Chapter 86

6. Any active power; that by which action, or motion, is produced or propagated; cause; origin; motive.

Our author shuns by vulgar springs to move The hero's glory, or the virgin's love.

Pope.

7. That which springs, or is originated, from a source; as: (a) A race; lineage. [Obs.] Chapman. (b) A youth; a springal. [Obs.] Spenser. (c) A shoot; a plant; a young tree; also, a grove of trees; woodland. [Obs.] Spenser. Milton.

8. That which causes one to spring; specifically, a lively tune. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

9. The season of the year when plants begin to vegetate and grow; the vernal season, usually comprehending the months of March, April, and May, in the middle latitudes north of the equator. "The green lap of the new-come spring." Shak.

Spring of the astronomical year begins with the vernal equinox, about March 21st, and ends with the summer solstice, about June 21st.

10. The time of growth and progress; early portion; first stage. "The spring of the day." 1 Sam. ix. 26.

O how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day.

Shak.

11. (Naut.) (a) A crack or fissure in a mast or yard, running obliquely or transversely. (b) A line led from a vessel's quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored.

Air spring, Boiling spring, etc. See under Air, Boiling, etc. -- Spring back (Bookbinding), a back with a curved piece of thin sheet iron or of stiff pasteboard fastened to the inside, the effect of which is to make the leaves of a book thus bound (as a ledger or other account or blank book) spring up and lie flat. -- Spring balance, a contrivance for measuring weight or force by the elasticity of a spiral spring of steel. -- Spring beam, a beam that supports the side of a paddle box. See Paddle beam, under Paddle, n. -- Spring beauty. (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Claytonia, delicate herbs with somewhat fleshy leaves and pretty blossoms, appearing in springtime. (b) (Zoöl.) A small, elegant American butterfly (Erora læta) which appears in spring. The hind wings of the male are brown, bordered with deep blue; those of the female are mostly blue. -- Spring bed, a mattress, under bed, or bed bottom, in which springs, as of metal, are employed to give the required elasticity. -- Spring beetle (Zoöl.), a snapping beetle; an elater. -- Spring box, the box or barrel in a watch, or other piece of mechanism, in which the spring is contained. -- Spring fly (Zoöl.), a caddice fly; - - so called because it appears in the spring. -- Spring grass (Bot.), a vernal grass. See under Vernal. -- Spring gun, a firearm disharged by a spring, when this is trodden upon or is otherwise moved. -- Spring hook (Locomotive Engines), one of the hooks which fix the driving-wheel spring to the frame. -- Spring latch, a latch that fastens with a spring. <! p. 1394 !> -- Spring lock, a lock that fastens with a spring. -- Spring mattress, a spring bed. -- Spring of an arch (Arch.) See Springing line of an arch, under Springing. -- Spring of pork, the lower part of a fore quarter, which is divided from the neck, and has the leg and foot without the shoulder. [Obs.] Nares.

Sir, pray hand the spring of pork to me.

Gayton.

-- Spring pin (Locomotive Engines), an iron rod fitted between the springs and the axle boxes, to sustain and regulate the pressure on the axles. -- Spring rye, a kind of rye sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter rye, sown in autumn. -- Spring stay (Naut.), a preventer stay, to assist the regular one. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Spring tide, the tide which happens at, or soon after, the new and the full moon, and which rises higher than common tides. See Tide. -- Spring wagon, a wagon in which springs are interposed between the body and the axles to form elastic supports. -- Spring wheat, any kind of wheat sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter wheat, which is sown in autumn.

{ Spring"al (?), Spring"ald (?), Spring"all (?) }, a. [Scot. springald, springel, fr. Scot. & E. spring.] An active, springly young man. [Obs.] "There came two springals of full tender years." Spenser.

Joseph, when he was sold to Potiphar, that great man, was a fair young springall.

Latimer.

Spring"al, n. [OF. espringale; of Teutonic origin, akin to E. spring.] An ancient military engine for casting stones and arrows by means of a spring.

Spring"board` (?), n. An elastic board, secured at the ends, or at one end, often by elastic supports, used in performing feats of agility or in exercising.

{ ||Spring"bok` (?), Spring"buck` (?) }, n. [D. springbok; springen to spring, leap + bok a he-goat, buck.] (Zoöl.) A South African gazelle (Gazella euchore) noted for its graceful form and swiftness, and for its peculiar habit of springing lighty and suddenly into the air. It has a white dorsal stripe, expanding into a broad patch of white on the rump and tail. Called also springer. [Written also springboc, and springbock.]

Springe (?), n. [From Spring, v. i.: cf. G. sprenkel, Prov. E. springle.] A noose fastened to an elastic body, and drawn close with a sudden spring, whereby it catches a bird or other animal; a gin; a snare.

As a woodcock to mine own springe.

Shak.

Springe, v. t. To catch in a springe; to insnare. [R.]

Spring"e (? or ?), v. t. [OE. sprengen. See Sprinkle.] To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.]

He would sowen some difficulty, Or springen cockle in our cleane corn.

Chaucer.

Spring"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, springs; specifically, one who rouses game.

2. A young plant. [Obs.] Evelyn.

3. (Arch.) (a) The impost, or point at which an arch rests upon its support, and from which it seems to spring. Hence: (b) The bottom stone of an arch, which lies on the impost. The skew back is one form of springer. (c) The rib of a groined vault, as being the solid abutment for each section of vaulting.

4. (Zoöl.) The grampus.

5. (Zoöl.) A variety of the field spaniel. See Spaniel.

6. (Zoöl.) A species of antelope; the sprinkbok.

Spring"halt` (?), n. (Far.) A kind of lameness in horse. See Stringhalt. Shak.

Spring"head` (?), n. A fountain or source.

Spring"i*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being springly. Boyle.

Spring"ing, n. 1. The act or process of one who, or that which, springs.

2. Growth; increase; also, that which springs up; a shoot; a plant.

Thou blessest the springing thereof.

Ps. lxv. 10.

Springing line of an arch (Arch.), the horizontal line drawn through the junction of the vertical face of the impost with the curve of the intrados; -- called also spring of an arch.

Sprin"gle (?), n. A springe. [Prov. Eng.]

Spring"let (?), n. A little spring.

But yet from out the little hill Oozes the slender springlet still.

Sir W. Scott.

Spring"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order Thysanura. They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See Collembola, and Podura.

Spring"tide (?), n. The time of spring; springtime. Thomson.

Spring"time` (?), n. The season of spring; springtide.

Spring"y (?), a. [Compar. Springier (?); superl. Springiest.] [From Spring.] 1. Resembling, having the qualities of, or pertaining to, a spring; elastic; as, springy steel; a springy step.

Though her little frame was slight, it was firm and springy.

Sir W. Scott.

2. Abounding with springs or fountains; wet; spongy; as, springy land.

Sprin"kle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprinkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinkling (?).] [OE. sprenkelen, freq. of sprengen to sprinkle, to scatter, AS. sprengan, properly, to make to spring, causative of springan to spring; akin to D. sprenkelen to sprinkle, G. sprengen. See Spring, v. i., and cf. Sprent.] 1. To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc.

2. To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with sand.

3. To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.

Heb. x. 22.

Sprin"kle, v. i. 1. To scatter a liquid, or any fine substance, so that it may fall in particles.

And the priest shall . . . sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.

Lev. xiv. 16.

2. To rain moderately, or with scattered drops falling now and then; as, it sprinkles.

3. To fly or be scattered in small drops or particles.

Sprin"kle, n. 1. A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

2. A utensil for sprinkling; a sprinkler. [Obs.]

Sprin"kler (?), n. 1. One who sprinkles.

2. An instrument or vessel used in sprinkling; specifically, a watering pot.

Sprin"kling (?), n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, sprinkles.

Baptism may well enough be performed by sprinkling or effusion of water.

Ayliffe.

2. A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling of rain or snow.

3. Hence, a moderate number or quantity distributed like drops. Craik.

Sprint (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinting.] [Cf. Sprunt.] To run very rapidly; to run at full speed.

A runner [in a quarter-mile race] should be able to sprint the whole way.

Encyc. Brit.

Sprint, n. The act of sprinting; a run of a short distance at full speed.

Sprint race, a foot race at the highest running speed; -- usually limited to distance under a quarter of a mile.

Sprint"er (?), n. One who sprints; one who runs in sprint races; as, a champion sprinter.

Sprit (?), v. t. [Akin to G. spritzen, sprützen. See Sprit, v. i.] To throw out with force from a narrow orifice; to eject; to spurt out. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sprit, v. i. [AS. spryttan to sprout, but. See Sprout, v. i., and cf. Spurt, v. t., Sprit a spar.] To sprout; to bud; to germinate, as barley steeped for malt.

Sprit, n. A shoot; a sprout. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Sprit, n. [OE. spret, AS. spreót a sprit; spear; akin to D. spriet, and E. sprout, sprit, v.t. & i. See Sprout, v. i.] (Naut.) A small boom, pole, or spar, which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aftmost corner, which it is used to extend and elevate.

Sprite (?), n. [OE. sprit, F. esprit, fr. L. spiritus. See Spirit, and cf. Sprightly.] 1. A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.

Gaping graves received the wandering, guilty sprite.

Dryden.

2. An elf; a fairy; a goblin.

3. (Zoöl.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

Sprite"ful (?), a. Sprite"ful*ly, adv., Sprite"li*ness (&?;), n., Sprite"ly, a., etc. See Sprightful, Sprightfully, Sprightliness, Sprightly, etc.

Sprit"sail (? or ?), n. (Naut.) (a) A sail extended by a sprit. (b) A sail formerly hung under the bowsprit, from the spritsail yard.

Sprock"et wheel` (?). [Etymology of sprocket is uncertain.] (Mach.) Same as Chain wheel.

Sprod (?), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. bradan a salmon.] (Zoöl.) A salmon in its second year. [Prov. Eng.]

Sprong (?), obs. imp. of Spring. Sprung.

Sprout (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprouting.] [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. spr&?;ta, AS. spreótan, D. spruiten, G. spriessen, Sw. spruta to squirt, to spout. Cf. Sprit, v. t. & i., Sprit a spar, Spout, v. t., Spurt.] 1. To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants.

2. To shoot into ramifications. [Obs.] Bacon.

Sprout, v. t. 1. To cause to sprout; as, the rain will sprout the seed.

2. To deprive of sprouts; as, to sprout potatoes.

Sprout, n. [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See Sprout, v. i.] 1. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.

2. pl. Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts. Johnson.

Brussels sprouts (Bot.) See under Brussels.

Spruce (?), n. [OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, Spruce, a.] 1. (Bot.) Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. alba and P. nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea.

2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree.

3. Prussia leather; pruce. [Obs.]

Spruce, a sort of leather corruptly so called for Prussia leather.

E. Phillips.

Douglas spruce (Bot.), a valuable timber tree (Pseudotsuga Douglasii) of Northwestern America. -- Essence of spruce, a thick, dark-colored, bitterish, and acidulous liquid made by evaporating a decoction of the young branches of spruce. -- Hemlock spruce (Bot.), a graceful coniferous tree (Tsuga Canadensis) of North America. Its timber is valuable, and the bark is largely used in tanning leather. -- Spruce beer. [G. sprossenbier; sprosse sprout, shoot (akin to E. sprout, n.) + bier beer. The word was changed into spruce because the beer came from Prussia (OE. Spruce), or because it was made from the sprouts of the spruce. See Sprout, n., Beer, and cf. Spruce, n.] A kind of beer which is tinctured or flavored with spruce, either by means of the extract or by decoction. -- Spruce grouse. (Zoöl.) Same as Spruce partridge, below. - - Spruce leather. See Spruce, n., 3. -- Spruce partridge (Zoöl.), a handsome American grouse (Dendragapus Canadensis) found in Canada and the Northern United States; -- called also Canada grouse.

Spruce (?), a. [Compar. Sprucer (?); superl. Sprucest] [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See Spruce, n.] 1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; -- formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. "Neat and spruce array." Remedy of Love.

2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] "Now, my spruce companions." Shak.

He is so spruce that he can never be genteel.

Tatler.

Syn. -- Finical; neat; trim. See Finical.

-- Sruce"ly, adv. -- Spruce"ness, n.

Spruce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spruced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprucing (?).] To dress with affected neatness; to trim; to make spruce.

Spruce, v. i. To dress one's self with affected neatness; as, to spruce up.

Sprue (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. (Founding) (a) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. (b) The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross.

2. (Med.) Same as Sprew.

Sprug (?), v. t. [Cf. Prov. E. sprug up to dress neatly, sprag to prop, a., lively.] To make smart. [Obs.]

Sprung (?), imp. & p. p. of Spring.

Sprung, a. (Naut.) Said of a spar that has been cracked or strained.

Sprunt (?), v. i. [Cf. Sprout, v. i.] To spring up; to germinate; to spring forward or outward. [Obs.]

To sprunt up, to draw one's self up suddenly, as in anger or defiance; to bristle up. [Local, U.S.]

Sprunt, n. 1. Anything short and stiff. [Obs.]

2. A leap; a spring. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

3. A steep ascent in a road. [Prov. Eng.]

Sprunt, a. Active; lively; vigorous. [Obs.] Kersey.

Sprunt"ly, adv. In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spry (?), a. [Compar. Sprier or Spryer (&?;); superl. Spriest or Spryest.] [Cf. dial. Sw. sprygg lively, skittish, and E. sprag.] Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active. [U.S. & Local Eng.]

She is as spry as a cricket.

S. Judd (Margaret).

If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry.

Emerson.

Spud (?), n. [Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.] 1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes.

My spud these nettles from the stone can part.

Swyft.

2. A dagger. [Obs.] olland.

3. Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. [Local, U.S.]

Spue (?), v. t. & i. See Spew.

Spuil"zie (?), n. See Spulzie.

Spuke (?), n. See Spook.

Spul"ler (&?;), n. [For spooler.] [See Spool.] One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom. [Prov. Eng.]

Spul"zie (?), n. [Cf. Spoil.] Plunder, or booty. [Written also spuilzie, and spulye.] Sir W. Scott.

Spume (?), n. [L. spuma. Cf. Pumice, Spoom.] Frothy matter raised on liquids by boiling, effervescence, or agitation; froth; foam; scum.

Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery spume.

Milton.

Spume, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spuming.] [L. spumare.] To froth; to foam.

Spume"ous (?), a. Spumous. [Obs.] r. H. More.

Spu*mes"cence (?), n. [See Spumescent.] The state of being foamy; frothiness.

Spu*mes"cent (?), a. [L. spumescens, p. pr. of spumescere to grow foamy, from spuma foam.] Resembling froth or foam; foaming.

Spum"id (?), a. [L. spumidis.] Spumous; frothy. [Obs.]

Spu*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. spumifier; spuma foam + ferra bear.] Producing foam.

Spum"i*ness (?), n. The quality or condition of being spumy; spumescence.

<! p. 1395 !>

{ Spum"ous (?), Spum"y (?) }, a. [L. spumosus, &?; spuma foam: cf. F. spumeux.] Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy.

The spumous and florid state of the blood.

Arbuthnot.

The spumy waves proclaim the watery war.

Dryden.

Spun (?), imp. & p. p. of Spin.

Spun hay, hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition. -- Spun silk, a cheap article produced from floss, or short- fibered, broken, and waste silk, carded and spun, in distinction from the long filaments wound from the cocoon. It is often mixed with cotton. -- Spun yarn (Naut.), a line formed of two or more rope-yarns loosely twisted.

Spunge (spnj), n. A sponge. [Obs.]

Spunk (spk), n. [Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), spn a chip. Cf. Sponge, Punk.] [Written also sponk.] 1. Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. Sir T. Browne.

2. An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.]

A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body.

Prof. Wilson.

Spunk"y (?), a. [Compar. Spunkier (?); superl. Spunkiest.] Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]

Spur (?), n. [See Sparrow.] (Zoöl.) (a) A sparrow. [Scot.] (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

Spur, n. [OE. spure, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. &radic;171. Cf. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.] 1. An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood.

And on her feet a pair of spurs large.

Chaucer.

2. That which goads to action; an incitement.

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days.

Milton.

3. Something that projects; a snag.

4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak.

5. (Zoöl.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.

6. A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.

7. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.

8. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

9. (Arch.) (a) The short wooden buttress of a post. (b) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.

10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]

11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

12. (Shipbuilding) (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side. (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.

Spur fowl (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic gallinaceous birds of the genus Galloperdix, allied to the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each leg. -- Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. -- Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing. -- Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum. -- Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.

Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurring.] 1. To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.

Love will not be spurred to what it loathes.

Shak.

3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

Spur, v. i. To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated traveler." Shak.

The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear.

Dryden.

The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster.

Macaulay.

Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves.

Grew.

Spur"gall` (?), n. A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.

Spur"gall`, v. t. To gall or wound with a spur.

Spurge (?), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; -- said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright.

Spurge, n. [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See Euphorbia.

Spurge flax, an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow leaves. It is native of Southern Europe. -- Spurge laurel, a European shrub (Daphne Laureola) with oblong evergreen leaves. -- Spurge nettle. See under Nettle. -- Spurge olive, an evergreen shrub (Daphne oleoides) found in the Mediterranean region.

Spurge"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.

Spur"ging (?), n. [See 2d Spurge.] A purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spu"ri*ous (?), a. [L. spurius.] 1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. "Her spurious firstborn." Milton.

Spurious primary, or Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. -- Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.

Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard.

-- Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Spu"ri*ous*ness, n.

Spur"less (?), a. Having no spurs.

Spur"ling (?), n. [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.) A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

Spur"ling-line` (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor. Scot. spurl to sprawl.] (Naut.) The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.