In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
spancel (plural spancels)
a rope or fetter used to hobble a horse or other animal
spancel (third-person singular simple present spancels, present participle spanceling or spancelling, simple past and past participle spanceled or spancelled)
(transitive) to hobble with a spancel
• enclasp, lens cap
Source: Wiktionary
Span"cel, n. Etym: [Perhaps span + AS. sal a rope.]
Definition: A rope used for tying or hobbling the legs of a horse or cow. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Grose.
Span"cel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanceled or Spancelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spanceling or Spancelling.]
Definition: To tie or hobble with a spancel. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Malone.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
22 April 2025
(adjective) made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow; “bright silver candlesticks”; “a burnished brass knocker”; “she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves”; “rows of shining glasses”; “shiny black patents”
In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.