spans

adj. covered with beads or jewels or sequins.
Syn. -- beaded, beady, bejeweled, bejewelled, gemmed, jeweled, jewelled, sequined, spangled, spangly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. One of an old and well-known Mediterranean breed of domestic fowls with glossy black plumage, blue legs and feet, bright red comb and wattles, and white face. They are remarkable as egg layers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ So called from Blenheim House, the seat of the duke of Marlborough, in England. ] A small variety of spaniel, kept as a pet. [ 1913 Webster ]

. One of a breed of small or medium-sized spaniels kept for hunting or retrieving game or for household pets. They usually weigh from eighteen to twenty-eight pounds. They have the head of fair length, with square muzzle, the ears long and set low, the legs short or of medium length, and the coat fine and silky, wavy but not curly. Various colors are bred, as black, liver, red, black and white, black and tan, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ L. dispandere to spread out; pref. dis- + pandere, pansum, to spread out. ] To spread out; to expand. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Dispand. ] Act of dispanding, or state of being dispanded. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a rich beef stock with tomatoes and madeira and minced carrots and onions and celery.
Syn. -- sauce espanole. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. Hispanicus. ] Of or pertaining to Spain or its language; as, Hispanic words. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Spanish idiom or mode of speech. Keightley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give a Spanish form or character to; as, to Hispanicize Latin words. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to Haiti.
Syn. -- Haitian. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. & i. [ D. inspannen. ] To yoke or harness, as oxen to a vehicle. [ South Africa ] [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. (Zool.) A variety of small pet dogs, having, drooping ears, a high, dome-shaped forehead, pug nose, large, prominent eyes, and long, wavy hair. The color is usually black and tan. [ 1913 Webster ]

. One of a breed of field spaniels similar to the clumbers, but shorter in body and of a liver-and-white or black-and-white color. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. & i. [ D. uitspannen. ] To unyoke or disengage, as oxen from a wagon; to unharness (a horse). [ S. Africa ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of outspanning. [ PJC ]

2. A place where outspanning is done; Hence: An encampment. [ South African ] [ PJC ]

v. t. To reach or extend over. [ 1913 Webster ]

archaic imp. & p. p. of Spin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. spönn. √170. See Span, v. t. ] 1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy. Farquhar. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. [ Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spaend, G. gespann. See Span, v. t. ] A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Span blocks (Naut.), blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards. --
Span counter, an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters. Halliwell. “Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns.” Shak. --
Span iron (Naut.), a special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat. --
Span roof, a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides. Gwilt. --
Span shackle (Naut.), a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit. Ham. Nav. Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spanned p. pr. & vb. n. Spanning. ] [ AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan. spaende, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. &unr_; to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. √170. Cf. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm. ] 1. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Isa. xiviii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry. prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be matched, as horses. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; scarce + &unr_; blood. ] (Med.) A condition of impoverishment of the blood; a morbid state in which the red corpuscles, or other important elements of the blood, are deficient. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to spanaemia; having impoverished blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perhaps span + AS. sāl a rope. ] A rope used for tying or hobbling the legs of a horse or cow. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S. ] Grose. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spanceled r Spancelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spanceling or Spancelling. ] To tie or hobble with a spancel. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S. ] Malone. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. An elastic textile material, used for clothing [ Trade name ] [ PJC ]

n. pl. A pair of grappling dogs for hoisting logs and timber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Span. ] 1. (Arch.) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the inclosing right angle; or the space between the outer moldings of two contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch above and inclosing them. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Akin to G. spänen, LG. & D. spennen, AS. spanu a teat. ] To wean. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To spangle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To spring; to bound; to leap. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

But when they spang o'er reason's fence,
We smart for't at our own expense. Ramsay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bound or spring. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. spange a clasp or fastening; akin to D. spang, G. spange, OHG. spanga, Icel. spöng a spangle. ] A spangle or shining ornament. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With glittering spangs that did like stars appear. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. spangel, dim. of AS. spange. See Spang a spangle. ] 1. A small plate or boss of shining metal; something brilliant used as an ornament, especially when stitched on the dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, any little thing that sparkless. “The rich spangles that adorn the sky.” Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oak spangle. See under Oak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spangled p. pr. & vb. n. Spangling ] To set or sprinkle with, or as with, spangles; to adorn with small, distinct, brilliant bodies; as, a spangled breastplate. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spangled coquette (Zool.), a tropical humming bird (Lophornis reginae). See Coquette, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To show brilliant spots or points; to glisten; to glitter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some men by feigning words as dark as mine
Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, spangles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling, or consisting of, spangles; glittering; as, spangly light. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A native or inhabitant of Spain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. espagneul, F. épagneul, espagnol Spanish, Sp. españnol, fr. España Spain, from L. Hispania. ] 1. (Zool.) One of a breed of small dogs having long and thick hair and large drooping ears. The legs are usually strongly feathered, and the tail bushy. See Illust. under Clumber, and Cocker. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels, are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under Blenheim). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers, and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a spaniel she will on him leap. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cringing, fawning person. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cringing; fawning. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [ R. ] Churchill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To follow like a spaniel. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The language of Spain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Spain or the Spaniards. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spanish bayonet (Bot.), a liliaceous plant (Yucca alorifolia) with rigid spine-tipped leaves. The name is also applied to other similar plants of the Southwestern United States and mexico. Called also Spanish daggers. --
Spanish bean (Bot.) See the Note under Bean. --
Spanish black, a black pigment obtained by charring cork. Ure. --
Spanish broom (Bot.), a leguminous shrub (Spartium junceum) having many green flexible rushlike twigs. --
Spanish brown, a species of earth used in painting, having a dark reddish brown color, due to the presence of sesquioxide of iron. --
Spanish buckeye (Bot.), a small tree (Ungnadia speciosa) of Texas, New Mexico, etc., related to the buckeye, but having pinnate leaves and a three-seeded fruit. --
Spanish burton (Naut.), a purchase composed of two single blocks. A
double Spanish burton has one double and two single blocks. Luce (Textbook of Seamanship). --
Spanish chalk (Min.), a kind of steatite; -- so called because obtained from Aragon in Spain. --
Spanish cress (Bot.), a cruciferous plant (Lepidium Cadamines), a species of peppergrass. --
Spanish curlew (Zool.), the long-billed curlew. [ U.S. ] --
Spanish daggers (Bot.) See Spanish bayonet. --
Spanish elm (Bot.), a large West Indian tree (Cordia Gerascanthus) furnishing hard and useful timber. --
Spanish feretto, a rich reddish brown pigment obtained by calcining copper and sulphur together in closed crucibles. --
Spanish flag (Zool.), the California rockfish (Sebastichthys rubrivinctus). It is conspicuously colored with bands of red and white. --
Spanish fly (Zool.), a brilliant green beetle, common in the south of Europe, used for raising blisters. See Blister beetle under Blister, and Cantharis. --
Spanish fox (Naut.), a yarn twisted against its lay. --
Spanish grass. (Bot.) See Esparto. --
Spanish juice (Bot.), licorice. --
Spanish leather. See Cordwain. --
Spanish mackerel. (Zool.) (a) A species of mackerel (Scomber colias) found both in Europe and America. In America called chub mackerel, big-eyed mackerel, and bull mackerel. (b) In the United States, a handsome mackerel having bright yellow round spots (Scomberomorus maculatus), highly esteemed as a food fish. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to other species. See Illust. under Mackerel. --
Spanish main, the name formerly given to the southern portion of the Caribbean Sea, together with the contiguous coast, embracing the route traversed by Spanish treasure ships from the New to the Old World. --
Spanish moss. (Bot.) See Tillandsia (and note at that entry). --
Spanish needles (Bot.), a composite weed (Bidens bipinnata) having achenia armed with needlelike awns. --
Spanish nut (Bot.), a bulbous plant (Iris Sisyrinchium) of the south of Europe. --
Spanish potato (Bot.), the sweet potato. See under Potato. --
Spanish red, an ocherous red pigment resembling Venetian red, but slightly yellower and warmer. Fairholt. --
Spanish reef (Naut.), a knot tied in the head of a jib-headed sail. --
Spanish sheep (Zool.), a merino. --
Spanish white, an impalpable powder prepared from chalk by pulverizing and repeated washings, -- used as a white pigment. --
Spanish windlass (Naut.), a wooden roller, with a rope wound about it, into which a marline spike is thrust to serve as a lever. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spanked p. pr. & vb. n. Spanking. ] [ Of unknown origin; cf. LG. spakken, spenkern, to run and spring about quickly. ] To strike, as the breech, with the open hand; to slap. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A blow with the open hand; a slap. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To move with a quick, lively step between a trot and gallop; to move quickly. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]