spar 1
— sparlike , adj.
/spahr/ , n. , v. , sparred, sparring .
n.
1. Naut. a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.
2. Aeron. a principal lateral member of the framework of a wing of an airplane.
v.t.
3. to provide or make with spars.
[ 1250-1300; ME sparre (n.); c. G Sparren, D spar, ON sparri ]
spar 2
/spahr/ , v. , sparred, sparring , n.
v.i.
1. (of boxers) to make the motions of attack and defense with the arms and fists, esp. as a part of training.
2. to box, esp. with light blows.
3. to strike or attack with the feet or spurs, as gamecocks do.
4. to bandy words; dispute.
n.
5. a motion of sparring.
6. a boxing match.
7. a dispute.
[ 1350-1400; ME: orig., thrust (n. and v.); perh. akin to SPUR ]
spar 3
— sparlike , adj.
/spahr/ , n.
any of various more or less lustrous crystalline minerals: fluorspar.
[ 1575-85; back formation from sparstone spar, OE spaerstan gypsum; cf. MLG spar ]