n. & v.
n. 1 a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel worn on a rider's heel for urging a horse forward. 2 a stimulus or incentive. 3 a spur-shaped thing, esp.: a a projection from a mountain or mountain range. b a branch road or railway. c a hard projection on a cock's leg. d a steel point fastened to the leg of a gamecock. e a climbing-iron. f a small support for ceramic ware in a kiln. 4 Bot. a a slender hollow projection from part of a flower. b a short fruit-bearing shoot.
v. (spurred, spurring) 1 tr. prick (a horse) with spurs. 2 tr. a (often foll. by on) incite (a person) (spurred him on to greater efforts; spurred her to try again). b stimulate (interest etc.). 3 intr. (often foll. by on, forward) ride a horse hard. 4 tr. (esp. as spurred adj.) provide (a person, boots, a gamecock) with spurs. on the spur of the moment on a momentary impulse; impromptu. put (or set) spurs to 1 spur (a horse). 2 stimulate (resolution etc.). spur-gear = spur-wheel. spur royal hist. a 15-shilling coin of James I bearing a spurlike sun with rays. spur-wheel a cog-wheel with radial teeth. spurless adj.
[ OE spora, spura f. Gmc, rel. to SPURN ]