Spumous - Squabbish

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{ Spumous (spūmŭs), Spumy (spūm�), } a. [L. spumosus, fr. spuma foam: cf. F. spumeux.] Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy.
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The spumous and florid state of the blood. Arbuthnot.
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The spumy waves proclaim the watery war. Dryden.
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Spun (spŭn), imp. & p. p. of .
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Coloq. Spun hay , hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Spun yarn (Naut.), a line formed of two or more rope-yarns loosely twisted.
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Spunge (spŭnj), n. A sponge. [Obs.]
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Spunk (spŭṉk), n. [Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), spōn a chip. Cf. , .] [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.
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2. An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.]
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A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body. Prof. Wilson.
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Spunky (-�), a. [Compar. Spunkier (-ĭẽr); superl. Spunkiest.] Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]
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Spur (spûr), n. [See .] (Zoöl.) (a) A sparrow. [Scot.] (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]
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Spur, n. [OE. spure, spore, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. √171. Cf. , , , .] 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.
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And on her feet a pair of spurs large. Chaucer.
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2. That which goads to action; an incitement.
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Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights and live laborious days. Milton.
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3. Something that projects; a snag.
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4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak.
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5. (Zoöl.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain birds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.
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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.
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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.
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8. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
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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.
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10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]
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11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
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12. (Shipbuilding) (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side. (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half beam to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.
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13. (Mining) A branch of a vein.
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14. The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor.
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Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. -- Coloq. Spur gearing , gearing in which spur gears are used. See under . -- Coloq. Spur pepper . (Bot.) See the Note under . -- Coloq. Spur wheel . Same as Spur gear, above.
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Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred (spûrd); 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.
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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.
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Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Shak.
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3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.
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Spur, v. i. To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. “Now spurs the lated traveler.” Shak.
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The Parthians shall be there,
And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden.
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The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster. Macaulay.
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Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves. Grew.
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Spurgall (-g�l), n. A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.
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Spurgall, v. t. To gall or wound with a spur.
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Spurge (spûrj), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; -- said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright.
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Spurge, n. [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See , .] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See .
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Coloq. Spurge flax , an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow leaves. It is a native of Southern Europe. -- Coloq. Spurge laurel , a European shrub (Daphne Laureola) with oblong evergreen leaves. -- Coloq. Spurge nettle . See under . -- Coloq. Spurge olive , an evergreen shrub (Daphne oleoides) found in the Mediterranean region.
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Spurgewort (spûrjwûrt), n. (Bot.) Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.
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Spurging (spûrjĭng), n. [See 2d .] A purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Spurious (spūrĭŭs), a. [L. spurius.] 1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; counterfeit; false; adulterate.
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2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. “Her spurious firstborn.” Milton.
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Coloq. Spurious primary , or Coloq. Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. -- Coloq. Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.
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Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard.
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-- Spuriously, adv. -- Spuriousness, n.
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Spurless (spûrlĕs), a. Having no spurs.
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Spurling (-lĭng), n. [See .] (Zoöl.) A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.
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Spurling-line (-līn), n. [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor, Scot. spurl to sprawl.] (Naut.) The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.
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Spurn (spûrn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned (spûrnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning.] [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. √171. See .] 1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick.
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[The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup. Chaucer.
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I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Shak.
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2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt.
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What safe and nicely I might well delay
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn. Shak.
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Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet. Locke.
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Spurn, v. i. 1. To kick or toss up the heels.
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The miller spurned at a stone. Chaucer.
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The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns. Gay.
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2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance.
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Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image. Shak.
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Spurn, n. 1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.]
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What defense can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn? Milton.
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2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous treatment.
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The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes. Shak.
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3. (Mining) A body of coal left to sustain an overhanging mass.
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Spurner (-ẽr), n. One who spurns.
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Spurn-water (-w�tẽr), n. (Naut.) A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water.
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Spurred (spûrd), a. 1. Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs.
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2. Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye.
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Coloq. Spurred corolla (Bot.), a corolla in which there are one or more petals with a spur.
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Spurrer (spûrrẽr), n. One who spurs.
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Spurrey (spŭrr�), n. (Bot.) See .
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Spurrier (spûrrĭẽr), n. One whose occupation is to make spurs. B. Jonson. “The saddlers and spurriers would be ruined by thousands.” Macaulay.
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Spur-royal (spûrroi�l), n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written also spur-rial, and spur-ryal.]
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Spurry (spŭrr�), n. [D. or OF. spurrie; cf. G. spergel, NL. spergula.] (Bot.) An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder. [Written also spurrey.]
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Coloq. Sand spurry (Bot.), any low herb of the genus Lepigonum, mostly found in sandy places.
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Spur-shell (spûrshĕl), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of handsome marine gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur.
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Spurt (spûrt), v. i. [Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See , v. i., , v. i.] To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt.
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Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock,
Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope.
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Spurt, v. t. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.
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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.
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2. A shoot; a bud. [Obs.] Holland.
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3. Fig.: A sudden outbreak; as, a spurt of jealousy.
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Coloq. Spurt grass (Bot.), a rush fit for basket work. Dr. Prior.
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Spurt (spûrt), n. [Cf. Icel. sprettr a spurt, spring, run, spretta to spirt, spring.] A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space.
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The long, steady sweep of the so-called “paddle” tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes.
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Spurt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurting.] To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.
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Spurtle (spûrt'l), v. t. [Freq. of spurt.] To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Spurway (spûrwā), n. [Prov. E. spoor a track, trace (AS. spor) + way.] A bridle path. [R.]
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Spur-winged (-wĭngd), a. (Zoöl.) Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings.
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Coloq. 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). -- Coloq. 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.
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Sput (spŭt), n. (Steam Boiler) An annular reënforce, to strengthen a place where a hole is made.
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Sputation (sp�tāshŭn), n. [L. sputare to spit, v. intens. fr. spuere to spit: cf. F. sputation.] The act of spitting; expectoration. Harvey.
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Sputative (spūtȧtĭv), a. Inclined to spit; spitting much. Sir H. Wotton.
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Spute (spūt), v. t. [Abbrev. from dispute.] To dispute; to discuss. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Sputter (spŭttẽr), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sputtered (-tẽrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Sputtering.] [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mouth. Cf. .] 1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
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2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva.
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They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples. Congreve.
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3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.
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Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame. Dryden.
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Sputter, v. t. To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech.
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In the midst of caresses, and without the least pretended incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations. Swift.
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Sputter, n. Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.
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Sputterer (-ẽr), n. One who sputters.
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Sputum (spūtŭm), n.; pl. Sputa (-tȧ). [L., from spuere, sputum, to spit.] That which is expectorated; a salival discharge; spittle; saliva.
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Spy (spī), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied (spīd); p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. spehōn, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spaç. √ 169. Cf. , v. t., , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .] 1. To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.
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One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift.
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2. To discover by close search or examination.
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Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.
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3. To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out.
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Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.
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Spy, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
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It is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses. Shak.
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Spy, n.; pl. Spies (spīz). [See , v., and cf. , n.] 1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. “These wretched spies of wit.” Dryden.
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2. (Mil.) 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.
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Coloq. Spy money , money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. -- Coloq. Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.
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Syn. -- See , and .
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Spyboat (-bōt), n. A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence. Arbuthnot.
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Spyglass (-glȧs), n. A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.
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Spyism (-ĭz'm), n. Act or business of spying. [R.]
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{ Spynace (spīn�s; 48), Spyne (spīn), } n. (Naut.) See , n., 1 (a).
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Squab (skwŏb), a. [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and E. quab.] 1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky.
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Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton.
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2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King.
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Squab, n. 1. (Zoöl.) A nestling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged.
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2. A person of a short, fat figure.
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Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan,
Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper.
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3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa.
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Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. Dickens.
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On her large squab you find her spread. Pope.
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Squab, adv. [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.] With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar]
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The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. L'Estrange.
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Squab, v. i. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]
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Squabash (skwȧbăsh), v. t. To crush; to quash; to squash. [Colloq. or Slang, Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
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Squabbish (skwŏbbĭsh), a. Thick; fat; heavy.
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