In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
SPARRING
spar, sparring
(noun) making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer
sparring
(noun) an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantage
SPAR
spar
(verb) fight verbally; “They were sparring all night”
spar
(verb) box lightly
spar
(verb) fight with spurs; “the gamecocks were sparring”
spar
(verb) furnish with spars
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
sparring
present participle of spar
Noun
sparring (countable and uncountable, plural sparrings)
The act of one who spars.
Source: Wiktionary
SPAR
Spar, n. Etym: [AS. spær in spærstan chalkstone; akin to MHG. spar, G. sparkalk plaster.] (Min.)
Definition: 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. Blue spar, Cube spar, etc. See under Blue, Cube, etc.
Spar, n. Etym: [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG. sparro, Dan.& Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin. Spar, v. t. ]
1. (Naut.)
Definition: A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
2. (Arch.)
Definition: Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters.
3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spar buoy (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water.
– 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 Deck.
– 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.
Spar, v. t. Etym: [OE. sparren, AS. sparrian; akin to G. sperren, Icel. sperra; from the noun. sq. root171. See Spara beam, bar.]
1. To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
Note: A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.
Spar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparred; p. pr. & vb. n. Sparring.] Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esparer to kick, F. Ă©parer, or Icel. sperra to stretch out the legs, to struggle.]
1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
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. Made believe to spar at Paul with great science. Dickens.
3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]
Spar, n.
1. A contest at sparring or boxing.
2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
8 November 2024
REPLACEMENT
(noun) the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another; “replacing the star will not be easy”
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