*spur*

v. t. To spurt on or over; to asperse. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A variety of Cratægus, or hawthorn (Cratægus Crus-galli), having long, straight thorns; -- called also Cockspur thorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. conspurcatus, p. p. of conspurcare. ] To pollute; to defile. [ Obs. ] Cockeram. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. conspurcare, -spuratum, to defile. ] The act of defiling; defilement; pollution. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To dissuade; to frustrate; as, to dispurpose plots. [ R. ] A. Brewer.

v. t. To disburse. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + purvey: cf. OF. desporveoir, F. dépourvoir. ] To disfurnish; to strip. [ Obs. ] Heywood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want of provisions; &unr_;ack of food. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who rides before; a harbinger. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A slender bony or cartilaginous process developed from the heel bone of bats. It helps to support the wing membranes. See Illust. of Cheiropter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Hot + spur. ] A rash, hot-headed man. Holinshed.

{ , a. Violent; impetuous; headstrong. Spenser. Peacham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A genus of ranunculaceous plants (Delphinium), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the gardens is Delphinium Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (Delphinium elatum) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called from the length of the hind claw. ] (Zool.) Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genus Calcarius (or Plectrophanes), and allied genera. The Lapland longspur (Calcarius Lapponicus), the chestnut-colored longspur (Calcarius ornatus), and other species, inhabit the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Sparrow. ] (Zool.) (a) A sparrow. [ Scot. ] (b) A tern. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. spure, spore, 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. √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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And on her feet a pair of spurs large. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which goads to action; an incitement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights and live laborious days. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something that projects; a snag. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain birds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 beam to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. (Mining) A branch of a vein. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

14. The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Spur fowl (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. “Now spurs the lated traveler.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Parthians shall be there,
And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To gall or wound with a spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] To emit foam; to froth; -- said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [ Obs. ] W. Cartright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge. ] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See Euphorbia. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spurge flax, an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow leaves. It is a 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Spurge. ] A purging. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. spurius. ] 1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; counterfeit; false; adulterate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. “Her spurious firstborn.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spurious primary, or
Spurious quill (Zool.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. --
Spurious wing (Zool.), the bastard wing, or alula. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Spu"ri*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no spurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Sparling. ] (Zool.) A tern. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spurned p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning. ] [ OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. √171. See Spur. ] 1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The bird ] with his foot will spurn adown his cup. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

What safe and nicely I might well delay
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To kick or toss up the heels. [ 1913 Webster ]

The miller spurned at a stone. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What defense can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous treatment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mining) A body of coal left to sustain an overhanging mass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who spurns. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spurred corolla (Bot.), a corolla in which there are one or more petals with a spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who spurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) See Spurry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One whose occupation is to make spurs. B. Jonson. “The saddlers and spurriers would be ruined by thousands.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [ Written also spur-rial, and spur-ryal. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. or OF. spurrie; cf. G. spergel, NL. spergula. ] (Bot.) An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder. [ Written also spurrey. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sand spurry (Bot.), any low herb of the genus Lepigonum, mostly found in sandy places. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several species of handsome marine gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i. ] To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock,
Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sudden or violent ejection or gushing of a liquid, as of water from a tube, orifice, or other confined place, or of blood from a wound; a jet; a spirt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A shoot; a bud. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: A sudden outbreak; as, a spurt of jealousy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spurt grass (Bot.), a rush fit for basket work. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Icel. sprettr a spurt, spring, run, spretta to spirt, spring. ] A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. [ 1913 Webster ]

The long, steady sweep of the so-called “paddle” tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Spurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurting. ] To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Freq. of spurt. ] To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. spoor a track, trace (AS. spor) + way. ] A bridle path. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spur-winged goose (Zool.), any one of several species of long-legged African geese of the genus Plectropterus and allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the wing, as the Gambo goose (Plectropterus Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose (Alopochen Aegyptiaca). --
Spur-winged plover (Zool.), an Old World plover (Hoplopterus spinosus) having a sharp spur on the bend of the wing. It inhabits Northern Africa and the adjacent parts of Asia and Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]