Chapter 76

Spar"ing (?), a. Spare; saving; frugal; merciful. Bacon.

-- Spar"ing*ly, adv. -- Spar"ing*ness, n.

Spark (?), n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. spragëti, Gr. &?; a bursting with a noise, Skr. sph&?;rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. 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, n. [Icel. sparkr lively, sprightly.] 1. A brisk, showy, gay man.

The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.

Prior.

2. A lover; a gallant; a beau.

Spark, v. i. To sparkle. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spark, v. i. 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"er (?), n. A spark arrester.

Spark"ful (?), a. Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] "Our sparkful youth." Camden.

Spark"ish, a. 1. Like a spark; airy; gay. W. Walsh.

2. Showy; well-dresed; fine. L'Estrange.

Spar"kle (?), n. [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.

Spar"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparkling (?).] [See Sparkle, n., 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.

Spar"kle, v. t. To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. "Did sparkle forth great light." Spenser.

Spar"kle, v. t. [Cf. Sparble.] 1. To disperse. [Obs.]

The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise.

State Papers.

2. To scatter on or over. [Obs.] Purchas.

Spar"kler (?), n. One who scatters; esp., one who scatters money; an improvident person. [Obs.]

Spar"kler, n. One who, or that which, sparkles.

Spar"kler, n. (Zoöl.) A tiger beetle.

Spark"let (?), n. A small spark. [Obs.]

Spark"li*ness (?), n. Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.

Spar"kling (?), a. Emitting sparks; glittering; flashing; brilliant; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. -- Spar"kling*ly, adv. -- Spar"kling*ness, n.

Syn. -- Brilliant; shining. See Shining.

Spar"ling (?), n. [Akin to G. spierling, spiering, D. spiering: cf. F. éperlan.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus). (b) A young salmon. (c) A tern. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Spar"lyre` (?), n. [AS. spear- lira.] The calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wyclif (Deut. xxviii. 35).

Spa"roid (?; 277), a. [L. sparus the gilthead + -oid: cf. F. sparoïde.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Sparidæ, a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the scup, sheepshead, and sea bream. -- n. One of the Sparidæ.

Spar"piece` (?), n. (Arch.) The collar beam of a roof; the spanpiece. Gwilt.

Spar"poil (?), v. t. [See Sparble.] To scatter; to spread; to disperse. [Obs.]

Spar"row (?), n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See Spurn, and cf. Spavin.] 1. (Zoöl.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.

The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge.

He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age!

Shak.

Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc. -- Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. -- Sparrow hawk. (Zoöl.) (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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]

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

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

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 (?), 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, v. t. [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to scatter.] To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Spar"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 (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spar&?;a.] An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd. [Obs.]

He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight.

Chaucer.

<! p. 1379 !>

Sparve (?), n. (Zoöl.) The hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Spas*mod"ic, n. (Med.) A medicine for spasm.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Spa*tan"goid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Spatangoidea. -- n. One of the Spatangoidea.

||Spat`an*goi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Spatangus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) ||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.

||Spa*tan"gus (?), n. [NL., fr. L. spatangius a kind of sea urchin, Gr. ||&?;.] (Zoöl.) A genus of heart-shaped sea urchins belonging to the ||Spatangoidea.

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

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.

||Spa"tha (?), n.; pl. Spathæ (#). [L.] (Bot.) A spathe.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Spat"tle, n. 1. A spatula.

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

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.

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.

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

Spav"in (?), n. [OE. spaveyne, OF. esparvain, F. éparvin; akin to OF. espervier a sparrow hawk, F. épervier, fr. OHG. sparwri (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.

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

Spaw (?), n. See Spa.

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

Spawl, n. [Cf. AS. sptl, fr. sptan to spit; probably akin to spwan, E. spew. Cf. Spew.] Scattered or ejected spittle.

Spawl, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Spawled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spawling.] [Cf. AS. sptlian.] 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.

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

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

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

Spawn, n. [&radic;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 (Zoöl.), a small American cyprinoid fish (Notropis Hudsonius) allied to the dace.

Spawn"er (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) 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 (?), 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, n. [Cf. Spade a spay, Spay, v. t.] (Zoöl.) The male of the red deer in his third year; a spade.

{ Spay"ad (?), Spay"ade (?) }, n. (Zoöl.) A spay.

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. sphrj 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 Cæsar'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.

To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of. Robynson (More's Utopia). -- To speak out, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly. -- To speak well for, to commend; to be favorable to. -- To speak with, to converse with. "Would you speak with me?" Shak.

Syn. -- To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.

Speak (?), v. t. 1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings.

They sat down with him upn ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him.

Job. ii. 13.

2. To utter in a word or words; to say; to tell; to declare orally; as, to speak the truth; to speak sense.

3. To declare; to proclaim; to publish; to make known; to exhibit; to express in any way.

It is my father;s muste To speak your deeds.

Shak.

Speaking a still good morrow with her eyes.

Tennyson.

And for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak The maker's high magnificence.

Milton.

Report speaks you a bonny monk.

Sir W. Scott.

4. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin.

And French she spake full fair and fetisely.

Chaucer.

5. To address; to accost; to speak to.

[He will] thee in hope; he will speak thee fair.

Ecclus. xiii. 6.

each village senior paused to scan And speak the lovely caravan.

Emerson.

To speak a ship (Naut.), to hail and speak to her captain or commander.

Speak"a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being spoken; fit to be spoken. Ascham.

2. Able to speak. Milton.

Speak"er (?), n. 1. One who speaks. Specifically: (a) One who utters or pronounces a discourse; usually, one who utters a speech in public; as, the man is a good speaker, or a bad speaker. (b) One who is the mouthpiece of others; especially, one who presides over, or speaks for, a delibrative assembly, preserving order and regulating the debates; as, the Speaker of the House of Commons, originally, the mouthpiece of the House to address the king; the Speaker of a House of Representatives.

2. A book of selections for declamation. [U. S.]

Speak"er*ship, n. The office of speaker; as, the speakership of the House of Representatives.

Speak"ing, a. 1. Uttering speech; used for conveying speech; as, man is a speaking animal; a speaking tube.

2. Seeming to be capable of speech; hence, lifelike; as, a speaking likeness.

A speaking acquaintance, a slight acquaintance with a person, or one which merely permits the exchange of salutations and remarks on indifferent subjects. -- Speaking trumpet, an instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet, by which the sound of the human voice may be so intensified as to be conveyed to a great distance. -- Speaking tube, a tube for conveying speech, especially from one room to another at a distance. -- To be on speaking terms, to be slightly acquainted.

Speak"ing, n. 1. The act of uttering words.

2. Public declamation; oratory.

Spear (?), n. [OE. spere, AS. spere; akin to D. & G. speer, OS. & OHS. sper, Icel. spjör, pl., Dan. spær, L. sparus.] 1. A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance. [See Illust. of Spearhead.] "A sharp ground spear." Chaucer.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.

Micah iv. 3.

2. Fig.: A spearman. Sir W. Scott.

3. A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.

4. A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

5. The feather of a horse. See Feather, n., 4.

6. The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

Spear foot, the off hind foot of a horse. -- Spear grass. (Bot.) (a) The common reed. See Reed, n., 1. (b) meadow grass. See under Meadow. -- Spear hand, the hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right hand. Crabb. -- Spear side, the male line of a family. Lowell. -- Spear thistle (Bot.), the common thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus).

Spear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Speared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spearing.] To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.

Spear, v. i. To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire. Mortimer.

Spear"er (?), n. One who uses a spear; as, a spearer of fish.

Spear"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and powerful fish (Tetrapturus albidus) related to the swordfish, but having scales and ventral fins. It is found on the American coast and the Mediterranean. (b) The carp sucker.

<! p. 1380 !>

Spear"head` (?), n. The pointed head, or end, of a spear.

Spear"man (?), n.; pl. Spearmen (&?;). One who is armed with a spear. Acts xxiii. 23.

Spear"mint` (?), n. [So named from its spiry, not capitate, inflorescence. Dr. Prior.] (Bot.) A species of mint (Mentha viridis) growing in moist soil. It vields an aromatic oil. See Mint, and Mentha.

Spear"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) An Australian tree (Acacia Doratoxylon), and its tough wood, used by the natives for spears.

Spear"wort` (?), n. [AS. sperewyrt.] (Bot.) A name given to several species of crowfoot (Ranunculus) which have spear-shaped leaves.