from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spur \Spur\, n. [OE. spure, spore, 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. [root]171. 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.
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And on her feet a pair of spurs large. --Chaucer.
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2. That which goads to action; an incitement.
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Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights and live laborious days. --Milton.
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3. Something that projects; a snag.
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4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. --Shak.
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5. (Zool.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs
of certain birds, on the legs of insects, etc.;
especially, the spine on a cock's leg.
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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.
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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.
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8. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected
part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
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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.
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10. (Bot.)
(a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a
spur. --Gray.
(b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]
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11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins
to an inner wall.
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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 beam to
support the deck where a whole beam can not be
placed.
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13. (Mining) A branch of a vein.
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14. The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor.
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{Spur fowl} (Zool.), 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.
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