertebra (Anat.) , the dorsal process of the neural arch of a vertebra; a neurapophysis.

Spinozism <Xpage=1387>

Spi*no"zism (?) , n. The form of Pantheism taught by Benedict Spinoza , that there is but one substance, or infinite essence, in the universe, of which the so-called material and spiritual beings and phenomena are only modes, and that one this one substance is God. [Written also Spinosism .]

Spinozist <Xpage=1387>

Spi*no"zist (?) , n. A believer in Spinozism.

Spinster <Xpage=1387>

Spin"ster (?) , n. [ Spin + -ster .] 1. A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.

She spake to spinster to spin it out. Piers Plowman.

The spinsters and the knitters in the sun. Shak.

2. A man who spins. [Obs.]

Shak.

3. (Law) An unmarried or single woman; -- used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.

If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster , she may abate the writ. Coke.

4. A woman of evil life and character; -- so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction. [Obs.]

Spinstress <Xpage=1387>

Spin"stress (?) , n. A woman who spins.

T. Brown.

Spinstry <Xpage=1387>

Spin"stry (?) , n. The business of one who spins; spinning. [Obs.]

Milton.

Spinule <Xpage=1387>

Spin"ule (?) , n. [L. spinula , dim. of spina a spine: cf. F. spinule .] A minute spine.

Dana.

Spinulescent <Xpage=1387>

Spin`u*les"cent (?) , a. (Bot.) Having small spines; somewhat thorny.

Spinulose, Spinulous <Xpage=1387>

Spin"u*lose` (?) , Spin"u*lous (?) , a. [Cf. F. spinuleux .] Covered with small spines.

Spiny <Xpage=1387>

Spin"y (?) , a. [From Spine .] 1. Full of spines; thorny; as, a spiny tree .

2. Like a spine in shape; slender. " Spiny grasshoppers sit chirping."

Chapman.

3. Fig.: Abounding with difficulties or annoyances.

The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy. Bp. Warburton.

Spiny lobster . (Zo\'94l.) Same as Rock lobster , under Rock . See also Lobster .

Spiny <Xpage=1387>

Spin"y , n. See Spinny .

Spiodea <Xpage=1387>

Spi*o"de*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Spio the typical genus.] (Zo\'94l.) An extensive division of marine Annelida, including those that are without oral tentacles or cirri, and have the gills, when present, mostly arranged along the sides of the body. They generally live in burrows or tubes.

Spirable <Xpage=1387>

Spi"ra*ble (?) , a. [L. spirabilis .] Capable of being breathed; respirable. [Obs.]

Nash.

Spiracle <Xpage=1387>

Spir"a*cle (?) , n. [L. spiraculum , fr. spirare to breathe: cf. F. spiracule . See Spirit .] 1. (Anat.) The nostril, or one of the nostrils, of whales, porpoises, and allied animals.

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of the external openings communicating with the air tubes or trache\'91 of insects, myriapods, and arachnids. They are variable in number, and are usually situated on the sides of the thorax and abdomen, a pair to a segment. These openings are usually elliptical, and capable of being closed. See Illust . under Coleoptera . (a) A tubular orifice communicating with the gill cavity of certain ganoid and all elasmobranch fishes. It is the modified first gill cleft.

3. Any small aperture or vent for air or other fluid.

Spiracular <Xpage=1387>

Spi*rac"u*lar (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a spiracle.

Spir\'91a <Xpage=1387>

Spi*r\'91"a (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/<?/<?/, fr. <?/<?/<?/ a coil.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs or perennial herbs including the meadowsweet and the hardhack.

Spir\'91ic <Xpage=1387>

Spi*r\'91"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the meadowsweet ( Spir\'91a ); formerly, designating an acid which is now called salicylic acid .

Spiral <Xpage=1387>

Spi"ral (?) , a. [Cf. F. spiral . See Spire a winding line.] 1. Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring .

2. Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical.

3. (Geom.) Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral.

Spiral gear , &or; Spiral wheel (Mach.) , a gear resembling in general a spur gear, but having its teeth cut at an angle with its axis, or so that they form small portions of screws or spirals. -- Spiral gearing , a kind of gearing sometimes used in light machinery, in which spiral gears, instead of bevel gears, are used to transmit motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Spiral operculum , an operculum whih has spiral lines of growth. -- Spiral shell , any shell in which the whorls form a spiral or helix. -- Spiral spring . See the Note under Spring , n. , 4.

Spiral <Xpage=1387>

Spi"ral (?) , n. [Cf. F. spirale . See Spiral , a. ] 1. (Geom.) A plane curve, not re\'89ntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix , moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole . Cf. Helix .

2. Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell.

Equiangular spiral , a plane curve which cuts all its generatrices at the same angle. Same as Logarithmic spiral , under Logarithmic . -- Spiral of Archimedes , a spiral the law of which is that the generatrix moves uniformly along the revolving line, which also moves uniformly.

Spirality <Xpage=1387>

Spi*ral"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or states of being spiral.

Spirally <Xpage=1387>

Spi"ral*ly (?) , adv. In a spiral form, manner, or direction.

Spiralozooid <Xpage=1387>

Spi*ra`lo*zo"oid (?) , n. [ Spiral + zooid . So called because they often have a spiral form when contracted.] (Zo\'94l.) One of the special defensive zooids of certain hydroids. They have the form of long, slender tentacles, and bear lasso cells.

Spirant <Xpage=1387>

Spi"rant (?) , n. [L. spirans , -antis , p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See Spirit .] (Phon.) A term used differently by different authorities; -- by some as equivalent to fricative , -- that is, as including all the continuous consonants, except the nasals m , n , ng ; with the further exception, by others, of the liquids r , l , and the semivowels w , y ; by others limited to f , v , th surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch , -- thus excluding the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See Guide to Pronunciation , &sect;&sect; 197-208.

Spiranthy <Xpage=1387>

Spi*ran"thy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ a coil + <?/<?/<?/ flower.] (Bot.) The occasional twisted growth of the parts of a flower.

Spiration <Xpage=1387>

Spi*ra"tion (?) , n. [L. spiratio , fr. spirare to breathe.] The act of breathing. [Obs.]

Barrow.

Spire <Xpage=1387>

Spire (?) , v. i. [L. spirare to breathe. See Spirit .] To breathe. [Obs.]

Shenstone.

Spire <Xpage=1387>