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. éparer, 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



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Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


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Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

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