Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Spice'-wood, n. p. 1271(Bot.) An American shrub, the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; the Benzoin odoriferum (Laurus benzoin of Linnæus);—called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever-bush.Spī·cif'er-ous, a. p. 1271Bearing ears, as corn; producing spikes, as some plants; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.Spī'ci-fōrm, a. p. 1271(Bot.) Spike-shaped. Gray.Spī'ci-ly, adv. p. 1271In a spicy manner.Spī'ci-ness, n. p. 1271The state or quality of being spicy.Spĭck, n. p. 1271A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.] Spick and span new, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split. See SPAN-NEW.Spĭck'nel, n. p. 1271(Bot.) A plant of the genus Athemantium; — called also, provincially, maldmony, and bearwort.Spī-cōse', a. p. 1271(Bot.) Having spikes or ears, like corn-spikes. Wright.Spī-cōs'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1271The state of having or being full of ears, like corn. [Obs.] Bailey.Spī'coūs, a. p. 1271The same as SPICOSE, q. v.Spī'cē-lā, n. p. 1271(Bot.) (a.) A little spike; a spikelet. (b.) A pointed, fleshy appendage. Henslow.Spīc'ū-lar, a. p. 1271Resembling a dart; having sharp points.Spīc'ū-lāte, v. t. p. 1271To sharpen to a point. [Rare.] Mason.Spīc'ū-late, a. p. 1271(Bot.) Covered with minute points, as pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets. Henslow.Spīc'ūle, n. p. 1271A minute, slender granule or point.Spi-cū'li-form, a. p. 1271Having the form of a spicule.Spicūlig'enous, a. p. 1271Containing spicules.Spī'cy, a. p. 1271Producing, pertaining to, or abounding with, spices. “Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales.” Pope. 2. Hence, pungent; pointed; as, a spicy debate. Syn. — Racy; aromatic; fragrant; smart…Spi'der, n. p. 1271(Zoöl.) An animal of the family Araneidæ, of the class Arachnida, some of which are remarkable for spinning webs for taking their prey and forming a convenient habitation, and for the deposit of…Spī'der-cătch'er, n. p. 1271One who, or that which, catches spiders; specifically, a certain bird; a kind of woodpecker.Spī'der-crăb, n. p. 1271(Zoöl.) An animal of the genus Maia; the sea-spider.Spĭ'der-ôr'chis, n. p. 1271(Bot.) One of two species of Orchis, O. aranifera and O. arachnites. Eng. Cyc.Spī'der-shell, n. p. 1271(Conch.) A species of murex.Spī'der-wort, n. p. 1271(Bot.) A plant; Tradescantia Virginiana. Baird.Spight, n. p. 1271Reluctance. [Obs.] Spenser.Spight, n. p. 1271A woodpecker. See SPEIGHT. [Obs.] Holland.Spight, v. t. p. 1271To spite. [Obs.] Spenser.Spig'nel, n. p. 1271See SPICKNEL.Spig'net, n. p. 1271(Bot.) [Corrupted from spikenard.] A plant of the genus Aralia (A. racemosa). Gray.Spig'ot, n. p. 1271A pin or peg used to stop a faucet, or to stop a small hole in a cask of liquor.Spi-gŭr'nel, n. p. 1271(Eng. Law.) The sealer of the royal writs.Spike, n. p. 1271A sort of very large nail. 2. An ear of corn or grain. 3. A shoot. Addison. 4. (Bot.) A species of inflorescence, in which sessile flowers are alternate on a common simple peduncle, as lavender…Spike, n. p. 1271The same as SPIKE-LAVENDER, q. v.Spike, v. t. p. 1271To fasten with spikes, or long and large nails; as, to spike down the planks of a floor or bridge. 2. To set with spikes. A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by the spikes.…Spiked, p. a. p. 1271Furnished with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes; stopped with spikes.Spīke'-lăv'en-der, n. p. 1271(Bot.) A shrubby species of lavender, a native of Southern Europe; the Lavandula spica, from which an essential oil is produced, used in veterinary medicine, and in the preparation of certain…Spike'let, n. p. 1271(Bot.) A small spike making a part of a large one; a subdivision of a spike.Spīke'nard, n. p. 1271(Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa; in England, the Andropogon nardus of India. The spikenard of the ancients is a species of valerian, the Nardostachys…Spik'y, a. p. 1271Having a sharp point or points. “Or by the spiky harrow cleared away.” Dyer. 2. Furnished or armed with spikes. “The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore.” Pope.Spile, n. p. 1271A small peg or wooden pin, used to stop a hole. 2. A stake driven into the ground as a support for some superstructure; a pile.Spīle'-hōle, n. p. 1271A small hole in a cask for air; a vent.Spil'i-kīn, n. p. 1271One of a number of small pieces of wood, ivory, bone, or other material, for playing a game; also, the game itself. Edgeworth.Spill, n. p. 1271A small peg or pin for stopping a cask; a spile. 2. A splinter. [Obs.] Holland. 3. A small roll of paper or slip of wood for lighting lamps, and the like. Simmonds. 4. A little bar or pin of iron.…Spill, v. t. p. 1271To suffer to fall or run out of a vessel; to lose or suffer to be scattered;—applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill…Spill, v. i. p. 1271To waste; to be prodigal. [Obs.] 2. To be shed; to run over; to fall out, be lost, or wasted. He was so topful of himself, that he let it spill on all the company. Watts.Spill'er, n. p. 1271One who spills or sheds. 2. A kind of fishing-line. Carew.Spil'let-fish'ing or Spil'liard-fish'ing, n. p. 1271(Ichth.) A system or method of fishing practiced on the west coast of Ireland, by means of a number of hooks set on snoods all on one line;—called, in North America, bultow, or bultow-fishing.…Spill'ing-line, n. p. 1271(Naut.) A rope used for dislodging the wind from a sail, in order to furl it easily. Totten.Spilth, n. p. 1271Any thing spilt. [Obs.]Spin, v. t. p. 1271To draw out and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat’s hair. All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca…Spin, v. i. p. 1271To practice spinning; to work at drawing and twisting threads; as, the woman knows how to spin. They neither know to spin, nor care to toil. Prior. 2. To perform the act of drawing and twisting…Spī-nā'ceous, a. p. 1272(Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant spinach, and the class of plants to which it belongs.Spīn'ach or Spin'age, n. p. 1272(Bot.) A plant of the genus Spinacia, whose leaves are used for greens and other culinary purposes.Spī'nal, a. p. 1272Pertaining to the spine or back-bone of an animal. Spinal column (Anat.), the connected vertebræ of the back, or its cartilaginous substitute; spine; backbone. It forms the sheath for the spinal…Spīn'dle, n. p. 1272The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning-wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound. 2. A slender, pointed rod or pin on which any thing turns; an axis, or…Spīn'dle, v. i. p. 1272To shoot or grow in a long, slender stalk or body.Spīn'dle-lēgged, a. p. 1272Having long, slender legs.Spĭn'dle-lēgs, n. p. 1272A spindle-shanks.Spīn'dle-shānked, a. p. 1272Having long, slender legs.Spīn'dle-shǎnks, n. p. 1272A tall, slender person;—used humorously or in contempt.