Chapter CDXXIII: Prologue (74)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand. Sphex fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies of the genus Conops and allied genera. The form of the body is similar to that of a sphex.

SPHIGMOMETER Sphig*mom"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Sphygmometer.

SPHINCTER Sphinc"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.

SPHINCTER Sphinc"ter, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter; as, a sphincter muscle.

SPHINGID Sphin"gid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sphinx.

SPHINGID Sphin"gid, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidæ.

SPHINX Sphinx, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. sfi`gx, usually derived from sfi`ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.]

1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion. The awful ruins of the days of old . . . Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx. Shelley.

(b) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.

Note: The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in Boeotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by "Subtle as sphinx." Shak.

2. Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidæ; -- called also hawk moth.

Note: The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx). Sphinx baboon (Zoöl.), a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx), often kept in menageries. -- Sphinx moth. (Zoöl.) Same as Sphinx, 3.

SPHRAGIDE Sphrag"ide, n.Etym: [L. sphragis, -idis, Lemnian earth, fr. Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Lemnian earth.

SPHRAGISTICS Sphra*gis"tics, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.

SPHRIGOSIS Sphri*go"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers and fruit.

SPHYGMIC Sphyg"mic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pulse.

SPHYGMOGRAM Sphyg"mo*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph.

SPHYGMOGRAPH Sphyg"mo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.

SPHYGMOGRAPHIC Sphyg`mo*graph"ic, a. (Phusiol.)

Defn: Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.

SPHYGMOMETER Sphyg*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.

SPHYGMOPHONE Sphyg"mo*phone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.

SPHYGMOSCOPE Sphyg"mo*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Same as Sphygmograph.

SPHYRAENOID Sphy*ræ"noid, a.Etym: [L. sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Sphyrænidæ, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.

SPIAL Spi"al, n.

Defn: A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.

SPICA Spi"ca, n.; pl. Spicæ. Etym: [L., an ear, as of corn.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo.

SPICATE; SPICATED Spi"cate, Spi"ca*ted, a. Etym: [L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.

SPICCATO Spic*ca"to, a. Etym: [It., p. p. of spicare to detach, to separate.] (Mus.)

Defn: Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.

SPICE Spice, n. Etym: [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F. épice spice, espèce species, fr. L. species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, LL., spices, drugs, etc., of the same sort, fr. L. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.]

1. Species; kind. [Obs.] The spices of penance ben three. Chaucer. Abstain you from all evil spice. Wyclif (1. Thess,v. 22). Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in two kinds of spices. The one is named justice distributive, the other is called commutative. Sir T. Elyot.

2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc. Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices Piers Plowman.

3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief. So much of the will, with a spice of the willful. Coleridge.

SPICE Spice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiced; p. p. & vb. n. Spicing.]

1. To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit. She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery poisons. Chapman.

2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices. In the spiced Indian air, by night. Shak.

3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [Obs.] "A spiced conscience." Chaucer.

SPICEBUSH Spice"bush`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Spicewood.

SPICENUT Spice"nut`.

Defn: A small crisp cake, highly spiced.

SPICER Spi"cer, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. espicier, F. épicier.]

1. One who seasons with spice.

2. One who deals in spice. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

SPICERY Spi"cer*y, n. Etym: [OF. espicerie, F. épicerie.]

1. Spices, in general. Chaucer.

2. A repository of spices. Addison.

SPICEWOOD Spice"wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An American shrub (Lindera Benzoin), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; -- called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever bush.

SPICIFEROUS Spi*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spicifer bearing spikes, or ears; spica ear + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.

SPICIFORM Spi"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. spica a spike, ear + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Spike-shaped. Gray.

SPICILY Spi"ci*ly, adv.

Defn: In a spicy manner.

SPICINESS Spi"ci*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being spicy.

SPICK Spick, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. spik. See Spike a nail.]

Defn: A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.] Spick and span, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand- new; as, a spick and span novelty. See Span-new. Howell.

SPICKNEL Spick"nel, n. Etym: [Contr. from spike nail a large, long nail; -- so called in allusion to the shape of its capillary leaves.] (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous herb (Meum Athamanticum) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; -- called also baldmoney, mew, and bearwort. [Written also spignel.]

SPICOSE Spi*cose", a. Etym: [L. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.

SPICOSITY Spi*cos"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [R.] Bailey.

SPICOUS Spi"cous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: See Spicose.

SPICULA Spic"u*la, n.; pl. Spiculæ. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. spica a spike, ear.] (Bot.) (a) A little spike; a spikelet. (b) A pointed fleshy appendage.

SPICULAR Spic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. spiculum a dart: cf. F. spiculaire.]

Defn: Resembling a dart; having sharp points.

SPICULATE Spic"u*late, a. Etym: [L. spiculatus, p. p. of spiculare to sharpen, to point, fr. spiculum a dart.]

1. Covered with, or having, spicules.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Covered with minute spiculæ, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.

SPICULATE Spic"u*late, v. t.

Defn: To sharpen to a point. [R.] "With spiculated paling." Mason.

SPICULE Spic"ule, n. Etym: [L. spiculum a little point, a dart.]

1. A minute, slender granule, or point.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Spicula.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.

Note: Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification. Description of the Illustration: a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia; m Equi- anchorate.

SPICULIFORM Spi*cu"li*form, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the shape of a spicule.

SPICULIGENOUS Spic`u*lig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. spiculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Producing or containing spicules.

SPICULISPONGIAE Spic`u*li*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.

SPICULUM Spic"u*lum, n.; pl. Spicula. Etym: [L., a little point.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Spicule.

SPICY Spi"cy, a. [Compar. Spicier; superl. Spiciest.] Etym: [From Spice.]

1. Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes. "The spicy nut-brown ale." Milton. Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales. Pope.

2. Producing, or abounding with, spices. In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew. Dryden.

3. Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.

Syn. -- Aromatic; fragrant; smart; pungent; pointed; keen. See Racy.

SPIDER Spi"der, n.Etym: [OE. spi, fr. AS. spinnan to spin; -- so named from spinning its web; cf. D. spin a spider, G. spinne, Sw. spindel. Seee Spin.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina.

Note: Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona, having four lungs. See Mygale. The former group includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see Saltigradæ), the wolf spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf), the crab spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab), the garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird spider, under Bird, Grass spider, under Grass, House spider, under House, Silk spider, under Silk.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red).

3. An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.

4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.

5. (Mach.)

Defn: A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc. Spider ant. (Zoöl.) Same as Solitary ant, under Solitary. -- Spider crab (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira Kempferi), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended. -- Spider fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidæ. They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick, and bat tick. -- Spider hunter (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera. -- Spider lines, filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines. -- Spider mite. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas. (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants. -- Spider monkey (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having very long legs and a long prehensile tail. -- Spider orchis (Bot.), a European orchidaceous plant (Ophrys aranifera), having flowers which resemble spiders. -- Spider shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.

SPIDERED Spi"dered, a.

Defn: Infested by spiders; cobwebbed. Wolcott.

SPIDERLIKE Spi"der*like`, a.

Defn: Like a spider. Shak.

SPIDER STITCH Spi"der stitch.

Defn: A stitch in lace making used to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb.

SPIDER WEB; SPIDER'S WEB Spi"der web", or Spi"der's web". (Zoöl.)

Defn: The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.

SPIDERWORT Spi"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An American endogenous plant (Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.

SPIED Spied,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spy.

SPIEGELEISEN Spie"gel*ei`sen, n. Etym: [G. spiegel mirror + eisen iron.]

Defn: See Spiegel iron.

SPIEGEL IRON Spie"gel i`ron. Etym: [G. spiegel mirror + E. iron.] (Metal.)

Defn: A fusible white cast iron containing a large amount of carbon (from three and a half to six per cent) and some manganese. When the manganese reaches twenty-five per cent and upwards it has a granular structure, and constitutes the alloy ferro manganese, largely used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel. Called also specular pig iron, spiegel, and spiegeleisen.

SPIGHT Spight, n. & v.

Defn: Spite. [Obs.] Spenser.

SPIGHT Spight, n.

Defn: A woodpecker. See Speight. [Obs.]

SPIGNEL Spig"nel, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Spickenel.

SPIGNET Spig"net, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. spikenard.] (Bot.)

Defn: An aromatic plant of America. See Spikenard.

SPIGOT Spig"ot, n. Etym: [From spick,or spike; cf. Ir. & Gael. spiocaid a spigot, Ir. spice a spike. See Spike.]

Defn: A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; also, the plug of a faucet or cock. Spigot and faucet joint, a joint for uniting pipes, formed by the insertion of the end of one pipe, or pipe fitting, into a socket at the end of another.

SPIGURNEL Spi*gur"nel, n. (Eng. Law)

Defn: Formerly the title of the sealer of writs in chancery. Mozley & W.

SPIKE Spike, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. spiker, spieker, a large nail, D. spijker, Sw. spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. spik; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine.]

1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.

2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape. He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison.

3. An ear of corn or grain.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis. Spike grass (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American grasses (Uniola paniculata, and U. latifolia) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. -- Spike rush. (Bot.) See under Rush. -- Spike shell (Zoöl.), any pteropod of the genus Styliola having a slender conical shell. -- Spike team, three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.]

SPIKE Spike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiked; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiking.]

1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.

2. To set or furnish with spikes.

3. To fix on a spike. [R.] Young.

4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.

SPIKE Spike, n. Etym: [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard.] (Bot.)

Defn: Spike lavender. See Lavender. Oil of spike (Chem.), a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic (Lavendula Spica), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.

SPIKEBILL Spike"bill`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The hooded merganser. (b) The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa).

SPIKED Spiked, a.

Defn: Furnished or set with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes; stopped with spikes. A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by those spikes. Wiseman.

SPIKEFISH Spike"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sailfish (a)

SPIKELET Spike"let, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust. of Quaking grass.

SPIKENARD Spike"nard, n.Etym: [For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.

SPIKETAIL Spike"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

SPIKY Spik"y, a.

1. Like a spike; spikelike. These spiky, vivid outbursts of metallic vapors. C. A. Young.

2. Having a sharp point, or sharp points; furnished or armed with spikes. Or by the spiky harrow cleared away. Dyer. The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore. Pope.

SPILE Spile, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. spile, dial. G. speil, speiler, D. spijl. *170.]

1. A small plug or wooden pin, used to stop a vent, as in a cask.

2. A small tube or spout inserted in a tree for conducting sap, as from a sugar maple.

3. A large stake driven into the ground as a support for some superstructure; a pile. Spile hole, a small air hole in a cask; a vent.

SPILE Spile, v. t.

Defn: To supply with a spile or a spigot; to make a small vent in, as a cask.

SPILIKIN Spil"i*kin, n. Etym: [OD. spelleken a small pin. See Spill a splinter.]

Defn: One of a number of small pieces or pegs of wood, ivory, bone, or other material, for playing a game, or for counting the score in a game, as in cribbage. In the plural (spilikins), a game played with such pieces; pushpin. [Written also spillikin, spilliken.]

SPILL Spill, n. Etym: [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]

1. A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. A slender piece of anything. Specifically: -- (a) A peg or pin for plugging a hole, as in a cask; a spile. (b) A metallic rod or pin. (c) A small roll of paper, or slip of wood, used as a lamplighter, etc. (d) (Mining) One of the thick laths or poles driven horizontally ahead of the main timbering in advancing a level in loose ground.

3. A little sum of money. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

SPILL Spill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilt; p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.]

Defn: To cover or decorate with slender pieces of wood, metal, ivory, etc.; to inlay. [Obs.] Spenser.

SPILL Spill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilled, or Spilt (; p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.] Etym: [OE. spillen,sually, to destroy, AS. spillan, spildan, to destroy; akin to Icel. spilla to destroy, Sw. spilla to spill, Dan. spilde,G. & D. spillen to squander, OHG. spildan.]

1. To destroy; to kill; to put an end to. [Obs.] And gave him to the queen, all at her will To choose whether she would him save or spill. Chaucer. Greater glory think [it] to save than spill. Spenser.

2. To mar; to injure; to deface; hence, to destroy by misuse; to waste. [Obs.] They [the colors] disfigure the stuff and spill the whole workmanship. Puttenham. Spill not the morning, the quintessence of day, in recreations. Fuller.

3. To suffer to fall or run out of a vessel; to lose, or suffer to be scattered; -- applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill quicksilver from a vessel; to spill powder from a paper; to spill sand or flour.

Note: Spill differs from pour in expressing accidental loss, -- a loss or waste contrary to purpose.

4. To cause to flow out and be lost or wasted; to shed, or suffer to be shed, as in battle or in manslaughter; as, a man spills another's blood, or his own blood. And to revenge his blood so justly spilt. Dryden.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: To relieve a sail from the pressure of the wind, so that it can be more easily reefed or furled, or to lessen the strain. Spilling line (Naut.), a rope used for spilling, or dislodging, the wind from the belly of a sail. Totten.

SPILL Spill, v. i.

1. To be destroyed, ruined, or wasted; to come to ruin; to perish; to waste. [Obs.] That thou wilt suffer innocents to spill. Chaucer.

2. To be shed; to run over; to fall out, and be lost or wasted. "He was so topful of himself, that he let it spill on all the company." I. Watts.

SPILLER Spill"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, spills.

2. A kind of fishing line with many hooks; a boulter.

SPILLET FISHING; SPILLIARD FISHING Spil"let fish`ing, Spil"liard fish`ing,

Defn: A system or method of fishing by means of a number of hooks set on snoods all on one line; -- in North America, called trawl fishing, bultow, or bultow fishing, and long-line fishing.

SPILLIKIN Spil"li*kin, n.

Defn: See Spilikin.

SPILLWAY Spill"way`, n.

Defn: A sluiceway or passage for superfluous water in a reservoir, to prevent too great pressure on the dam.

SPILT Spilt,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spill. Spilled.

SPILTER Spil"ter, n. Etym: [From Spill, n.]

Defn: Any one of the small branches on a stag's head. [Obs.] Howell.

SPILTH Spilth, n. Etym: [From Spill.]

Defn: Anything spilt, or freely poured out; slop; effusion. [Archaic] "With drunken spilth of wine." Shak. Choicest cates, and the flagon's best spilth. R. Browning.

SPIN Spin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spun (Archaic imp. Span (); p. pr. & vb. n. Spinning.] Etym: [AS. spinnan; akin to D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth. spinnan, and probably to E. span. sq. root170. Cf. Span, v. t., Spider.]

1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material. All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Shak.

2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject. Do you mean that story is tediously spun out Sheridan.

3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness. By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives. L'Estrange.

4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.

5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.

6. (Mech.)

Defn: To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe. To spin a yarn (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale. -- To spin hay (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition. -- To spin street yarn, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]

SPIN Spin, v. i.

1. To practice spinning; to work at drawing and twisting threads; to make yarn or thread from fiber; as, the woman knows how to spin; a machine or jenny spins with great exactness. They neither know to spin, nor care to toll. Prior.

2. To move round rapidly; to whirl; to revolve, as a top or a spindle, about its axis. Round about him spun the landscape, Sky and forest reeled together. Longfellow. With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head. G. W. Cable.

3. To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet; as, blood spinsfrom a vein. Shak.

4. To move swifty; as, to spin along the road in a carriage, on a bicycle, etc. [Colloq.]

SPIN Spin, n.

1. The act of spinning; as, the spin of a top; a spin a bicycle. [Colloq.]

2. (Kinematics)

Defn: Velocity of rotation about some specified axis. go for a spin take a spin, take a trip in a wheeled vehicle, usu. an automobile.

SPINA BIFIDA Spi"na bif"i*da. (Med.) Etym: [L., cleft spine.]

Defn: A congenital malformation in which the spinal column is cleft at its lower portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord project as an elastic swelling from the gap thus formed.

SPINACEOUS Spi*na"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant spinach, or the family of plants to which it belongs.

SPINACH; SPINAGE Spin"ach, Spin"age, n. Etym: [OF. espinache, espinoche, F. épinard; cf. F. spinace, Sp. espinaca; all fr. Ar. isfanaj, isfinaj, aspanakh, probably of Persian origin.] (Bot.)

Defn: A common pot herb (Spinacia oleracea) belonging to the Goosefoot family. Mountain spinach. See Garden orache, under Orache. -- New Zealand spinach (Bot.), a coarse herb (Tetragonia expansa), a poor substitute for spinach.

Note: Various other pot herbs are locally called spinach.

SPINAL Spi"nal, a. Etym: [L. spinalis, fr. spina the spine: cf. F. spinal. See Spine.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the backbone, or vertebral column; rachidian; vertebral.

2. Of or pertaining to a spine or spines. Spinal accessory nerves, the eleventh pair of cranial nerves in the higher vertebrates. They originate from the spinal cord and pass forward into the skull, from which they emerge in company with the pneumogastrics. -- Spinal column, the backbone, or connected series or vertebræ which forms the axis of the vertebrate skeleton; the spine; rachis; vertebral column. -- Spinal cord, the great nervous cord extending backward from the brain along the dorsal side of the spinal column of a vertebrate animal, and usually terminating in a threadlike appendage called the filum terminale; the spinal, or vertebral, marrow; the myelon. The nervous tissue consists of nerve fibers and nerve cells, the latter being confined to the so-called gray matter of the central portions of the cord, while the peripheral white matter is composed of nerve fibers only. The center of the cord is traversed by a slender canal connecting with the ventricles of the brain.

SPINATE Spi"nate, a.

Defn: Bearing a spine; spiniform.

SPINDLE Spin"dle, n. Etym: [AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. sq. root170. 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.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.

7. (Zoöl.) (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. (Zoöl.) 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. Europæus was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.

SPINDLE Spin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spindled(); p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling.]

Defn: 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 Spin"dle-legged`, a.

Defn: Having long, slender legs.

SPINDLELEGS Spin"dle*legs`, n.

Defn: A spindlehanks.

SPINDLE-SHANKED Spin"dle-shanked`, a.

Defn: Having long, slender legs. Addison.

SPINDLESHANKS Spin"dle*shanks`, n.

Defn: A person with slender shanks, or legs; -- used humorously or in contempt.

SPINDLE-SHAPED Spin"dle-shaped`, a.

1. Having the shape of a spindle.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; -- applied chiefly to roots.

SPINDLETAIL Spin"dle*tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

SPINDLEWORM Spin"dle*worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of a noctuid mmoth (Achatodes zeæ) 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 Spin"dling, a.

Defn: Long and slender, or disproportionately tall and slender; as, a spindling tree; a spindling boy.

SPINDRIFT Spin"drift, n.

Defn: Same as Spoondrift.

The ocean waves are broken up by wind, ultimately producing the storm wrack and spindrift of the tempest-tossed sea. J. E. Marr.

SPINE Spine, n. Etym: [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine, F. épine. Cf. Spike, Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.

2. (Zoöl.) (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.)

Defn: The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; -- so called from the projecting processes upon the vertebræ.

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

SPINEBACK Spine"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish having spines in, or in front of, the dorsal fins.

SPINEBILL Spine"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Australian birds of the genus Acanthorhynchus. They are related to the honey eaters.

SPINED Spined, a.

Defn: Furnished with spines; spiny.

SPINE-FINNED Spine"-finned`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having fine supported by spinous fin rays; -- said of certain fishes.

SPINEL; SPINELLE Spi*nel", Spi*nelle", n. Etym: [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus, perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its pointed crystals.] (Min.)

Defn: 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.

Note: 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 Spin"el, n.

Defn: Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle; unwrought inkle. Knight.

SPINELESS Spine"less, a.

Defn: Having no spine.

SPINESCENCE Spi*nes"cence, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being spinescent or spiny; also, a spiny growth or covering, as of certain animals.

SPINESCENT Spi*nes"cent, a.Etym: [L. spinescens, -entis, p. pr. of spinescere to know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent.] (Bot.)

Defn: Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradually to a rigid, leafless point; armed with spines. Gray.

SPINET Spin"et, n. Etym: [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L. spina a thorn; -- so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine.] (Mus.)

Defn: 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 Spi"net, n. Etym: [L. spinetum. See Spinny.]

Defn: A spinny. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SPINETAIL Spine"tail`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of the genus Acanthylis, or Chætura, 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 Dendrocolaptidæ. They are allied to the ovenbirds. (c) The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

SPINE-TAILED Spine"-tailed, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips. Spine- tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).

SPINETED Spin"et*ed, a.

Defn: Slit; cleft. [Obs. & R.]

SPINIFEROUS Spi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spinifer; spina thorn + ferre to produce.]

Defn: Producing spines; bearing thorns or spines; thorny; spiny.

SPINIFEX Spin"i*fex, n. [NL.; L. spina spine + facere to make.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of chiefly Australian grasses, the seeds of which bear an elastic spine. S. hirsutus (black grass) and S. longifolius are useful as sand binders. S. paradoxusis a valuable perennial fodder plant. Also, a plant of this genus.

2. Any of several Australian grasses of the genus Tricuspis, which often form dense, almost impassable growth, their leaves being stiff and sharp-pointed.

SPINIFORM Spin"i*form, a.

Defn: Shaped like a spine.

SPINIGEROUS Spi*nig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spiniger; spina spine + gerere to bear.]

Defn: Bearing a spine or spines; thorn-bearing.

SPININESS Spin"i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being spiny.

SPINI-SPIRULATE Spin`i-*spir"u*late, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule.

SPINK Spink, n. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. spink a kind of small bird, Gr. finch.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The chaffinch.

SPINNAKER Spin"na*ker, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A large triangular sail set upon a boom, -- used when running before the wind.

SPINNER 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. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A goatsucker; -- so called from the peculiar noise it makes when darting through the air.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 Spin"ner*et, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 Spin"ner*ule, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the numerous small spinning tubes on the spinnerets of spiders.

SPINNEY Spin"ney, n.; pl. Spinneys (.

Defn: Same as Spinny. T. Hughes.

SPINNING Spin"ning, a. & n.

Defn: from Spin. Spinning gland (Zoöl.), one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other larvæ. -- 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 (Zoöl.), 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 Spin"ny, n.; pl. Spinnies. Etym: [OF. espinaye,espinoye, espinei, espanoi, F. épinaie, from L. spinetum a thicket of thorns, fr. spina a thorn. See Spine.]

Defn: 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 Spin"ny, a. Etym: [Cf. Spiny, a.]

Defn: Thin and long; slim; slender. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SPINOSE Spi*nose", a.Etym: [L. spinosus, from spina a thorn.]

Defn: Full of spines; armed with thorns; thorny.

SPINOSITY Spi*nos"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being spiny or thorny; spininess.

SPINOUS 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 Spi*no"zism, n.

Defn: 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 Spi*no"zist, n.

Defn: A believer in Spinozism.

SPINSTER Spin"ster, n. Etym: [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)

Defn: 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 Spin"stress, n.

Defn: A woman who spins. T. Brown.

SPINSTRY Spin"stry, n.

Defn: The business of one who spins; spinning. [Obs.] Milton.

SPINTHARISCOPE Spin*thar"i*scope, n. [Gr. spinqari`s spark + -scope.]

Defn: A small instrument containing a minute particle of a radium compound mounted in front of a fluorescent screen and viewed with magnifying lenses. The tiny flashes produced by the continual bombardment of the screen by the a rays are thus rendered visible. -- Spin*thar`i*scop"ic (#), a.

SPINULE Spin"ule, n. Etym: [L. spinula, dim. of spina a spine: cf. F. spinule.]

Defn: A minute spine. Dana.

SPINULESCENT Spin`u*les"cent, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having small spines; somewhat thorny.

SPINULOSE; SPINULOUS Spin"u*lose`, Spin"u*lous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. spinuleux.]

Defn: Covered with small spines.

SPINY Spin"y, a. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.) Same as Rock lobster, under Rock. See also Lobster.

SPINY Spin"y, n.

Defn: See Spinny.

SPIODEA Spi*o"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Spio the typical genus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 Spi"ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. spirabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being breathed; respirable. [Obs.] Nash.

SPIRACLE Spir"a*cle, n.Etym: [L. spiraculum, fr. spirare to breathe: cf. F. spiracule. See Spirit.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The nostril, or one of the nostrils, of whales, porpoises, and allied animals.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the external openings communicating with the air tubes or tracheæ 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 Spi*rac"u*lar, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a spiracle.

SPIRAEA Spi*ræ"a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of shrubs or perennial herbs including the meadowsweet and the hardhack.

SPIRAEIC Spi*ræ"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the meadowsweet (Spiræa); formerly, designating an acid which is now called salicylic acid.

SPIRAL Spi"ral, a. Etym: [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.)

Defn: 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 Spi"ral, n. Etym: [Cf. F. spirale. See Spiral, a.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A plane curve, not reëntrant, 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 Spi*ral"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or states of being spiral.

SPIRALLY Spi"ral*ly, adv.

Defn: In a spiral form, manner, or direction.

SPIRALOZOOID Spi*ra`lo*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Spiral + zooid. So called because they often have a spiral form when contracted.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the special defensive zooids of certain hydroids. They have the form of long, slender tentacles, and bear lasso cells.

SPIRANT Spi"rant, n. Etym: [L. spirans, -antis, p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See Spirit.] (Phon.)

Defn: 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, §§ 197-208.

SPIRANTHY Spi*ran"thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The occasional twisted growth of the parts of a flower.

SPIRATION Spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. spiratio, fr. spirare to breathe.]

Defn: The act of breathing. [Obs.] Barrow.

SPIRE Spire, v. i. Etym: [L. spirare to breathe. See Spirit.]

Defn: To breathe. [Obs.] Shenstone.

SPIRE Spire, n. Etym: [OE. spire, spir, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS. spir; akin to G. spier a blade of grass, Dan. spire a sprout, sprig, Sw. spira a spar, Icel. spira.]

1. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat. An oak cometh up a little spire. Chaucer.

2. A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Arch.), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself. "With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned." Milton. A spire of land that stand apart, Cleft from the main. Tennyson. Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells Just undulates upon the listening ear. Cowper.

3. (Mining)

Defn: A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.

4. The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit. The spire and top of praises. Shak.

SPIRE Spire, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spired; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiring.]

Defn: To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. Emerson. It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms. Mortimer.

SPIRE Spire, n. Etym: [L. spira coil, twist; akin to Gr. spire.]

1. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist. Dryden.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n. Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.

SPIRED Spired, a.

Defn: Having a spire; being in the form of a spire; as, a spired steeple. Mason.

SPIRICLE Spi"ri*cle, n. Etym: [Dim., fr. L. spira a coil.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of certain minute coiled threads in the coating of some seeds. When moistened these threads protrude in great numbers. Gray.

SPIRIFER Spi"ri*fer, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. spira a coil + ferreto bear.] (Paleon.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of fossil brachipods of the genus Spirifer, or Delthyris, and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.

SPIRILLUM Spi*ril"lum, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Biol.)

Defn: A genus of common motile microörganisms (Spirobacteria) having the form of spiral-shaped filaments. One species is said to be the cause of relapsing fever.

SPIRING Spir"ing, a.

Defn: Shooting up in a spire or spires. "The spiring grass." Dryton.

SPIRIT Spir"it, n. Etym: [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.]

1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] "All of spirit would deprive." Spenser. The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit. Spenser.

2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.] Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it. B. Jonson.

3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material. There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Job xxxii. 8. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James ii. 26. Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist. Locke.

5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Eccl. xii. 7. Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace. Keble.

6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf. Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark. Locke.

7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc. "Write it then, quickly," replied Bede; and summoning all his spirits together, like the last blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and expired. Fuller.

8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. Dryden.

9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits. God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down. South. A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ. Pope.

10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities. All bodies have spirits . . . within them. Bacon.

12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural.

13. pl.

Defn: Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

14. (Med.)

Defn: A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture. U. S. Disp.

15. (Alchemy)

Defn: Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment). The four spirits and the bodies seven. Chaucer.

16. (Dyeing)

Defn: Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.

Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit-moving, spirit- searching, spirit-stirring, etc. Astral spirits, Familiar spirits, etc. See under Astral, Familiar, etc. -- Animal spirits. (a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the nervous fluid, or nervous principle. (b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness; sportiveness. -- Ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum, whisky, etc., obtained by distillation. -- Holy Spirit, or The Spirit (Theol.), the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or animated by the Divine Spirit. -- Proof spirit. (Chem.) See under Proof. -- Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. -- Spirit butterfly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales. -- Spirit duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The buffle-headed duck. (b) The golden- eye. -- Spirit lamp (Art), a lamp in which alcohol or methylated spirit is burned. -- Spirit level. See under Level. -- Spirit of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn. -- Spirit of Mindererus (Med.), an aqueous solution of acetate of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer, physician of Augsburg. -- Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.), a pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillatin of alcohol with nitric and sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter. -- Spirit of salt (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.] -- Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.] Shak. -- Spirits, or Spirit, of turpentine (Chem.), rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless, volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. See Camphine. -- Spirit of vitriol (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [Obs.] -- Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.] -- Spirits, or Spirit, of wine (Chem.), alcohol; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of wine. -- Spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a "medium" so called. -- Spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism, 3. -- Sweet spirit of niter. See Spirit of nitrous ether, above.

Syn. -- Life; ardor; energy; fire; courage; animatioon; cheerfulness; vivacity; enterprise.

SPIRIT Spir"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spirited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiriting.]