Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPAD'DLE, n. [dim. of Spade.]

A little spade. – Mortimer.

SPADE, n. [Sax. spad, spada; G. spaten; D. spaade; Dan. and Sw. spade; probably from breadth, extension, coinciding with L. spatula, from the root of pateo.]

1. An instrument for digging, consisting of a broad palm with a handle.
2. A suit of cards.
3. A deer three years old; written also spaid.
4. A gelded beast. [L. spado.]

SPADE, v.t.

To dig with a spade; or to pare off the sward of land with a spade.

SPADE-BONE, n. [spade and bone.]

The shoulder-blade. [I believe little used.]

SPADE-FUL, n. [spade and full.]

As much as a spade will hold.

SPA-DI'CEOUS, a. [L. spadiceus, from spadix, a light red color.]

1. Of a light red color, usually denominated bay. – Brown.
2. In botany, a spadiceous flower, is a sort of aggregate flower, having a receptacle common to many florets within a spatha, as in palms, dracontium, arum, &c. – Martyn.

SPA-DILLE, n. [spadil'; Fr.]

The ace of spades at omber.

SPAD-ING, ppr.

Digging with a spade.

SPA'DIX, n.

In botany, the receptacle in palms and some other plants, proceeding from a spatha. – Martyn.

SPA'DO, n. [L.]

A gelding. – Brown.

SPA-GYR'IC, a. [L. spagyricus.]

Chimical. [Not to use.]

SPA-GYR'IC, n.

A chimist. [Not in use.] – Hall.

SPAG'YR-IST, n.

A chimist. [Not in use.] – Boyle.

SPA'HEE, or SPA'HI, n. [Turk. sipahi; Pers. sipahee; See Seapoy.]

One of the Turkish cavalry.

SPAKE, v. [pret. of Speak; nearly obsolete. We now use spoke.]

SPALL, n. [Fr. epaule; It. spalla.]

1. The shoulder. [Not English.] – Fairfax.
2. A chip. [Not in use.]

SPALT, a. [Dan. spalt, a split; G. spalten, to split.]

Cracked, as timber, or easily crumbled. [New England.]

SPALT, or SPELT, n.

A whitish scaly mineral, used to promote the fusion of metals. – Bailey. Ash.

SPAN, n.¹ [Sax. span; D. span; G. spanne; Dan. spand; a span in measure; Sw. span, a span in measure, and a set of coach horses, G. gespann; verbs, Sax. spannan, to span, to unite; gespanian, to join; D. and G. spannen; Dan. spander, to strain, stretch, bend, yoke. This word is formed on the root of bend, L. pando. The primary sense is to strain, stretch, extend, hence to join a team, Dan. forspand, D. gespan.]

1. The space from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; the eighth of a fathom. – Holder.
2. A short space of time. Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy. – Farquhar.
3. A span of horses, consists of two of nearly the same color, and otherwise nearly alike, which are usually harnessed side by side. The word signifies properly the same as yoke, when applied to horned cattle, from buckling or fastening together. But in America, span always implies a resemblance in color at least; it being an object of ambition with gentlemen and with teamsters to unite two horses abreast that are alike.
4. In seamen's language, a small line or cord, the middle of which is attached to a stay.

SPAN, n.²

In architecture, the spread or extent of an arch between its abutments.

SPAN, v. [pret of Spin.]

[Obs.] We now use spun.

SPAN, v.i.

To agree in color, or in color and size; as, the horses span well. [New England.]

SPAN, v.t.

1. To measure by the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.
2. To measure. This soul doth span the world. – Herbert.

SPAN'CEL, n.

A rope to tie a cow's hind legs. [Local.] – Grose.

SPAN'CEL, v.t.

To tie the legs of a horse or cow with a rope. [Local.] – Malone.