Spur

Definition of Spur

Pronunciation: spûrd

(Zool.) A sparrow.

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.

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.

Something that projects; a snag.

One of the large or principal roots of a tree.

(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.

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.

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.

(Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

(Arch.) The short wooden buttress of a post.

10.

(Bot.) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur.

11.

(Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

12.

(Shipbuilding) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.

13.

(Mining) A branch of a vein.

14.

The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor.

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.

v. t.

To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

[imp. & p. p. Spurred (spûrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurring.]

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.

To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

v. i.

To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit.

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.

Related Words

accelerate, activation, actuation, aculeate, acuminate, animate, appendage, arm, arouse, awaken, barb, barbel, barbule, bill, bough, branch, brashly, breakwater, bundle, bustle, cage, cape, catalyst, cheer on, chersonese, cog, comb, coral reef, corral, countenance, crag, crest, crowd, cuspidate, delta, dispatch, drive, drive on, drove, edge, egg on, encourage, encouragement, excitant, excite, exhort, expedite, fang, favor, file, flog, foreland, forward, gad, gadfly, gaff, goad, goad on, grind, hand, harrow, haste, hasten, hasten on, hastily, head, headland, herd, hie on, hilltop, hone, hook, hound on, hurry, hurry along, hurry on, hurry up, hustle, hustle up, imp, impel, impetuously, impetus, impromptu, impulsively, incautiously, incentive, incitation, incite, incitement, induce, instigate, instigation, jag, joint, knoll, lash, leg, limb, link, lobe, lobule, lofty peak, member, motivate, motivation, mountaintop, mull, naze, needle, ness, nudge, offshoot, oilstone, on the spot, organ, oxgoad, peak, pecten, peninsula, pic, pico, pike, pinion, pinnacle, point, poke, precipice, precipitate, press, pressure, prick, process, prod, projection, promontory, prompt, prompting, prong, propel, provocation, provoke, punch cattle, push, push on, push through, quicken, quill, railroad through, rake, rally, ramification, rashly, ratchet, recklessly, reef, reset, ride herd on, root on, round up, rouse, rowel, runner, rush, rush along, sandspit, sawtooth, scion, set, sharpen, shepherd, sic, snag, snaggle, speed, speed along, speed on, speed up, spiculate, spike, spine, spire, spit, spray, sprig, sprocket, spur on, stampede, steeple, stimulant, stimulate, stimulation, stimulus, sting, stir, strap, strop, suddenly, summit, switch, tail, taper, tendril, thoughtlessly, tine, tongue, tooth, tor, twig, unexpectedly, unpremeditatedly, unthinkingly, urge, urge on, urging, whet, whip, whip along, whip on, whiplash, wing, wrangle

Browse

Spue
Spuilzie
Spuke
Spuller
spulzie
Spume
Spumeous
Spumescence
Spumescent
Spumid
Spumiferous
Spuminess
Spumous
Spun
Spun hay
Spun silk
Spun yarn
Spunge
Spunk
Spunky
-Spur-
Spur fowl
Spur gear
Spur gearing
Spur pepper
Spur wheel
Spur-royal
Spur-shell
Spur-winged
Spur-winged goose
Spur-winged plover
Spurgall
Spurge
Spurge flax
Spurge laurel
Spurge nettle
Spurge olive
Spurgewort
Spurging
Spurious
Spurious primary

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z