I. ˈspir noun
Etymology: Middle English spere, from Old English; akin to Old High German sper spear, Latin sparus hunting spear
Date: before 12th century
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
II. verb
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear
spear salmon
spear ed a chop from the platter
2. : to catch (as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm
intransitive verb
: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear
• spear·er noun
III. adjective
Date: 1861
: paternal 3
the spear side of the family
— compare distaff
IV. intransitive verb
Etymology: spear (V)
Date: 1573
of a plant : to thrust a spear upward
V. noun
Etymology: alteration of spire (I)
Date: 1647
: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)