/spang"keuhr/ , n.
1. Naut.
a. a fore-and-aft sail on the aftermost lower mast of a sailing vessel having three or more masts. See diag. under ship .
b. a designation given to the mast abaft a mizzenmast, usually the aftermost mast in any vessel.
2. Informal. a smartly moving person or animal, esp. a fast horse.
3. Chiefly New England. something remarkably fine.
adj. Naut.
4. of or pertaining to a spanker mast or its rigging.
[ 1745-55; akin to SPANKING ]