Dictionary

span-new en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English span-neue, from Old Norse spān-nȳr. Compare spick-and-span, spandy.

Meanings

1. (archaic) brand new
   • [H]e was very nicely dressed, and wore a span-new velvet vest, a real English broadcloth coat, gold watch with gold seals; […] 1845, [William Gilmore Simms], “The Last Wager, or The Gamester of the Mississippi”, in The Wigwam and the Cabin (Wiley and Putnam’s Library of American Books), first series, New York, N.Y.: Wiley and Putnam, […], chapter III, page 84:
   • Had Augustine been archbishop of London, he might have seemed to succeed the British archbishops, and to have derived some right from them, contrary to his humour, who would lead all, but follow none; and therefore would not wear an old title, but have a span-new archbishop's chair carved out for himself. 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section II. The Seventh Century.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
   • The newes he tels you, is of some new flesh, Lately broke vp, span new, hote piping fresh 1925 [1598], John Marston, The Scourge of Villanie, page 113:

Forms

Descendants

newydd sbon

Synonyms

fire-new