spar - Sparth

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spar (spär), n. [AS. spær in spærstān chalkstone; akin to MHG. spar, G. sparkalk plaster.] (Min.) An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar, or calcite, fluor spar, etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue minerals of a metalliferous vein.
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Coloq. Blue spar , Coloq. Cube spar , etc. See under , , etc.
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Spar, n. [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG. sparro, Dan. & Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin. √171. Cf. , v. t. ] 1. (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
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2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters.
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3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Coloq. Spar buoy (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water. -- Coloq. Spar deck (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed. See under . -- Coloq. Spar torpedo (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.
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Spar, v. t. [OE. sparren, AS. sparrian; akin to G. sperren, Icel. sperra; from the noun. √171. See beam, bar.] 1. To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
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☞ A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.
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Spar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparring.] [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esparer to kick, F. éparer, or Icel. sperra to stretch out the legs, to struggle.] 1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
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2. To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box.
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Made believe to spar at Paul with great science. Dickens.
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3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]
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Spar, n. 1. A contest at sparring or boxing.
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2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
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Sparable (?), n. [Corrupted from sparrow bill.] A kind of small nail used by shoemakers.
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Sparada (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small California surf fish (Micrometrus aggregatus); -- called also shiner.
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Sparadrap (?), n. [F. sparadrap; cf. It. sparadrappo, NL. sparadrapa.] 1. A cerecloth. [Obs.]
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2. (Med.) Any adhesive plaster.
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{ Sparage (?; 48), Sparagus (?), Sparagrass (?), } n. Obs. or corrupt forms of .
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Sparble (?), v. t. [OF. esparpiller to scatter, F. éparpiller.] To scatter; to disperse; to rout. [Obs.]
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The king's host was sparbled and chased. Fabyan.
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Spare (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. spær spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. spar�n, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See , a.] 1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. “No cost would he spare.” Chaucer.
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[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. Milton.
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He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. Prov. xvii. 27.
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2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
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Be pleased your plitics to spare. Dryden.
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Spare my sight the pain
Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. Dryden.
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3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
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Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer.
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Dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages. Milton.
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Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.
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4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
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All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he �estowed on . . . serving of God. Knolles.
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5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
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Where angry Jove did never spare
One breath of kind and temperate air. Roscommon.
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I could have better spared a better man. Shak.
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Coloq. To spare one's self . (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.]
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Her thought that a lady should her spare. Chaucer.
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(b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.
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Spare (?), v. i. 1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
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I, who at some times spend, at others spare,
Divided between carelessness and care. Pope.
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2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
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He will not spare in the day of vengeance. Prov. vi. 34.
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3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Spare, a. [Compar. Sparer (?); superl. Sparest; -- not used in all the senses of the word.] [AS. spær sparing. Cf. , v. t. ] 1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.
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2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
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He was spare, but discreet of speech. Carew.
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3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous; as, I have no spare time.
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If that no spare clothes he had to give. Spenser.
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4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.
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5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
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O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones. Shak.
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6. Slow. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] Grose.
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Spare (?), n. 1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [Obs.]
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Killing for sacrifice, without any spare. Holland.
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2. Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Poured out their plenty without spite or spare. Spenser.
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3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. [Obs.]
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4. That which has not been used or expended.
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5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare. For the meaning in modern bowling, see sense 6.
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6. (Bowling) The act of knocking down all ten pins in two bowls, which entitles the bowler to add the number of pins knocked down in the next bowl to the score for the frame in which the spare occurred.
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Spareful (?), a. Sparing; chary. [Obs.] Fairfax.
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-- Sparefulness, n. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
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Spareless, a. Unsparing. Sylvester.
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Sparely, adv. In a spare manner; sparingly.
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Spareness, n. [Cf. AS. spærnis frugality.] The quality or state of being lean or thin; leanness.
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Sparer (?), n. One who spares.
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Sparerib (?), n. [Spare, a. + rib.] A piece of pork, consisting or ribs with little flesh on them.
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Sparge (?), v. t. [L. spargere; cf. F. asperger.] To sprinkle; to moisten by sprinkling; as, to sparge paper.
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Spargefaction (?), n. [L. spargere to strew + facere, factum, to make.] The act of sprinkling. [Obs.] Swift.
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Sparger (?), n. [Cf. F. asperger to sprinkle, L. aspergere, spargere.] A vessel with a perforated cover, for sprinkling with a liquid; a sprinkler.
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Sparhawk (?), n. [OE. sperhauke.] (Zoöl.) The sparrow hawk. [Prov. Eng.]
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Spar-hung (?), a. Hung with spar, as a cave.
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Sparing (?), a. Spare; saving; frugal; merciful. Bacon.
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-- Sparingly, adv. -- Sparingness, n.
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Spark (?), n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. spragëti, Gr. � a bursting with a noise, Skr. sph�rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. .] 1. A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion.
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Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job v. 7.
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2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
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3. That which, like a spark, may be kindled into a flame, or into action; a feeble germ; an elementary principle. “If any spark of life be yet remaining.” Shak. “Small intellectual spark.” Macaulay. “Vital spark of heavenly flame.” Pope.
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We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge. Locke.
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Bright gem instinct with music, vocal spark. Wordsworth.
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Coloq. Spark arrester , a contrivance to prevent the escape of sparks while it allows the passage of gas, -- chiefly used in the smokestack of a wood-burning locomotive. Called also spark consumer. [U.S.]
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Spark, n. [Icel. sparkr lively, sprightly.] 1. A brisk, showy, gay man.
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The finest sparks and cleanest beaux. Prior.
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2. A lover; a gallant; a beau.
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Spark, v. i. 1. To sparkle. [Obs.] Spenser.
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2. (Elec.) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at the commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes.
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Spark, v. i. To play the spark, beau, or lover.
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A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed, sparking, within. W. Irwing.
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Spark coil. (Elec.) (a) An induction coil used for producing sparks, esp. in an internal-combustion engine, wireless telegraph apparatus, etc. (b) A self-induction coil used to increase the spark in an electric gas-lighting apparatus.
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Sparker (?), n. A spark arrester.
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Sparkful (?), a. Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] “Our sparkful youth.” Camden.
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Spark gap. (Elec.) The space filled with air or other dielectric between high potential terminals (as of an electrostatic machine, induction coil, or condenser), through which the discharge passes; the air gap of a jump spark.
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Sparkish, a. 1. Like a spark; airy; gay. W. Walsh.
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2. Showy; well-dresed; fine. L'Estrange.
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Sparkle (?), n. [Dim. of spark.] 1. A little spark; a scintillation.
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As fire is wont to quicken and go
From a sparkle sprungen amiss,
Till a city brent up is. Chaucer.
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The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper. Prescott.
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2. Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.
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Sparkle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparkling (?).] [See , n., Spark of fire.] 1. To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.
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A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging
Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling. Chaucer.
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2. To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
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I see bright honor sparkle through your eyes. Milton.
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3. To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.
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Syn. -- To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.
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Sparkle, v. t. To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. “Did sparkle forth great light.” Spenser.
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Sparkle, v. t. [Cf. .] 1. To disperse. [Obs.]
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The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. State Papers.
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2. To scatter on or over. [Obs.] Purchas.
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Sparkler (?), n. One who scatters; esp., one who scatters money; an improvident person. [Obs.]
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Sparkler, n. One who, or that which, sparkles.
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Sparkler, n. (Zoöl.) A tiger beetle.
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Sparklet (?), n. A small spark. [Obs.]
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Sparkliness (?), n. Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.
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Sparkling (?), a. Emitting sparks; glittering; flashing; brilliant; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. -- Sparklingly, adv. -- Sparklingness, n.
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Syn. -- Brilliant; shining. See .
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Spark plug. In internal-combustion engines with electric ignition, a plug, screwed into the cylinder head, connected with the induction coil or magneto circuit on the outside, and used to produce a spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the engine.
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Sparling (?), n. [Akin to G. spierling, spiering, D. spiering: cf. F. éperlan.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus). (b) A young salmon. (c) A tern. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
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Sparlyre (?), n. [AS. spear-lira.] The calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wyclif (Deut. xxviii. 35).
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Sparoid (?; 277), a. [L. sparus the gilthead + -oid: cf. F. sparoïde.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Sparidæ, a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the scup, sheepshead, and sea bream. -- n. One of the Sparidæ.
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Sparpiece (?), n. (Arch.) The collar beam of a roof; the spanpiece. Gwilt.
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Sparpoil (?), v. t. [See .] To scatter; to spread; to disperse. [Obs.]
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Sparrow (?), n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See , and cf. .] 1. (Zoöl.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under .
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☞ The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see ). See these terms under , , etc.
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2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under .
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He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age! Shak.
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Coloq. Field sparrow , Coloq. Fox sparrow , etc. See under , , etc. -- Coloq. Sparrow bill , a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. -- Coloq. Sparrow hawk . (Zoöl.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk (Accipiter torquatus). The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk. -- Coloq. Sparrow owl (Zoöl.), a small owl (Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls. -- Coloq. Sparrow spear (Zoöl.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
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Sparrowgrass (?), n. [Corrupted from asparagus.] Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note under .
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Sparrowwort (?), n. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica (E. passerina).
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Sparry (?), a. [From .] Resembling spar, or consisting of spar; abounding with spar; having a confused crystalline structure; spathose.
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Coloq. Sparry iron (Min.), siderite. See (a). -- Coloq. Sparry limestone (Min.), a coarsely crystalline marble.
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Sparse (?), a. [Compar. Sparser (?); superl. Sparsest.] [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to strew, scatter. Cf. , .] 1. Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together; as, a sparse population. Carlyle.
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2. (Bot.) Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; -- applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the like.
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Sparse, v. t. [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to scatter.] To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Sparsedly (?), adv. Sparsely. [Obs.]
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Sparsely, adv. In a scattered or sparse manner.
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Sparseness, n. The quality or state of being sparse; as, sparseness of population.
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Sparsim (?), adv. [L., fr. spargere to scatter.] Sparsely; scatteredly; here and there.
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Spartan (?), a. [L. Spartanus.] Of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively, a person of great courage and fortitude.
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Sparteine (?), n. (Chem.) A narcotic alkaloid extracted from the tops of the common broom (Cytisus scoparius, formerly Spartium scoparium), as a colorless oily liquid of aniline-like odor and very bitter taste.
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Sparterie (?), n. [F., from Sp. esparto esparto, L. spartum, Gr. �.] Articles made of the blades or fiber of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa tenacissima (syn. Macrochloa tenacissima), kinds of grass used in Spain and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses. Loudon.
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Sparth (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spar�a.] An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd. [Obs.]
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He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight. Chaucer.
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