[spear] n [ME spere, fr. OE; akin to OHG sper spear, L sparus hunting spear] (bef. 12c) 1: a thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade
2: a sharp-pointed instrument with barbs used in spearing fish
3: spearman
[2]spear vt (15c) 1: to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear "~ salmon" "~ed a chop from the platter"
2: to catch (as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm ~ vi: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear -- spear.er n [3]spear adj (1861): paternal, male "the ~ side of the family"--compare distaff [4]spear vi [[5]spear] (1573) of a plant: to thrust a spear upward [5]spear n [alter. of [1]spire] (1647): a usu. young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)