Chapter CDXXV: Prologue (76)

SPONTOON Spon*toon", n. Etym: [F. sponton, esponton, it. spontone, spuntone.] (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of half-pike, or halberd, formerly borne by inferior officers of the British infantry, and used in giving signals to the soldiers.

SPOOK Spook, n. Etym: [D. spook; akin to G. spuk, Sw. spöke, Dan. spögelse a specter, spöge to play, sport, joke, spög a play, joke.]

1. A spirit; a ghost; an apparition; a hobgoblin. [Written also spuke.] Ld. Lytton.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The chimæra.

SPOOL Spool, n. Etym: [OE. spole, OD. spoele, D. spoel; akin to G. spule, OHG. spuola, Dan. & Sw. spole.]

Defn: A piece of cane or red with a knot at each end, or a hollow cylinder of wood with a ridge at each end, used to wind thread or yarn upon. Spool stand, an article holding spools of thread, turning on pins, -- used by women at their work.

SPOOL Spool, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spooling.]

Defn: To wind on a spool or spools.

SPOOLER Spool"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, spools.

SPOOM Spoom, v. i. Etym: [Probably fr. spum foam. See Spume.] (Naut.)

Defn: To be driven steadily and swiftly, as before a strong wind; to be driven before the wind without any sail, or with only a part of the sails spread; to scud under bare poles. [Written also spoon.] When virtue spooms before a prosperous gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail. Dryden.

SPOON Spoon, v. i. (Naut.)

Defn: See Spoom. [Obs.] We might have spooned before the wind as well as they. Pepys.

SPOON Spoon, n. Etym: [OE. spon, AS. sp, a chip; akin to D. spaan, G. span, Dan. spaan, Sw. spån, Icel. spánn, spónn, a chip, a spoon. sq. root170. Cf. Span-new.]

1. An implement consisting of a small bowl (usually a shallow oval) with a handle, used especially in preparing or eating food. "Therefore behoveth him a full long spoon That shall eat with a fiend," thus heard I say. Chaucer. He must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil. Shak.

2. Anything which resembles a spoon in shape; esp. (Fishing), a spoon bait.

3. Fig.: A simpleton; a spooney. [Slang] Hood. Spoon bait (Fishing), a lure used in trolling, consisting of a glistening metallic plate shaped like the bowl of a spoon with a fishhook attached. -- Spoon bit, a bit for boring, hollowed or furrowed along one side. -- Spoon net, a net for landing fish. -- Spoon oar. see under Oar.

SPOON Spoon, v. t.

Defn: To take up in, a spoon.

SPOON Spoon, v. i.

Defn: To act with demonstrative or foolish fondness, as one in love. [Colloq.]

SPOONBILL Spoon"bill`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera Ajaja and Platalea, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip.

Note: The roseate spoonbill of America (Ajaja ajaja), and the European spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) are the best known. The royal spoonbill (P. regia) of Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a fine crest. (b) The shoveler. See Shoveler, 2. (c) The ruddy duck. See under Ruddy. (d) The paddlefish.

SPOON-BILLED Spoon"-billed`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the bill expanded and spatulate at the end.

SPOONDRIFT Spoon"drift, n. Etym: [Spoom + drift.]

Defn: Spray blown from the tops waves during a gale at sea; also, snow driven in the wind at sea; -- written also spindrift.

SPOONEY Spoon"ey, a.

Defn: Weak-minded; demonstratively fond; as, spooney lovers. [Spelt also spoony.] [Colloq.]

SPOONEY Spoon"ey, n.; pl. Spooneye (.

Defn: A weak-minded or silly person; one who is foolishly fond. [Colloq.] There is no doubt, whatever, that I was a lackadaisical young spooney. Dickens.

SPOONFLOWER Spoon"flow`er, n.

Defn: The yautia.

SPOONFUL Spoon"ful, n.; pl. Spoonfuls (.

1. The quantity which a spoon contains, or is able to contain; as, a teaspoonful; a tablespoonful.

2. Hence, a small quantity. Arbuthnot.

SPOONILY Spoon"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a spoony manner.

SPOON-MEAT Spoon"-meat`, n.

Defn: Food that is, or must be, taken with a spoon; liquid food. "Diet most upon spoon-meats." Harvey.

SPOONWOOD Spoon"wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

SPOONWORM Spoon"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gephyrean worm of the genus Thalassema, having a spoonlike probiscis.

SPOONWORT Spoon"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Scurvy grass.

SPOONY Spoon"y, a. & n.

Defn: Same as Spooney.

SPOOR Spoor, n. Etym: [D. spoor; akin to AS. spor, G. spur, and from the root of E. spur. sq. root171. See Spur.]

Defn: The track or trail of any wild animal; as, the spoor of an elephant; -- used originally by travelers in South Africa.

SPOOR Spoor, v. i.

Defn: To follow a spoor or trail. [R.]

SPORADES Spor"a*des, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. spora`des. Cf. Sporadic.] (Astron.)

Defn: Stars not included in any constellation; -- called also informed, or unformed, stars.

SPORADIAL Spo*ra"di*al, a.

Defn: Sporadic. [R.]

SPORADIC Spo*rad"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. sporadique. See Spore.]

Defn: Occuring singly, or apart from other things of the same kind, or in scattered instances; separate; single; as, a sporadic fireball; a sporadic case of disease; a sporadic example of a flower. Sporadic disease (Med.), a disease which occurs in single and scattered cases. See the Note under Endemic, a.

SPORADICAL Spo*rad"ic*al, a.

Defn: Sporadic.

SPORADICALLY Spo*rad"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sporadic manner.

SPORANGIOPHORE Spo*ran"gi*o*phore, n. Etym: [Sporangium + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The axis or receptacle in certain ferns (as Trichomanes), which bears the sporangia.

SPORANGIUM Spo*ran"gi*um, n.; pl. Sporangia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A spore case in the cryptogamous plants, as in ferns, etc.

SPORE Spore, n. Etym: [Gr. Sperm.]

1. (Bot.) (a) One of the minute grains in flowerless plants, which are analogous to seeds, as serving to reproduce the species.

Note: Spores are produced differently in the different classes of cryptogamous plants, and as regards their nature are often so unlike that they have only their minuteness in common. The peculiar spores of diatoms (called auxospores) increase in size, and at length acquire a siliceous coating, thus becoming new diatoms of full size. Compare Macrospore, Microspore, Oöspore, Restingspore, Sphærospore, Swarmspore, Tetraspore, Zoöspore, and Zygospore. (b) An embryo sac or embryonal vesicle in the ovules of flowering plants.

2. (Biol.) (a) A minute grain or germ; a small, round or ovoid body, formed in certain organisms, and by germination giving rise to a new organism; as, the reproductive spores of bacteria, etc. (b) One of the parts formed by fission in certain Protozoa. See Spore formation, belw. Spore formation. (a) (Biol) A mode of reproduction resembling multitude fission, common among Protozoa, in which the organism breaks up into a number of pieces, or spores, each of which eventually develops into an organism like the parent form. Balfour. (b) The formation of reproductive cells or spores, as in the growth of bacilli.

SPORID Spo"rid, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A sporidium. Lindley.

SPORIDIFEROUS Spo`ri*dif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Sporidium + -ferous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing sporidia.

SPORIDIUM Spo*rid"i*um, n.; pl. Sporidia. Etym: [NL. See Spore.] (Bot.) (a) A secondary spore, or a filament produced from a spore, in certain kinds of minute fungi. (b) A spore.

SPORIFEROUS Spo*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Spore + -ferous.] (Biol.)

Defn: Bearing or producing spores.

SPORIFICATION Spo`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Spore + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] (Biol.)

Defn: Spore formation. See Spore formation (b), under Spore.

SPOROCARP Spo"ro*carp, n. Etym: [Spore + Gr. (Bot.) (a) A closed body or conceptacle containing one or more masses of spores or sporangia. (b) A sporangium.

SPOROCYST Spo"ro*cyst, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An asexual zooid, usually forming one of a series of larval forms in the agamic reproduction of various trematodes and other parasitic worms. The sporocyst generally develops from an egg, but in its turn produces other larvæ by internal budding, or by the subdivision of a part or all of its contents into a number of minute germs. See Redia.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any protozoan when it becomes encysted produces germs by sporulation.

SPOROGENESIS Spo`ro*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Spore + genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: reproduction by spores.

SPOROGONY Spo*rog"o*ny, n. Etym: [Spore + root of Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The growth or development of an animal or a zooid from a nonsexual germ.

SPOROPHORE Spo"ro*phore, n. Etym: [Spore + Gr. (Bot.) (a) A placenta. (b) That alternately produced form of certain cryptogamous plants, as ferns, mosses, and the like, which is nonsexual, but produces spores in countless numbers. In ferns it is the leafy plant, in mosses the capsule. Cf. Oöphore.

SPOROPHORIC Spo`ro*phor"ic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the nature of a sporophore.

SPOROPHYTE Spo"ro*phyte, n. [Spore + Gr. plant.] (Bot.)

Defn: In plants exhibiting alternation of generations, the generation which bears asexual spores; -- opposed to gametophyte. It is not clearly differentiated in the life cycle of the lower plants. -- Spo`ro*phyt"ic (#), a.

SPOROSAC Spo"ro*sac, n. Etym: [Spore + sac.] (Zoöl.) (a) A hydrozoan reproductive zooid or gonophore which does not become medusoid in form or structure. See Illust. under Athecata. (b) An early or simple larval stage of trematode worms and some other invertebrates, which is capable or reproducing other germs by asexual generation; a nurse; a redia.

SPOROZOA Spo`ro*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. a spore + (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive division of parasitic Protozoa, which increase by sporulation. It includes the Gregarinida.

SPOROZOID Spo`ro*zo"id, n. Etym: [Spore + Gr. .] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Zoöspore.

SPOROZOITE Spo`ro*zo"ite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: In certain Sporozoa, a small active, usually elongate, sickle- shaped or somewhat amoboid spore, esp. one of those produced by division of the passive spores into which the zygote divides. The sporozoites reproduce asexually.

SPORRAN Spor"ran, n. Etym: [Gael. sporan.]

Defn: A large purse or pouch made of skin with the hair or fur on, worn in front of the kilt by Highlanders when in full dress.

SPORT Sport, n. Etym: [Abbreviated frm disport.]

1. That which diverts, and makes mirth; pastime; amusement. It is as sport a fool do mischief. prov. x. 23. Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight. Sir P. Sidney. Think it but a minute spent in sport. Shak.

2. Mock; mockery; contemptuous mirth; derision. Then make sport at me; then let me be your jest.Shak.

3. That with which one plays, or which is driven about in play; a toy; a plaything; an object of mockery. Flitting leaves, the sport of every wind. Dryden. Never does man appear to greater disadvantage than when he is the sport of his own ungoverned pasions. John Clarke.

4. Play; idle jingle. An author who should introduce such a sport of words upon our stage would meet with small applause. Broome.

5. Diversion of the field, as fowling, hunting, fishing, racing, games, and the like, esp. when money is staked.

6. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A plant or an animal, or part of a plant or animal, which has some peculiarity not usually seen in the species; an abnormal variety or growth. See Sporting plant, under Sporting.

7. A sportsman; a gambler. [Slang] In sport, in jest; for play or diversion. "So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport" Prov. xxvi. 19.

Syn. -- Play; game; diversion; frolic; mirth; mock; mockery; jeer.

SPORT Sport, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sported; p. pr. & vb. n. Sporting.]

1. To play; to frolic; to wanton. [Fish], sporting with quick glance, Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold. Milton.

2. To practice the diversions of the field or the turf; to be given to betting, as upon races.

3. To trifle. "He sports with his own life." Tillotson.

4. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: To assume suddenly a new and different character from the rest of the plant or from the type of the species; -- said of a bud, shoot, plant, or animal. See Sport, n., 6. Darwin.

Syn. -- To play; frolic; game; wanton.

SPORT Sport, v. t.

1. To divert; to amuse; to make merry; -- used with the reciprocal pronoun. Against whom do ye sport yourselves Isa. lvii. 4.

2. To represent by any knd of play. Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth. Dryden.

3. To exhibit, or bring out, in public; to use or wear; as, to sport a new equipage. [Colloq.] Grose.

4. To give utterance to in a sportive manner; to throw out in an easy and copious manner; -- with off; as, to sport off epigrams. Addison. To sport one's oak. See under Oak, n.

SPORTABILITY Sport`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Sportiveness. [Obs.]

SPORTAL Sport"al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sports; used in sports. [R.] "Sportal arms." Dryden.

SPORTER Sport"er, n.

Defn: One who sports; a sportsman. As this gentleman and I have been old fellow sporters, I have a frienship for him. Goldsmith.

SPORTFUL Sport"ful, a.

1. Full of sport; merry; frolicsome; full of jesting; indulging in mirth or play; playful; wanton; as, a sportful companion. Down he alights among the sportful herd. Milton.

2. Done in jest, or for mere play; sportive. They are no sportful productions of the soil. Bentley. -- Sport"ful*ly, adv. -- Sport"ful*ness, n.

SPORTING Sport"ing, a.

Defn: Of pertaining to, or engaging in, sport or sporrts; exhibiting the character or conduct of one who, or that which, sports. Sporting book, a book containing a record of bets, gambling operations, and the like. C. Kingsley. -- Sporting house, a house frequented by sportsmen, gamblers, and the like. -- Sporting man, one who practices field sports; also, a horse racer, a pugilist, a gambler, or the like. -- Sporting plant (Bot.), a plant in which a single bud or offset suddenly assumes a new, and sometimes very different, character from that of the rest of the plant. Darwin.

SPORTINGLY Sport"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In sport; sportively. The question you there put, you do it, I suppose, but sportingly. Hammond.

SPORTIVE Sport"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to, engaged in, or provocate of, sport; gay; froliscome; playful; merry. Is it I That drive thee from the sportive court Shak. -- Sport"ive*ly, adv. -- Sport"ive*ness, n.

SPORTLESS Sport"less, a.

Defn: Without sport or mirth; joyless.

SPORTLING Sport"ling, n.

Defn: A little person or creature engaged in sports or in play. When again the lambkins play --Pretty sportlings, full of May. Philips.

SPORTSMAN Sports"man, n.;pl. Sportsmen (.

Defn: One who pursues the sports of the field; one who hunts, fishes, etc.

SPORTSMANSHIP Sports"man*ship, n.

Defn: The practice of sportsmen; skill in field sports.

SPORTULA Spor"tu*la, n.; pl. Sportulæ (. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A gift; a present; a prize; hence, an alms; a largess. To feed luxuriously, to frequent sports and theaters, to run for the sportula. South.

SPORTULARY Spor"tu*la*ry, a.

Defn: Subsisting on alms or charitable contributions. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

SPORTULE Spor"tule, n. Etym: [L. sportula a little basket, a gift, dim. of sporta a basket: cf. F. sortule.]

Defn: A charitable gift or contribution; a gift; an alms; a dole; a largess; a sportula. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

SPORULATION Spor`u*la"tion, n. (Biol.)

Defn: The act or process of forming spores; spore formation. See Illust. of Bacillus, b.

SPORULE Spor"ule, n. Etym: [Dim. of spore.] (Biol.)

Defn: A small spore; a spore.

SPORULIFEROUS Spor`u*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Sporule + -ferous.] (Biol.)

Defn: Producing sporules.

SPOT Spot, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See Spit to eject from the mouth, and cf. Spatter.]

1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored. Out, damned spot! Out, I say! Shak.

2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish. Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot. Pope.

3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a playing card.

4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. "Fixed to one spot." Otway. That spot to which I point is Paradise. Milton. "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed." Wordsworth.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak.

6. (Zoöl.) (a) A sciænoid food fish (Liostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also goody, Lafayette, masooka, and old wife. (b) The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail. See Redfish.

7. pl.

Defn: Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery. [Broker's Cant] Crescent spot (Zoöl.), any butterfly of the family Melitæidæ having crescent-shaped white spots along the margins of the red or brown wings. -- Spot lens (Microscopy), a condensing lens in which the light is confined to an annular pencil by means of a small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field ilumination; -- called also spotted lens. -- Spot rump (Zoöl.), the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa hæmastica). -- Spots on the sun. (Astron.) See Sun spot, ander Sun. -- On, or Upon, the spot, immediately; before moving; without changing place. It was determined upon the spot. Swift.

Syn. -- Stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish; place; site; locality.

SPOT Spot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spotting.]

1. To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor in or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots or figures; as, to spot a garnment; to spot paper.

2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize; to detect; as, to spot a criminal. [Cant]

3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation; to asperse. My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain. Sir P. Sidney. If ever I shall close these eyes but once, May I live spotted for my perjury. Beau. & Fl. To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

SPOT Spot, v. i.

Defn: To become stained with spots.

SPOT CASH Spot cash. (Com.)

Defn: Cash paid or ready for payment at once upon delivery of property purchased.

SPOTLESS Spot"less, a.

Defn: Without a spot; especially, free from reproach or impurity; pure; untained; innocent; as, a spotless mind; spotless behavior. A spotless virgin, and a faultless wife. Waller.

Syn. -- Blameless; unspotted; unblemished; pure; immaculate; irreproachable. See Blameless. -- Spot"less*ly, adv. -- Spot"less*ness, n.

SPOTLIGHT Spot"light`, n.

Defn: The projected spot or circle of light used to illuminate brilliantly a single person or object or group on the stage; leaving the rest of the stage more or less unilluminated; hence, conspicuous public notice. [Cant or Colloq.]

SPOT STROKE Spot stroke. (Eng. Billiards)

Defn: The pocketing of the red ball in a top corner pocket from off its own spot so as to leave the cue ball in position for an easy winning hazard in either top corner pocket.

SPOTTED Spot"ted, a.

Defn: Marked with spots; as, a spotted garment or character. "The spotted panther." Spenser. Spotted fever (Med.), a name applied to various eruptive fevers, esp. to typhus fever and cerebro-spinal meningitis. -- Spotted tree (Bot.), an Australian tree (Flindersia maculosa); -- so called because its bark falls off in spots.

SPOTTEDNESS Spot"ted*ness, n.

Defn: State or quality of being spotted.

SPOTTER Spot"ter, n.

Defn: One who spots.

SPOTTINESS Spot"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being spotty.

SPOTTY Spot"ty, a.

Defn: Full of spots; marked with spots.

SPOUSAGE Spous"age (; 48), n. Etym: [OF. espousaige, from espouser. See Spouse, v. t.]

Defn: Espousal. [Obs.] Bale.

SPOUSAL Spous"al, a. Etym: [See Espousal, Sponsal, and Spouse.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a spouse or marriage; nuptial; matrimonial; conjugal; bridal; as, spousal rites; spousal ornaments. Wordsworth.

SPOUSAL Spous"al, n. Etym: [See Espousal, Spouse.]

Defn: Marriage; nuptials; espousal; -- generally used in the plural; as, the spousals of Hippolita. Dryden. Boweth your head under that blissful yoke . . . Which that men clepeth spousal or wedlock. Chaucer. the spousals of the newborn year. Emerson.

SPOUSE Spouse, n. Etym: [OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F. époux, épouse, fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p.p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly, to engage one's self. Cf. Despond, Espouse, respond, Sponsor.]

1. A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, husband or wife. At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, That that lady to my spouse had won. Spenser.

2. A married man, in distinct from a spousess or married woman; a bridegroom or husband. [Obs.] At which marriage was [were] no person present but the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young man. Fabyan.

SPOUSE Spouse, v. t. Etym: [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]

Defn: To wed; to espouse. [Obs.] This markis hath her spoused with a ring. Chaucer. Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize. Spenser. She was found again, and spoused to Marinell. Spenser.

SPOUSE-BREACH Spouse"-breach`, n.

Defn: Adultery. [Obs.]

SPOUSELESS Spouse"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of a spouse; unmarried.

SPOUSESS Spous"ess, n.

Defn: A wife or bride. [Obs.] Fabyan.

SPOUT Spout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spouting.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. sputa, spruta, to spout, D. spuit a spout, spuiten to spout, and E. spurt, sprit, v., sprout, sputter; or perhaps akin to E. spit to eject from the mouth.]

1. To throw out forcibly and abudantly, as liquids through an office or a pipe; to eject in a jet; as, an elephant spouts water from his trunk. Who kept Jonas in the fish's maw Till he was spouted up at Ninivee Chaucer. Next on his belly floats the mighty whale . . . He spouts the tide. Creech.

2. To utter magniloquently; to recite in an oratorical or pompous manner. Pray, spout some French, son. Beau. & Fl.

3. To pawn; to pledge; as, spout a watch. [Cant]

SPOUT Spout, v. i.

1. To issue with with violence, or in a jet, as a liquid through a narrow orifice, or from a spout; as, water spouts from a hole; blood spouts from an artery. All the glittering hill Is bright with spouting rills. Thomson.

2. To eject water or liquid in a jet.

3. To utter a speech, especially in a pompous manner.

SPOUT Spout, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. spruta a squirt, a syringe. See Spout, v. t.]

1. That through which anything spouts; a discharging lip, pipe, or orifice; a tube, pipe, or conductor of any kind through which a liquid is poured, or by which it is conveyed in a stream from one place to another; as, the spout of a teapot; a spout for conducting water from the roof of a building. Addison. "A conduit with three issuing spouts." Shak. In whales . . . an ejection thereof [water] is contrived by a fistula, or spout, at the head. Sir T. Browne. From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide. Pope.

2. A trough for conducting grain, flour, etc., into a receptacle.

3. A discharge or jet of water or other liquid, esp. when rising in a column; also, a waterspout. To put, shove, or pop, up the spout, to pawn or pledge at a pawnbroker's; -- in allusion to the spout up which the pawnbroker sent the ticketed articles. [Cant]

SPOUTER Spout"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, spouts.

SPOUTFISH Spout"fish, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine animal that spouts water; -- applied especially to certain bivalve mollusks, like the long clams (Mya), which spout, or squirt out, water when retiring into their holes.

SPOUTLESS Spout"less, a.

Defn: Having no spout. Cowper.

SPOUTSHELL Spout"shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any marine gastropod shell of the genus Apporhais having an elongated siphon. See Illust. under Rostrifera.

SPRACK Sprack, a. Etym: [Cf. Icel. spækr sprightly, dial. Sw. spräk, spräg, spirited, mettlesome; or Gael. spraic vigor.]

Defn: Quick; lively' alert. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SPRAD Sprad, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Spread. Chaucer.

SPRADDE Sprad"de, obs.

Defn: imp. of Spread. Chaucer.

SPRAG Sprag, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. spraka a small flounder.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young salmon. [Prov. Eng.]

SPRAG Sprag, n. Etym: [See Spray a branch.]

Defn: A billet of wood; a piece of timber used as a prop.

SPRAG Sprag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spragged; p. pr. & vb. n. Spragging.]

1. To check the motion of, as a carriage on a steep grade, by putting a sprag between the spokes of the wheel. R. S. Poole.

2. To prop or sustain with a sprag.

SPRAG Sprag, a.

Defn: See Sprack, a. Shak.

SPRAIN Sprain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprained; p. pr. & vb. n. Spraining.] Etym: [OF. espreindreto press, to force out, F. épreindre, fr. L. exprimere. See Express, v. t., and cf. Spraints.]

Defn: To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation; as, to sprain one's ankle.

SPRAIN Sprain, n.

Defn: The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist. Sprain fracture (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its point of insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone to which the tendon is attached.

SPRAINTS Spraints, n. pl. Etym: [OF. espraintes, espreintes, F. épreintes from espreinte a desire to go to stool, from espreindre. See Sprain, v. t.]

Defn: The dung of an otter.

SPRANG Sprang,

Defn: imp. of Spring.

SPRAT Sprat, n. Etym: [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring of different kinds. (b) A California surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); -- called also alfione, and perch. Sprat borer (Zoöl.), the red-throated diver; -- so called from its fondness for sprats. See Diver. -- Sprat loon. (Zoöl.) (a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The red-throated diver. See Diver. -- Sprat mew (Zoöl.), the kittiwake gull.

SPRAWL Sprawl (sprall), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprawled (spralld); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprawling.] Etym: [OE. spraulen; cf. Sw. sprattla to sprawl, dial. Sw. spralla, Dan. spælle, sprælde, D. spartelen, spertelen, to flounder, to struggle.]

1. To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a horizontal position; to lie with the limbs stretched out ungracefully.

2. To spread irregularly, as vines, plants, or tress; to spread ungracefully, as chirography.

3. To move, when lying down, with awkward extension and motions of the limbs; to scramble in creeping. The birds were not fledged; but upon sprawling and struggling to get clear of the flame, down they tumbled. L'Estrange.

SPRAWLS Sprawls, n. pl.

Defn: Small branches of a tree; twigs; sprays. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SPRAY Spray, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. sprag. See Sprig.]

1. A small shoot or branch; a twig. Chaucer. The painted birds, companions of the spring, Hopping from spray, were heard to sing. Dryden.

2. A collective body of small branches; as, the tree has a beautiful spray. And from the trees did lop the needless spray. Spenser.

3. (Founding) (a) A side channel or branch of the runner of a flask, made to distribute the metal in all parts of the mold. (b) A group of castings made in the same mold and connected by sprues formed in the runner and its branches. Knight. Spray drain (Agric.), a drain made by laying under earth the sprays or small branches of trees, which keep passages open.

SPRAY Spray, n. Etym: [probably from a Dutch or Low German form akin to E. spread. See Spread, v. t.]

1. Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and the like.

2. (Med.) (a) A jet of fine medicated vapor, used either as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or a deodorizer. (b) An instrument for applying such a spray; an atomizer. Spray condenser (Steam Engine) an injection condenser in which the steam is condensed by a spray of water which mingles with it.

SPRAY Spray, v. t.

1. To let fall in the form of spray. [Poetic] M. Arnold.

2. To throw spray upon; to treat with a liquid in the form of spray; as, to spray a wound, or a surgical instrument, with carbolic acid.

SPRAYBOARD Spray`board, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Dashboard, n., 2 (b).

SPRAYER Spray"er, n.

Defn: One that sprays; any instrument for vaporizing and spraying liquids.

SPREAD Spread, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spread; p. pr. & vb. n. Spreading.] Etym: [OE. spreden, AS. sprædan; akin to D. spreiden, spreijen, LG. spreden, spreen, spreien, G. spreiten, Dan. sprede, Sw. sprida. Cf. Spray water flying in drops.]

1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail. He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent. Gen. xxxiii. 19. Here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch. Byron.

2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or grater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space. Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit. Milton.

3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; -- often acompanied by abroad. They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. Matt. ix. 31.

4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease.

5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.

6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground.

7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table. Boiled the flesh, and spread the board. Tennyson. To sprad cloth, to unfurl sail. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Syn. -- To diffuse; propogate; disperse; publish; distribute; scatter; circulate; disseminate; dispense.

SPREAD Spread, v. i.

1. To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand. Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall. Bacon. Govrnor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a church a large, spreading tree. B. Trumbull.

2. To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty.

3. To be made known more extensively, as news.

4. To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city. Shak.

SPREAD Spread, n.

1. Extent; compass. I have got a fine spread of improvable land. Addison.

2. Expansion of parts. No flower hath spread like that of the woodbine. Bacon.

3. A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed.

4. A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast. [Colloq.]

5. A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon. [Broker's Cant]

6. (Geom.)

Defn: An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.

SPREAD Spread,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spread, v. Spread eagle. (a) An eagle with outspread wings, the national emblem of the United States. (b) The figure of an eagle, with its wings elevated and its legs extended; often met as a device upon military ornaments, and the like. (c) (Her.) An eagle displayed; an eagle with the wings and legs extended on each side of the body, as in the double-headed eagle of Austria and Russia. See Displayed, 2.

SPREAD-EAGLE Spread"-ea`gle, a.

Defn: Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; defiantly or extravagantly bombastic; as, a spread-eagle orator; a spread-eagle speech. [Colloq.& Humorous]

SPREAD-EAGLE Spread"-ea`gle v. i.

Defn: To assume a spread-eagled position; -- it may be done reclining, for relaxation, or momentarily, as an exhibitionary maneuver in a sport.

SPREAD-EAGLED Spread"-ea`gled v.tr.

Defn: 1. To place in a spread-eagle position, especially as a means of punishment. 2. being in a position with the arms and legs extended fully.

SPREADER Spread"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, spreads, expands, or propogates.

2. A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.

SPREADINGLY Spread"ing*ly

Defn: , adv. Increasingly. The best times were spreadingly infected. Milton.

SPRECHERY Sprech"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. spreidh catle.]

Defn: Movables of an inferior description; especially, such as have been collected by depredation. [Scot]

SPREE Spree, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. spre a spark, animation, spirit, Gael. spraic. Cf. Sprack.]

Defn: A merry frolic; especially, a drinking frolic; a carousal. [Colloq.]

SPRENGE Sprenge, v. t. Etym: [OE. sprengen, p.p. sprent, spreint, from AS. sprengen to sprinkle. See Sprinkle.]

Defn: To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.] Wyclif (1 Pet. i. 2).

SPRENGEL PUMP Spreng"el pump`. (Physics)

Defn: A form of air pump in which exhaustion is produced by a stream of mercury running down a narrow tube, in the manner of an aspirator; -- named from the inventor.

SPRENT Sprent, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Sprenge. Sprinkled. All the ground with purple blood was sprent. Spenser.

SPREW Sprew, n. Etym: [Cf. D. sprouw, spruw.] (Med.)

Defn: Thrush. [Local, U.S.]

SPREYND Spreynd, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Sprenge. Sprinkled. When spreynd was holy water. Chaucer.

SPRIG Sprig, n. Etym: [AS. sprec; akin to Icel. sprek a stick. Cf. Spray a branch.]

1. A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray; as, a sprig of laurel or of parsley.

2. A youth; a lad; -- used humorously or in slight disparagement. A sprig whom I remember, with a whey-face and a satchel, not so many years ago. Sir W. Scott.

3. A brad, or nail without a head.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: A small eyebolt ragged or barbed at the point.

SPRIG Sprig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprigging.]

Defn: To mark or adorn with the representation of small branches; to work with sprigs; as, to sprig muslin.

SPRIGGED Sprigged, a.

Defn: Having sprigs.

SPRIGGY Sprig"gy, a.

Defn: Full of sprigs or small branches.

SPRIGHT Spright, n. Etym: [See Sprite.]

1. Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [Obs.] "The high heroic spright." Spenser. Wondrous great grief groweth in my spright. Spenser.

2. A supernatural being; a spirit; a shade; an apparition; a ghost. Forth he called, out of deep darkness dread, Legions of sprights. Spenser. To thee, O Father, Son, and Sacred Spright. Fairfax.

3. A kind of short arrow. [Obs.] Bacon.

SPRIGHT Spright, v. t.

Defn: To haunt, as a spright. [Obs.] Shak.

SPRIGHTFUL Spright"ful, a. Etym: [Spright sprite + full.]

Defn: Full of spirit or of life; earnest; vivacious; lively; brisk; nimble; gay. [Obs.] -- Spright"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] Shak. -- Spright"ful*ness, n. [Obs.] Spoke like a sprightful gentlemen. Shak. Steeds sprightful as the light. Cowley.

SPRIGHTLESS Spright"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of life; dull; sluggish.

SPRIGHTLINESS Spright"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity. In dreams, observe with what a sprightliness and alacrity does she [the soul] exert herself! Addison.

SPRIGHTLY Spright"ly, a. [Compar. Sprightlier; superl. Sprightliest.] Etym: [See Sprite.]

Defn: Sprightlike, or spiritlike; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous; airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance. "Sprightly wit and love inspires." Dryden. The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green. Pope.

SPRIGTAIL Sprig"tail`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck; -- called also sprig, and spreet-tail. [Local, U.S.] (b) The sharp-tailed grouse. [Local, U.S.]

SPRING Spring, v. i. [imp. Sprang or Sprung (; p. p. Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing.] Etym: [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. Springe, Sprinkle.]

1. To leap; to bound; to jump. The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. Philips.

2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot. And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. Dryden.

3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert. Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring. Otway.

4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power.

5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning.

6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -often followed by up, forth, or out. Till well nigh the day began to spring. Chaucer. To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth. Job xxxviii. 27. Do not blast my springing hopes. Rowe. O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born. Pope.

7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle. [They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked. Milton.

8. To grow; to prosper. What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring Dryden. To spring at, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap. -- To spring forth, to leap out; to rush out. -- To spring in, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste. -- To spring on or upon, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.

SPRING Spring, v. t.

1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant.

2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly. She starts, and leaves her bed, amd springs a light. Dryden. The friends to the cause sprang a new project. Swift.

3. To cause to explode; as, to spring a mine.

4. To crack or split; to bend or strain so as to weaken; as, to spring a mast or a yard.

5. To cause to close suddenly, as the parts of a trap operated by a spring; as, to spring a trap.

6. To bend by force, as something stiff or strong; to force or put by bending, as a beam into its sockets, and allowing it to straighten when in place; -- often with in, out, etc.; as, to spring in a slat or a bar.

7. To pass over by leaping; as, to spring a fence. To spring a butt (Naut.), to loosen the end of a plank in a ship's bottom. -- To spring a leak (Naut.), to begin to leak. -- To spring an arch (Arch.), to build an arch; -- a common term among masons; as, to spring an arcg over a lintel. -- To spring a rattle, to cause a rattle to sound. See Watchman's rattle, under Watchman. -- To spring the luff (Naut.), to ease the helm, and sail nearer to the wind than before; -- said of a vessel. Mar. Dict. -- To spring a mast or spar (Naut.), to strain it so that it is unserviceable.

SPRING Spring, n. Etym: [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See Spring, v. i.]

1. A leap; a bound; a jump. The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden.

2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former state by elasticity; as, the spring of a bow.

3. Elastic power or force. Heavens! what a spring was in his arm! Dryden.

4. An elastic body of any kind, as steel, India rubber, tough wood, or compressed air, used for various mechanical purposes, as receiving and imparting power, diminishing concussion, regulating motion, measuring weight or other force.

Note: The principal varieties of springs used in mechanisms are the spiral spring (Fig. a), the coil spring (Fig. b), the elliptic spring (Fig. c), the half-elliptic spring (Fig. d), the volute spring, the India-rubber spring, the atmospheric spring, etc.

5. Any source of supply; especially, the source from which a stream proceeds; as issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain. "All my springs are in thee." Ps. lxxxvii. 7. "A secret spring of spiritual joy." Bentley. "The sacred spring whence and honor streams." red rose of the House of Lancaster. Sir J. Davies.

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.

Note: 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.

-- 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.

SPRINGAL; SPRINGALD; SPRINGALL Spring"al, Spring"ald, Spring"all, a. Etym: [Scot. springald, springel, fr. Scot. & E. spring.]

Defn: 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.

SPRINGAL Spring"al, n. Etym: [OF. espringale; of Teutonic origin, akin to E. spring.]

Defn: An ancient military engine for casting stones and arrows by means of a spring.

SPRINGBOARD Spring"board`, n.

Defn: An elastic board, secured at the ends, or at one end, often by elastic supports, used in performing feats of agility or in exercising.

SPRINGBOK; SPRINGBUCK Spring"bok`, Spring"buck`, n. Etym: [D. springbok; springen to spring, leap + bok a he-goat, buck.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 Springe, n. Etym: [From Spring, v. i.: cf. G. sprenkel, Prov. E. springle.]

Defn: 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 Springe, v. t.

Defn: To catch in a springe; to insnare. [R.]

SPRINGE Spring"e ( or ), v. t. Etym: [OE. sprengen. See Sprinkle.]

Defn: To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.] He would sowen some difficulty, Or springen cockle in our cleane corn. Chaucer.

SPRINGER 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.)

Defn: The grampus.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A variety of the field spaniel. See Spaniel.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of antelope; the sprinkbok.

SPRINGHALT Spring"halt`, n. (Far.)

Defn: A kind of lameness in horse. See Stringhalt. Shak.

SPRINGHEAD Spring"head`, n.

Defn: A fountain or source.

SPRINGINESS Spring"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being springly. Boyle.

SPRINGING 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.

SPRINGLE Sprin"gle, n.

Defn: A springe. [Prov. Eng.]

SPRINGLET Spring"let, n.

Defn: A little spring. But yet from out the little hill Oozes the slender springlet still. Sir W. Scott.

SPRING STEEL Spring steel.

Defn: A variety of steel, elastic, strong, and tough, rolled for springs, etc.

SPRINGTAIL Spring"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

SPRINGTIDE Spring"tide, n.

Defn: The time of spring; springtime. Thomson.

SPRINGTIME Spring"time`, n.

Defn: The season of spring; springtide.

SPRINGY Spring"y, a. [Compar. Springier; superl. Springiest.] Etym: [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.

SPRINKLE Sprin"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprinkled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinkling.] Etym: [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.

SPRINKLE 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.

SPRINKLE Sprin"kle, n.

1. A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

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

SPRINKLER Sprin"kler, n.

1. One who sprinkles.

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

SPRINKLING 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 Sprint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinting.] Etym: [Cf. Sprunt.]

Defn: 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 Sprint, n.

Defn: 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.

SPRINTER Sprint"er, n.

Defn: One who sprints; one who runs in sprint races; as, a champion sprinter.

SPRIT Sprit, v. t. Etym: [Akin to G. spritzen, sprützen. See Sprit, v. i.]

Defn: To throw out with force from a narrow orifice; to eject; to spurt out. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SPRIT Sprit, v. i. Etym: [AS. spryttan to sprout, but. See Sprout, v. i., and cf. Spurt, v. t., Sprit a spar.]

Defn: To sprout; to bud; to germinate, as barley steeped for malt.

SPRIT Sprit, n.

Defn: A shoot; a sprout. [Obs.] Mortimer.

SPRIT Sprit, n. Etym: [OE. spret, AS. spreót a sprit; spear; akin to D. spriet, and E. sprout, sprit, v.t. & i. See Sprout, v. i.] (Naut.)

Defn: 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 Sprite, n. Etym: [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.)

Defn: The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

SPRITEFUL; SPRITEFULLY; SPRITELINESS; SPRITELY Sprite"ful, a. Sprite"ful*ly, adv., Sprite"li*ness (, n., Sprite"ly, a., etc.

Defn: See Sprightful, Sprightfully, Sprightliness, Sprightly, etc.

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

SPROCKET WHEEL Sprock"et wheel`. Etym: [Etymology of sprocket is uncertain.] (Mach.)

Defn: Same as Chain wheel.

SPROD Sprod, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. bradan a salmon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A salmon in its second year. [Prov. Eng.]

SPRONG Sprong, obs.

Defn: imp. of Spring. Sprung.

SPROUT Sprout, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprouting.] Etym: [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. spr, 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.