Loading earlier words…
Springhalt

A kind of lameness in a horse. See Stringhalt.

Springing

The act or process of one who, or that which, springs.

Springtail

Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order Thysanura. They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See Collembola, and Podura.

Springy

Resembling, having the qualities of, or pertaining to, a spring; elastic; as, springy steel; a springy step.

Sprinkle

A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

Sprinkling

The act of one who, or that which, sprinkles.

Sprint

The act of sprinting; a run of a short distance at full speed.

Sprinter

One who sprints; one who runs in sprint races; as, a champion sprinter.

Sprit

A small boom, pole, or spar, which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aftmost corner, which it is used to extend and elevate.

Sprite

A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.

Spritsail

A sail extended by a sprit. A sail formerly hung under the bowsprit, from the spritsail yard.

Sprocket

A tooth or projection, as on the periphery of a wheel, shaped so as to engage with a chain. A sprocket wheel.

Sprod

A salmon in its second year.

Sprout

The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.

Spruce

To dress one's self with affected neatness; as, to spruce up.

Sprue

Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross.

Sprung

Said of a spar that has been cracked or strained.

Sprunt

Active; lively; vigorous.

Spruntly

In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully.

Spry

Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active.

Spud

A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes.

Spuller

One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom.

Spuminess

The quality or condition of being spumy; spumescence.

Spumy Spumous

Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy.

Spun

imp. p. p. of Spin.

Spunk

Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou.

Spunky

Full of spunk; quick; spirited.

Spur

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

Spur-royal

A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings.

Spur-shell

Any one of several species of handsome marine gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur.

Spur-winged

Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings.

Spurge

Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See Euphorbia.

Spurious

Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; counterfeit; false; adulterate.

Spurling-line

The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.

Spurn

A kick; a blow with the foot.

Spurn-water

A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water.

Spurred

Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs.

Spurrier

One whose occupation is to make spurs.

Spurry

An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder.

Spurt

To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.

Spurtle

To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner.

Sput

An annular reenforce, to strengthen a place where a hole is made.

Spute

To dispute; to discuss.

Sputter

Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

Sputum

That which is expectorated; a salival discharge; spittle; saliva.

Spy

One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.

Spyboat

A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence.

Spyglass

A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.

Spyism

Act or business of spying.

Squab

To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke.

Squabbler

One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.

Squacco

A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.

Squadron

Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square.

Squail

To throw sticks at cocks; to throw anything about awkwardly or irregularly.

Squali

The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.

Squalid

Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty.

Squalidity

The quality or state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.

Squall

A loud scream; a harsh cry.

Squally

Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.

Squalodon

A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; -- so called because their teeth are serrated, like a shark's.

Squaloid

Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.

Squalor

Squalidness; foulness; filthiness; squalidity.

Squam

An oilskin hat or southwester; -- a fisherman's name.

Squama

A scale cast off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.

Squamata

A division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated horny scales. It includes the pangolins.

Squamella

A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.

Squamellate

Furnished or covered with little scales; squamulose.

Squamipen

Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.

Squamoid

Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.

Squamosal

Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone. Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone. The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone corresponding to it, in many of the lower vertebrates. See Temporal bone, under Temporal.

Loading more words…