SPUR
spur, gad
(noun) a sharp prod fixed to a rider’s heel and used to urge a horse onward; “cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on”
goad, goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring
(noun) a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; “the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves”
spur
(noun) tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers
spur, spine, acantha
(noun) any sharply pointed projection
spur
(verb) goad with spurs; “the rider spurred his horse”
spur
(verb) equip with spurs; “spur horses”
spur
(verb) strike with a spur
spur, goad
(verb) give heart or courage to
spur
(verb) incite or stimulate; “The Academy was formed to spur research”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
spur (plural spurs)
A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.
A jab given with the spurs.
Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does a horse.
An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.
Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.
Roots, tree roots.
A mountain that shoots from another mountain or range and extends some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.
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.
(carpentry) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, such as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
(architecture) The short wooden buttress of a post.
(architecture) 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.
Ergotized rye or other grain.
A wall in a fortification that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
(shipbuilding) A piece of timber fixed on the bilgeways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.
(shipbuilding) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam cannot be placed.
(mining) A branch of a vein.
A very short branch line of a railway line.
Verb
spur (third-person singular simple present spurs, present participle spurring, simple past and past participle spurred)
(transitive) To prod (especially a horse) on the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.
(transitive) To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object
Synonyms: incite, stimulate, instigate, impel, drive, Thesaurus:incite
(transitive) To put spurs on.
(intransitive) To press forward; to travel in great haste.
Etymology 2
Noun
spur (plural spurs)
A tern.
Etymology 3
Noun
spur (plural spurs)
(electronics) A spurious tone, one that interferes with a signal in a circuit and is often masked underneath that signal.
Etymology 4
Noun
spur (plural spurs)
The track of an animal, such as an otter; a spoor.
Etymology 5
Verb
spur (third-person singular simple present , present participle spurring, simple past and past participle spurred)
(obsolete, dialectal) Alternative form of speer.
Anagrams
• purs, surp
Noun
Spur (plural Spurs)
(soccer) someone connected with Tottenham Hotspur FC, as a fan, player, coach etc.
Anagrams
• purs, surp
Source: Wiktionary
Spur, n. Etym: [See Sparrow.] (Zoöl.) (a) A sparrow. [Scot.] (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]
Spur, n. Etym: [OE. spure, 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. sq. root171. Cf. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.]
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. And on her feet a pair of spurs large. Chaucer.
2. That which goads to action; an incitement. Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days. Milton.
3. Something that projects; a snag.
4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak.
5. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.
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.
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.
8. (Carp.)
Definition: A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
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.
10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]
11. (Fort.)
Definition: A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
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 to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed. 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.
– Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel.
– Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing.
– Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum.
– Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.
Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred; 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.
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. Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Shak.
3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.
Spur, v. i.
Definition: To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated traveler." Shak. The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden. The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster. Macaulay. Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves. Grew.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
30 April 2024
NURSE
(verb) treat carefully; “He nursed his injured back by lying in bed several hours every afternoon”; “He nursed the flowers in his garden and fertilized them regularly”
Do you know this game?
Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins