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.
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
spurless adj.
Etymology: OE spora, spura f. Gmc, rel. to SPURN