spur 1
— spurless , adj. — spurlike , adj. — spurrer , n.
/sperr/ , n. , v. , spurred, spurring .
n.
1. a U-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward.
2. anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed, or achievement.
3. See climbing iron .
4. Ornith. a stiff, usually sharp, horny process on the leg of various birds, esp. the domestic rooster, or on the bend of the wing, as in jacanas and screamers.
5. Pathol. a bony projection or exostosis.
6. a sharp piercing or cutting instrument fastened to the leg of a gamecock in cockfighting; gaff.
7. Physical Geog. a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to the main body of a mountain or mountain range.
8. something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection.
9. a short or stunted branch or shoot, as of a tree.
10. Typography. a short, seriflike projection from the bottom of the short vertical stroke in the capital G in some fonts.
11. See wing dam .
12. Bot.
a. a slender, usually hollow, projection from some part of a flower, as from the calyx of the larkspur or the corolla of the violet.
b. a short shoot bearing flowers, as in fruit trees.
13. Archit.
a. a short wooden brace, usually temporary, for strengthening a post or some other part.
b. any offset from a wall, as a buttress. c . griffe 2 .
14. Ceram. a triangular support of refractory clay for an object being fired.
15. Railroads. See spur track .
16. on the spur of the moment , without deliberation; impulsively; suddenly: We headed for the beach on the spur of the moment.
17. win one's spurs , to achieve distinction or success for the first time; prove one's ability or worth: Our team hasn't won its spurs yet.
v.t.
18. to prick with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or urge on: The rider spurred his mount ruthlessly. Appreciation spurs ambition.
19. to strike or wound with the spur, as a gamecock.
20. to furnish with spurs or a spur.
v.i.
21. to goad or urge one's horse with spurs or a spur; ride quickly.
22. to proceed hurriedly; press forward: We spurred onward through the night.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME spure, OE spura; c. OHG sporo, ON spori spur; akin to SPURN; (v.) ME spuren, deriv. of the n. ]
Syn. 1, 2. goad. 2. incitement, stimulus, incentive, inducement, provocation, instigation. 18. goad, provoke, stimulate, impel, inspire, induce, instigate.
Ant. 18. discourage.
spur 2
/sperr/ , n. Papermaking.
a batch of newly made rag-paper sheets.
[ 1880-85; orig. uncert. ]