S (continued 23)

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.

SPROUT Sprout, v. t.

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

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

SPROUT Sprout, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See Sprout, v. i.]

1. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.

2. pl.

Defn: Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts. Johnson. Brussels sprouts (Bot.) See under Brussels.

SPRUCE Spruce, n. Etym: [OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, Spruce, a.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. alba and P. nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea.

2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree.

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

SPRUCE Spruce, a. [Compar. Sprucer; superl. Sprucest] Etym: [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See Spruce, n.]

1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; — formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. "Neat and spruce array." Remedy of Love.

2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] "Now, my spruce companions." Shak. He is so spruce that he can never be genteel. Tatler.

Syn. — Finical; neat; trim. See Finical. — Sruce"ly, adv. — Spruce"ness, n.

SPRUCE Spruce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spruced; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprucing.]

Defn: To dress with affected neatness; to trim; to make spruce.

SPRUCE Spruce, v. i.

Defn: To dress one's self with affected neatness; as, to spruce up.

SPRUE Sprue, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

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

2. (Med.)

Defn: Same as Sprew.

SPRUG Sprug, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. sprug up to dress neatly, sprag to prop, a., lively.]

Defn: To make smart. [Obs.]

SPRUNG Sprung,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spring.

SPRUNG Sprung, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Said of a spar that has been cracked or strained.

SPRUNT Sprunt, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sprout, v. i.]

Defn: To spring up; to germinate; to spring forward or outward. [Obs.] To sprunt up, to draw one's self up suddenly, as in anger or defiance; to bristle up. [Local, U.S.]

SPRUNT Sprunt, n.

1. Anything short and stiff. [Obs.]

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

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

SPRUNT Sprunt, a.

Defn: Active; lively; vigorous. [Obs.] Kersey.

SPRUNTLY Sprunt"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SPRY Spry, a. [Compar. Sprier or Spryer (; superl. Spriest or Spryest.] Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. sprygg lively, skittish, and E. sprag.]

Defn: Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active. [U.S. & Local Eng.] She is as spry as a cricket. S. Judd (Margaret). If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. Emerson.

SPUD Spud, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.]

1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes. My spud these nettles from the stone can part. Swyft.

2. A dagger. [Obs.] olland.

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

SPUE Spue, v. t. & i.

Defn: See Spew.

SPUILZIE Spuil"zie, n.

Defn: See Spulzie.

SPUKE Spuke, n.

Defn: See Spook.

SPULLER Spul"ler (, n. [For spooler.] Etym: [See Spool.]

Defn: One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom. [Prov. Eng.]

SPULZIE Spul"zie, n. Etym: [Cf. Spoil.]

Defn: Plunder, or booty. [Written also spuilzie, and spulye.] Sir W. Scott.

SPUME Spume, n. Etym: [L. spuma. Cf. Pumice, Spoom.]

Defn: Frothy matter raised on liquids by boiling, effervescence, or agitation; froth; foam; scum. Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery spume. Milton.

SPUME Spume, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Spuming.] Etym: [L. spumare.]

Defn: To froth; to foam.

SPUMEOUS Spume"ous, a.

Defn: Spumous. [Obs.] r. H. More.

SPUMESCENCE Spu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [See Spumescent.]

Defn: The state of being foamy; frothiness.

SPUMESCENT Spu*mes"cent, a. Etym: [L. spumescens, p.pr. of spumescere to grow foamy, from spuma foam.]

Defn: Resembling froth or foam; foaming.

SPUMID Spum"id, a. Etym: [L. spumidis.]

Defn: Spumous; frothy. [Obs.]

SPUMIFEROUS Spu*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spumifier; spuma foam + ferra bear.]

Defn: Producing foam.

SPUMINESS Spum"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or condition of being spumy; spumescence.

SPUMOUS; SPUMY Spum"ous, Spum"y, a. Etym: [L. spumosus, spuma foam: cf. F. spumeux.]

Defn: Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy. The spumous and florid state of the blood. Arbuthnot. The spumy waves proclaim the watery war. Dryden.

SPUN Spun,

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

SPUNGE Spunge (spûnj), n.

Defn: A sponge. [Obs.]

SPUNK Spunk (spûnk), n. Etym: [Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), spon a chip. Cf. Sponge, Punk.] [Written also sponk.]

1. Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. Sir T. Browne.

2. An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.] A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body. Prof. Wilson.

SPUNKY Spunk"y, a. [Compar. Spunkier; superl. Spunkiest.]

Defn: Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]

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

SPUR Spur, n. Etym: [OE. spure, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. sq. root171. Cf. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.]

1. An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood. And on her feet a pair of spurs large. Chaucer.

2. That which goads to action; an incitement. Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days. Milton.

3. Something that projects; a snag.

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

5. (Zoöl.)

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

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

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

8. (Carp.)

Defn: A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

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

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

11. (Fort.)

Defn: A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

12. (Shipbuilding) (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side. (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed. Spur fowl (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic gallinaceous birds of the genus Galloperdix, allied to the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each leg. — Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. — Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing. — Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum. — Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.

SPUR Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurring.]

1. To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive. Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Shak.

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

SPUR Spur, v. i.

Defn: To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated traveler." Shak. The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden. The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster. Macaulay. Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves. Grew.

SPURGALL Spur"gall`, n.

Defn: A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.

SPURGALL Spur"gall`, v. t.

Defn: To gall or wound with a spur.

SPURGE Spurge, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To emit foam; to froth; — said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright.

SPURGE Spurge, n. Etym: [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge.] (Bot.)

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

SPURGEWORT Spurge"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.

SPURGING Spur"ging, n. Etym: [See 2d Spurge.]

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

SPURIOUS Spu"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. spurius.]

1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. "Her spurious firstborn." Milton. Spurious primary, or Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. — Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.

Syn. — Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard. — Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. — Spu"ri*ous*ness, n.

SPURLESS Spur"less, a.

Defn: Having no spurs.

SPURLING Spur"ling, n. Etym: [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

SPURLING-LINE Spur"ling-line`, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor. Scot. spurl to sprawl.] (Naut.)

Defn: The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.

SPURN Spurn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning.] Etym: [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. sq. root171. See Spur.]

1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick. [The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup. Chaucer. I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Shak.

2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt. What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn. Shak. Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet. Locke.

SPURN Spurn, v. i.

1. To kick or toss up the heels. The miller spurned at a stone. Chaucer. The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns. Gay.

2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance. Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image. Shak.

SPURN Spurn, n.

1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.] What defence can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn Milton.

2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous tratment. The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes. Shak.

3. (Mining)

Defn: A body of coal left to sustain an overhanding mass.

SPURNER Spurn"er, n.

Defn: One who spurns.

SPURN-WATER Spurn"-wa`ter, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water.

SPURRED Spurred, a.

1. Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs.

2. Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye. Spurred corolla (Bot.), a corolla in which there are one or more petals with a spur.

SPURRER Spur"rer, n.

Defn: One who spurs.

SPURREY Spur"rey, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Spurry.

SPURRIER Spur"ri*er, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to make spurs. B. Jonson. "The saddlers and spurriers would be ruined by thousands." Macaulay.

SPUR-ROYAL Spur"-roy`al, n.

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

SPURRY Spur"ry, n. Etym: [D. or OF. spurrie; cf. G. spergel, NL. spergula.] (Bot.)

Defn: An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder. [Written also spurrey.] Sand spurry (Bot.), any low herb of the genus Lepigonum, mostly found in sandy places.

SPUR-SHELL Spur"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of handsome gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur.

SPURT Spurt, v. i. Etym: [Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i.]

Defn: To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt. Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock, Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope.

SPURT Spurt, v. t.

Defn: To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.

SPURT Spurt, n.

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

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

3. Fig.: A sudden outbreak; as, a spurt of jealousy. Spurt grass (Bot.), a rush fit for basket work. Dr. Prior.

SPURT Spurt, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. sprette a spurt, spring, run, spretta to sprit, spring.]

Defn: A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. The long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes.

SPURT Spurt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurting.]

Defn: To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.

SPURTLE Spur"tle, v. t. Etym: [Freq. of spurt.]

Defn: To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [Obs.] Drayton.

SPURWAY Spur"way`, n. Etym: [Prov. E. spoor a track, trace (AS. spor) + way.]

Defn: A bridle path. [R.]

SPUR-WINGED Spur"-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings. Spur-winged goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of long-legged African geese of the genus Plectropterus and allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the wing, as the Gambo goose (P. Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose (Alopochen Ægyptiaca). — Spur-winged plover (Zoöl.), an Old World plover (Hoplopterus spinosus) having a sharp spur on the bend of the wing. It inhabits Northern Africa and the adjacent parts of Asia and Europe.

SPUT Sput, n. (Steam Boiler)

Defn: An annular reënforce, to strengthen a place where a hole is made.

SPUTATION Spu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. sputare to spit, v. intens. fr. spuere to spit: cf. F. sputation.]

Defn: The act of spitting; expectoration. Harvey.

SPUTATIVE Spu"ta*tive, a.

Defn: Inclined to spit; spitting much. Sir H. Wotton.

SPUTE Spute, v. t. Etym: [Abbrev. from dispute.]

Defn: To dispute; to discuss. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sputtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sputtering.] Etym: [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mputh. Cf. Splutter.]

1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.

2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva. They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples. Congreve.

3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering. Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame. Dryden.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, v. t.

Defn: To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech. In the midst of caresses, and without the last pretend incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations. Swift.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, n.

Defn: Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

SPUTTERER Sput"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who sputters.

SPUTUM Spu"tum, n.; pl. Sputa. Etym: [L., from spuere, sputum, to spit.]

Defn: That which is expectorated; a salival discharge; spittle; saliva.

SPY Spy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied; p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] Etym: [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. speh, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.]

Defn: To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift.

2. To discover by close search or examination. Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.

3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country; — usually with out. Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.

SPY Spy, v. i.

Defn: To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. Shak.

SPY Spy, n.; pl. Spies. Etym: [See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.]

1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. "These wretched spies of wit." Dryden.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer. Spy money, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. — Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; — so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

Syn. — See Emissary, and Scout.

SPYBOAT Spy"boat`, n.

Defn: A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence. Arbuthnot.

SPYGLASS Spy"glass, n.

Defn: A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.

SPYISM Spy"ism

Defn: , n. Act or business of spying. [R.]

SPYNACE; SPYNE Spy"nace, Spyne, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Pinnace, n., 1 (a).

SQUAB Squab, a. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.]

1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky. Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton.

2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King.

SQUAB Squab, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged.

2. A person of a short, fat figure. Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper.

3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa. Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. Dickens. On her large squab you find her spread. Pope.

SQUAB Squab, adv. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.]

Defn: With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar] The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. L'Estrange.

SQUAB Squab, v. i.

Defn: To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]

SQUABASH Squa*bash", v. t.

Defn: To crush; to quash; to squash. [Colloq. or Slang, Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SQUABBISH Squab"bish, a.

Defn: Thick; fat; heavy.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squabbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Squabbling.] Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to chide.]

1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly maner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.

2. To debate peevishly; to dispute. The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative. I. Watts.

Syn. — To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, v. t. (Print.)

Defn: To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; — said of type that has been set up.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, n.

Defn: A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl.

SQUABBLER Squab"bler, n.

Defn: One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.

SQUABBY Squab"by, a.

Defn: Short and thick; suqabbish.

SQUAB-CHICK Squab"-chick`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young chicken before it is fully fledged. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUACCO Squac"co, n.; pl. Squaccos (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.

SQUAD Squad, n. Etym: [F. escouade, fr. Sp. escuadra, or It. squadra, (assumed) LL. exquadrare to square; L. ex + quadra a square. See Square.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes.

2. Hence, any small party.

SQUAD Squad, n.

Defn: Sloppy mud. [Prov. Eng.] Tennyson.

SQUADRON Squad"ron, n. Etym: [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.]

1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.] Those half-rounding quards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined. Milton.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A body of cavarly comparising two companies or troops, and averging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron. Totten. Flying squadron, a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

SQUADRONED Squad"roned, a.

Defn: Formed into squadrons, or squares. [R.] Milton.

SQUAIL Squail, v. i.

Defn: To throw sticls at cocks; to throw anything about awkwardly or irregularly. [Prov. Eng.] Southey.

SQUAIMOUS Squai"mous, a.

Defn: Squeamish. [Obs.]

SQUALI Squa"li, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.

SQUALID Squal"id, a. Etym: [L. squalidus, fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.]

Defn: Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty. Uncomed his locks, and squalid his attrie. Dryden. Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of large capitals. Macaulay.

SQUALIDITY Squa*lid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. squaliditas.]

Defn: The quality or state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.

SQUALIDLY Squal"id*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squalid manner.

SQUALIDNESS Squal"id*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being squalid.

SQUALL Squall, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. sqval an impetuous running of water, sqvalregn a violent shower of rain, sqala to stream, to gush.]

Defn: A sudden violent gust of wind often attended with rain or snow. The gray skirts of a lifting squall. Tennyson. Black squall, a squall attended with dark, heavy clouds. — Thick squall, a black squall accompanied by rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Totten. — White squall, a squall which comes unexpectedly, without being marked in its approach by the clouds. Totten.

SQUALL Squall, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Squalling.] Etym: [Icel. skvala. Cf. Squeal.]

Defn: To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

SQUALL Squall, n.

Defn: A loud scream; a harsh cry. There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, -The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall. Pope.

SQUALLER Squall"er, n.

Defn: One who squalls; a screamer.

SQUALLY Squall"y, a.

1. Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.

2. (Agric.)

Defn: Interrupted by unproductive spots; — said of a flied of turnips or grain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. (Weaving)

Defn: Not equally good throughout; not uniform; uneven; faulty; — said of cloth.

SQUALODON Squa"lo*don, n. Etym: [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; — so called because their are serrated, like a shark's.

SQUALODONT Squa"lo*dont, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to Squalodon.

SQUALOID Squa"loid, a. Etym: [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks (fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.

SQUALOR Squa"lor, n. Etym: [L., fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.]

Defn: Squalidness; foulness; filthness; squalidity. The heterogenous indigent multitude, everywhere wearing nearly the same aspect of squalor. Taylor. To bring this sort of squalor among the upper classes. Dickens.

SQUAM Squam, n. [From Squam, shortened fr. Annisquam, name of a village on the coast of Massachusetts.]

Defn: An oilskin hat or southwester; — a fisherman's name. [U. S.]

SQUAMA Squa"ma, n.; pl. Squamæ. Etym: [L. a scale.] (Med.)

Defn: A scale cast off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.

SQUAMACEOUS Squa*ma"ceous, a.

Defn: Squamose.

SQUAMATA Squa*ma"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. squamatus scaly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated horny scales. It includes the pangolins.

SQUAMATE; SQUAMATED Squa"mate, Squa"ma*ted, a. Etym: [L. squamatus.]

Defn: Same as Squamose.

SQUAMDUCK Squam"duck`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American eider duck. [Local, U.S.]

SQUAME Squame, n. Etym: [L. squama scale.]

1. A scale. [Obs.] "iron squames." Chaucer.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The scale, or exopodite, of an antenna of a crustacean.

SQUAMELLA Squa*mel"la, n.; pl. Squamellæ. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. L. squama a scale.] (Bot.)

Defn: A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.

SQUAMELLATE Squa*mel"late, a.

Defn: Furnished or covered with little scales; squamulose.

SQUAMIFORM Squa"mi*form, a.Etym: [L. squama a scale + -form.]

Defn: Having the shape of a scale.

SQUAMIGEROUS Squa*mig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. squamiger; squama a scale + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing scales.

SQUAMIPEN Squam"i*pen ( or ), n. ;pl. Squamipennes. Etym: [L. squama a scale + penna a fin: cf. F. squamipenne.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.

Note: They are compressed and mostly, bright-colored tropical fishes, belonging to Chætodon and allied genera. Many of them are called soral fishes, and angel fishes.

SQUAMOID Squa"moid, a. Etym: [L. squama scale + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.

SQUAMOSAL Squa*mo"sal, a. (Anat.) (a) Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone. (b) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone. — n.

Defn: The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone correspondending to it, under Temporal.

SQUAMOSE; SQUAMOUS Squa*mose" or, Squa"mous, Etym: [L. squamosus, fr. squama a scale: cf. F. squameux.]

1. Covered with, or consisting of, scales; resembling a scale; scaly; as, the squamose cones of the pine; squamous epithelial cells; the squamous portion of the temporal bone, which is so called from a fancied resemblance to a scale.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone; squamosal.

SQUAMOZYGOMATIC Squa`mo*zyg`o*mat"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to both the squamosal and zygomatic bones; — applied to a bone, or a center of ossification, in some fetal skulls. — n.

Defn: A squamozygomatic bone.

SQUAMULA Squam"u*la ( or ), n.; pl. Squamulæ. Etym: [L., dim. of squama a scale.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of the little hypogynous scales found in the flowers of grasses; a lodicule.

SQUAMULATE Squam"u*late, a.

Defn: Same as Squamulose.

SQUAMULE Squam"ule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Squamula.

SQUAMULOSE Squam"u*lose`, a.

Defn: Having little scales; squamellate; squamulate.

SQUANDER Squan"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Squandering.] Etym: [Cf. Scot. squatter to splash water about, to scatter, to squander, Prov. E. swatter, Dan. sqvatte, Sw. sqvätta to squirt, sqvättra to squander, Icel. skvetta to squirt out, to throw out water.]

1. To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Our squandered troops he rallies. Dryden.

2. To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally or wastefully; to use without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate. The crime of squandering health is equal to the folly. Rambler.

Syn. — To spend; expend; waste; scatter; dissipate.

SQUANDER Squan"der, v. i.

1. To spend lavishly; to be wasteful. They often squandered, but they never gave. Savage.

2. To wander at random; to scatter. [R.] The wise man's folly is anatomized Even by squandering glances of the fool. Shak.

SQUANDER Squan"der, n.

Defn: The act of squandering; waste.

SQUANDERER Squan"der*er, n.

Defn: One who squanders.

SQUANDERINGLY Squan"der*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squandering manner.

SQUARE Square, n. Etym: [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. équerre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad, Squer a square.]

1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment. He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. Sir W. Scott.

(b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; — used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison.

4. (Mech. & Joinery)

Defn: An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.

5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]

6. (Arith. & Alg.)

Defn: The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2.

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.] They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. Hooker. I have not kept my square. Shak.

8. (Mil.)

Defn: A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war." Shak.

9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. We live not on the square with such as these. Dryden.

10. (Astrol.)

Defn: The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] Shak. Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2. — Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. — Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least, Magic, etc. — On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.] — On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. Nares. — To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] Dickens. — To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] Nares. — To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] — To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order. To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; — a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

SQUARE Square, a.

1. (Geom.)

Defn: Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just. She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her. Shak.

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing.

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous. By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say. Beau. & Fl.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; — said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Note: Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combination, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square- nosed, etc. Square foot, an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches. — Square knot, a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust. under Knot. — Square measure, the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc. — Square number. See square, n., 6. — Square root of a number or quantity (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given number or quantity. — Square sail (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail boomed out. See Illust of Sail. — Square stern (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom. — Three-square, Five-square, etc., having three, five, etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file. — To get square with, to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]

SQUARE Square, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squared; p. pr. & vb. n. Squaring.] Etym: [Cf. OF. escarrer, esquarrer. See Square, n.]

1. To form with four sides and four right angles. Spenser.

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work.

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak.

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others. Square my trial To my proportioned strength. Milton.

5. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

6. (Math.)

Defn: To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

7. (Astrol.)

Defn: To hold a quartile position respecting. The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales. Creech.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards. To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, — a movement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. — To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

SQUARE Square, v. i.

1. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit. No works shall find acceptamce . . . That square not truly with the Scripture plan. Cowper.

2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.] Are you such fools To square for this Shak.

3. To take a boxing attitude; — often with up, sometimes with off. [Colloq.] Dickens.

SQUARELY Square"ly, adv.

Defn: In a square form or manner.

SQUARENESS Square"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being square; as, an instrument to try the squareness of work.

SQUARER Squar"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squares.

2. One who squares, or quarrels; a hot-headed, contentious fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

SQUARE-RIGGED Square"-rigged` (skwâr"rîgd`), a. (Naut.)

Defn: Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore-and-aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square-rigged vessels.

SQUARE-TOED Square"-toed` (-tod`), n.

Defn: Having the toe square. Obsolete as fardingales, ruffs, and square-toed shoes. V. Knox.

SQUARE-TOES Square"-toes`, n.

Defn: A precise person; — used contemptuously or jocularly. Thackeray.

SQUARISH Squar"ish, a.

Defn: Nearly square. Pennant.

SQUARROSE Squar*rose" ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. squarrosus (perhaps) scurfy, scabby.]

Defn: Ragged or full of lose scales or projecting parts; rough; jagged; as: (a) (Bot. & Zoöl.) Consisting of scales widely divaricating; having scales, small leaves, or other bodies, spreading widely from the axis on which they are crowded; — said of a calyx or stem. (b) (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into shreds or jags, raised above the plane of the leaf, and not parallel to it; said of a leaf. (c) (Zoöl.) Having scales spreading every way, or standing upright, or at right angles to the surface; — said of a shell. Squarrose- slashed (Bot.), doubly slashed, with the smaller divisions at right angles to the others, as a leaf. Landley.

SQUARROSO-DENTATE Squar*ro`so-den"tate, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the teeth bent out of the plane of the lamina; — said of a leaf.

SQUARROUS Squar"rous ( or ), a.

Defn: Squarrose.

SQUARRULOSE Squar"ru*lose`, a. Etym: [Dim. of squarrose.] (Bot.)

Defn: Somewhat squarrose; slightly squarrose. Gray.

SQUASH Squash, n. Etym: [Cf. Musquash.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American animal allied to the weasel. [Obs.] Goldsmith.

SQUASH Squash, n. Etym: [Massachusetts Indian asq, pl. asquash, raw, green, immaturate, applied to fruit and vegetables which were used when green, or without cooking; askutasquash vine apple.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

Note: The species are much confused. The long-neck squash is called Cucurbita verrucosa, the Barbary or China squash, C. moschata, and the great winter squash, C. maxima, but the distinctions are not clear. Squash beetle (Zoöl.), a small American beetle (Diabrotica, or Galeruca vittata) which is often abundant and very injurious to the leaves of squash, cucumber, etc. It is striped with yellow and black. The name is applied also to other allied species. — Squash bug (Zoöl.), a large black American hemipterous insect (Coreus, or Anasa, tristis) injurious to squash vines.

SQUASH Squash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squashing.] Etym: [OE. squashen, OF. escachier, esquachier, to squash, to crush, F. écacher, perhaps from (assumed) LL. excoacticare, fr. L. ex + coactare to constrain, from cogere, coactum, to compel. Cf. Cogent, Squat, v. i.]

Defn: To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.

SQUASH Squash, n.

1. Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease. Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod. Shak.

2. Hence, something unripe or soft; — used in contempt. "This squash, this gentleman." Shak.

3. A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies. Arbuthnot. My fall was stopped by a terrible squash. Swift.

SQUASHER Squash"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, squashes.

SQUASHINESS Squash"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being squashy, or soft.

SQUASHY Squash"y, a.

Defn: Easily squashed; soft.

SQUAT Squat, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The angel fish (Squatina angelus

SQUAT Squat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squatting.] Etym: [OE. squatten to crush, OF. esquater, esquatir (cf. It. quatto squat, cowering), perhaps fr. L. ex + coactus, p. p. cogere to drive or urge together. See Cogent, Squash, v. t.]

1. To sit down upon the hams or heels; as, the savages squatted near the fire.

2. To sit close to the ground; to cower; to stoop, or lie close, to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.

3. To settle on another's land without title; also, to settle on common or public lands.

SQUAT Squat, v. t.

Defn: To bruise or make flat by a fall. [Obs.]

SQUAT Squat, a.

1. Sitting on the hams or heels; sitting close to the ground; cowering; crouching. Him there they found, Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve. Milton.

2. Short and thick, like the figure of an animal squatting. "The round, squat turret." R. Browning. The head [of the squill insect] is broad and squat. Grew.

SQUAT Squat, n.

1. The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.

2. A sudden or crushing fall. [Obs.] erbert.

3. (Mining) (a) A small vein of ore. (b) A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar. Halliwell. Woodward. Squat snipe (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe; — called also squatter. [Local, U.S.]

SQUATEROLE Squat"er*ole, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black-bellied plover.

SQUATTER Squat"ter, n.

1. One who squats; specifically, one who settles unlawfully upon land without a title. In the United States and Australia the term is sometimes applied also to a person who settles lawfully upon government land under permission and restrictions, before acquiring title. In such a tract, squatters and trespassers were tolerated to an extent now unknown. Macaulay.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Squat snipe, under Squat. Squatter sovereignty, the right claimed by the squatters, or actual residents, of a Territory of the United States to make their own laws. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

SQUATTY Squat"ty, a.

Defn: Squat; dumpy. J. Burroughs.

SQUAW Squaw, n. Etym: [Massachusetts Indian squa, eshqua; Narragansett squâws; Delaware ochqueu, and khqueu; used also in compound words (as the names of animals) in the sense of female.]

Defn: A female; a woman; — in the language of Indian tribes of the Algonquin family, correlative of sannup. Old squaw. (Zoöl.) See under Old.

SQUAWBERRY Squaw"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A local name for the partridge berry; also, for the deerberry. [U. S.]

SQUAWK Squawk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squawked; p. pr. & vb. n. Squawking.] Etym: [See Squeak.]

Defn: To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly. Squawking thrush (Zoöl.), the missel turush; — so called from its note when alarmed. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUAWK Squawk, n.

1. Act of squawking; a harsh squeak.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American night heron. See under Night. Squawk duck (Zoöl.), the bimaculate duck (Anas glocitans). It has patches of reddish brown behind, and in front of, each eye. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUAWL Squawl, v. i.

Defn: See Squall.

SQUAW MAN Squaw man.

Defn: A white man who has married an Indian squaw; sometimes, one who has gained tribal rights by such a marriage; — often a term of contempt. [Western U. S.]

SQUAWROOT Squaw"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A scaly parasitic plant (Conopholis Americana) found in oak woods in the United States; — called also cancer root.

SQUAW VINE Squaw vine. (Bot.)

Defn: The partridge berry (Mitchella repens).

SQUAWWEED Squaw"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The golden ragwort. See under Ragwort.

SQUEAK Squeak, v. i. [imp.& p. p. Squaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Squeaking.] Etym: [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. sqväka to croak, Icel. skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.]

1. To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak. Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch Addison. Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the "squeaking pigs" of Homer. Pope.

2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.] If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him. Dryden.

SQUEAK Squeak, n.

Defn: A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly utered, either of the human voice or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather shoes, or by a pipe or reed.

SQUEAKER Squeak"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeaks.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); — so called from its note.

SQUEAKINGLY Squeak"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squeaking manner.

SQUEAL Squeal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squealing.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sqväla, Norw. skvella. Cf. Squeak, Squall.]

1. To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or pain.

2. To turn informer; to betray a secret. [Slang]

SQUEAL Squeal, n.

Defn: A shrill, somewhat prolonged cry.

SQUEALER Squeal"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeals.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The European swift. (b) The harlequin duck. (c) The American golden plover.

SQUEAMISH Squeam"ish, a. Etym: [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. swimi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.]

Defn: Having a stomach that is easily or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties. Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish That takes a basting for a blemish. Hudibras. His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain The men of squeamish taste to entertain. Southern. So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.

Syn. — Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See Fastidious. — Squeam"ish*ly, adv. — Squeam"ish*ness, n.

SQUEAMOUS Squeam"ous, a.

Defn: Squeamish. [Obs.]

SQUEASINESS Squea"si*ness, n.

Defn: Queasiness. [Obs.]

SQUEASY Squea"sy, a.

Defn: Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.

SQUEEGEE Squee"gee, n.

Defn: Same as Squilgee.

SQUEEGEE ROLLER Squeegee roller.

Defn: A small India-rubber roller with a handle, used esp. in printing and photography as a squeegee.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] Etym: [OE. queisen, AS. cwesan, cwysan, cwisan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.]

1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush. In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden. L'Estrange.

3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.

Syn. — To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, v. i.

Defn: To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; — often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, n.

1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.

2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.

SQUEEZER Squeez"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeezes; as, a lemon squeezer.

2. (Forging) (a) A machine like a large pair of pliers, for shingling, or squeezing, the balls of metal when puddled; — used only in the plural. (b) A machine of several forms for the same purpose; — used in the singular.

SQUEEZING Squeez"ing, n.

1. The act of pressing; compression; oppression.

2. pl.

Defn: That which is forced out by pressure; dregs.

3. Same as Squeeze, n., 2.

SQUELCH Squelch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squelched; p. pr. & vb. n. Squelching.] Etym: [Cf. prov. E. quelch a blow, and quel to crush, to kill.]

Defn: To quell; to crush; to silence or put down. [Colloq.] Oh 't was your luck and mine to be squelched. Beau. & Fl. If you deceive us you will be squelched. Carlyle.

SQUELCH Squelch, n.

Defn: A heavy fall, as of something flat; hence, also, a crushing reply. [Colloq.] Hudibras.

SQUETEAGUE Sque*teague" (skwe*teg"), n. Etym: [from the North American Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American sciænoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (C. nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon.

SQUIB Squib, n. Etym: [OE. squippen, swippen, to move swiftky, Icel. svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. swipian to whip, and E. swift, a. See Swift, a.]

1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible matter, to be thrown into the air while burning, so as to burst there with a crack. Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze. Waller. The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . is punishable. Blackstone.

2. (Mining)

Defn: A kind of slow match or safety fuse.

3. A sarcastic speech or publication; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay. Who copied his squibs, and reëchoed his jokes. Goldsmith.

4. A writer of lampoons. [Obs.] The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers. Tatler.

5. A paltry fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.

SQUIB Squib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squibbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squibbing.]

Defn: To throw squibs; to utter sarcatic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little debate. [Colloq.]

SQUID Squid, n. Etym: [Cf. Squirt.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See Calamary, Decacerata, Dibranchiata.

Note: Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern New England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts.

2. A fishhook with a piece of bright lead, bone, or other substance, fastened on its shank to imitate a squid. Flying squid, Giant squid. (Zoöl.) See under Flying, and Giant. — Squid hound (Zoöl.), the striped bass.

SQUIER Squier, n.

Defn: A square. See 1st Squire. [Obs.] Not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier. Shak.

SQUIERIE; SQUIERY Squi"er*ie, Squi"er*y, (, n. Etym: [OF. escuiere. See Esquire.]

Defn: A company of squires; the whole body of squires.

Note: This word is found in Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, but is not in the modern editions.

SQUIFFY Squif"fy, a.

Defn: Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy. [Slang] Kipling.

SQUIGGLE Squig"gle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. swiggle to drink greedily, to shake liquor in a close vessel, and E. sqig.]

Defn: To shake and wash a fluid about in the mouth with the lips closed. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

SQUIGGLE Squig"gle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Squirm, Wiggle.]

Defn: To move about like an eel; to squirm. [Low, U.S.] Bartlett.

SQUILGEE Squil"gee, n.

Defn: Formerly, a small swab for drying a vessel's deck; now, a kind of scraper having a blade or edge of rubber or of leather, — used for removing superfluous, water or other liquids, as from a vessel's deck after washing, from window panes, photographer's plates, etc. [Written also squillgee, squillagee, squeegee.]

SQUILL Squill, n. Etym: [F. squille (also scille a squill, in sense 1), L. squilla, scilla, Gr.

1. (Bot.) (a) A European bulbous liliaceous plant (Urginea, formerly Scilla, maritima), of acrid, expectorant, diuretic, and emetic properties used in medicine. Called also sea onion. (b) Any bulbous plant of the genus Scilla; as, the bluebell squill (S. mutans).

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A squilla. (b) A mantis.

SQUILLA Squil"la, n.; pl. E. Squillas, L. Squillæ. Etym: [L., a sea onion, also, a prawn or shrimp. See Squill.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous stomapod crustaceans of the genus Squilla and allied genera. They make burrows in mud or beneath stones on the seashore. Called also mantis shrimp. See Illust. under Stomapoda.

SQUILLITIC Squill*it"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to squills. [R.] "Squillitic vinegar." Holland.

SQUINANCE; SQUINANCY Squin"ance, Squin"an*cy, n. Etym: [F. esquinancie, OF. squinance, esquinance. See Quinsy.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: The quinsy. See Quinsy. [Obs.]

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A European perennial herb (Asperula cynanchica) with narrowly linear whorled leaves; — formerly thought to cure the quinsy. Also called quincewort. Squinancy berries, black currants; — so called because used to cure the quinsy. Dr. Prior.

SQUINCH Squinch, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. sconce.] (Arch.)

Defn: A small arch thrown across the corner of a square room to support a superimposed mass, as where an octagonal spire or drum rests upon a square tower; — called also sconce, and sconcheon.

SQUINSY Squin"sy, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Quinsy. [Obs.]

SQUINT Squint, a. Etym: [Cf. D. schuinte a slope, schuin, schuinisch, sloping, oblique, schuins slopingly. Cf. Askant, Askance, Asquint.]

1. Looking obliquely. Specifically (Med.), not having the optic axes coincident; — said of the eyes. See Squint, n., 2.

2. Fig.: Looking askance. "Squint suspicion." Milton.

SQUINT Squint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squinting.]

1. To see or look obliquely, asquint, or awry, or with a furtive glance. Some can squint when they will. Bacon.

2. (Med.)

Defn: To have the axes of the eyes not coincident; — to be cross- eyed.

3. To deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.

SQUINT Squint, v. t.

1. To turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely; as, to squint an eye.

2. To cause to look with noncoincident optic axes. He . . . squints the eye, and makes the harelid. Shak.

SQUINT Squint, n.

1. The act or habit of squinting.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A want of coincidence of the axes of the eyes; strabismus.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Hagioscope.

SQUINTER Squint"er, n.

Defn: One who squints.

SQUINT-EYE Squint"-eye`, n.

Defn: An eye that squints. Spenser.

SQUINT-EYED Squint"-eyed`, a.

1. Having eyes that quint; having eyes with axes not coincident; cross-eyed.

2. Looking obliquely, or asquint; malignant; as, squint-eyed praise; squint-eyed jealousy.

SQUINTIFEGO Squint`i*fe"go, a.

Defn: Squinting. [Obs. & R.]

SQUINTING Squint"ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Squint, v. — Squint"ing*ly, adv.

SQUINY Squin"y, v. i.

Defn: To squint. [Obs.] Shak.

SQUINZEY Squin"zey, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Quinsy. [Obs.]

SQUIR; SQUIRR Squir, v. t.

Defn: To throw with a jerk; to throw edge foremost. [Obs.] [Written also squirr.] Addison.

SQUIRALTY Squir"al*ty, n.

Defn: Same as Squirarchy. That such weight and influence be put thereby into the hands of the squiralty of my kingdom. Sterne.

SQUIRARCH Squir"arch, n. Etym: [Squire + -arch.]

Defn: One who belongs to the squirarchy. — Squir"arch*al, a.

SQUIRARCHY Squir"arch*y, n. Etym: [Squire + -archy.]

Defn: The gentlemen, or gentry, of a country, collectively. [Written also squirearchy.]

SQUIRE Squire, n. Etym: [OF. esquierre, F. équerre. See Square, n.]

Defn: A square; a measure; a rule. [Obs.] "With golden squire." Spenser.

SQUIRE Squire, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of esquire.]

1. A shield-bearer or armor-bearer who attended a knight.

2. A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See Esquire. [Eng.] "His privy knights and squires." Chaucer.

3. A male attendant on a great personage; also (Colloq.), a devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau.

4. A title of office and courtesy. See under Esquire.

SQUIRE Squire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. squired; p. pr. & vb. n. squiring.]

1. To attend as a squire. Chaucer.

2. To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection; as, to squire a lady. [Colloq.] Goldsmith.