Dictionary

spur en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English spure, spore, from Old English spora, spura, from Proto-West Germanic *spurō, from Proto-Germanic *spurô, from Proto-Indo-European *sperH- (“to kick”).

Meanings

1. A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.
   • Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting; From helmet to the spur all blood he was. 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], line 4:
   • Tvvo ſorts of ſpurs ſeem to have been in uſe about the time of the Conqueſt, one called a pryck, having only a ſingle point like the gaffle of a fighting cock; the other conſiſting of a number of points of a conſiderable length, radiating from and revolving on a center, thence named the rouelle or vvheel ſpur. 1786, Francis Grose, “Tilting Armour”, in A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, […], London: […] S. Hooper, […], →OCLC, page 28:
2. A jab given with the spurs.
   • I had hardly said the word, when Kit jumped into the saddle, and gave his horse a whip and a spur — and off it cantered, as if it were in as great a hurry to be married as Kit himself. 1832, The Atheneum, volume 31, page 493:
3. (figuratively) Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does a horse.
   • She is a theame of honour and renowne, / A ſpurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds, / Whoſe preſent courage may beate downe our foes, / And fame in time to come canonize us, [...] c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
4. An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.
5. Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.
6. Roots, tree roots.
   • I do note / That grief and patience, rooted in them both, / Mingle their spurs together. 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], line 57:
   • […] the strong-bas'd promontory / Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up / The pine and cedar […] 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
7. A mountain that shoots from another mountain or range and extends some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.
   • But a narrow spur of rocks arched out and over the hole, ending in an outcrop perhaps a hundred feet across. 1986, Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic, published 2022, page 121:
8. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale to strip off the blubber.
9. A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, such as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
10. The short wooden buttress of a post.
11. A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.
12. Ergotized rye or other grain.
13. A wall in a fortification that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
14. A piece of timber fixed on the bilgeways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.
15. A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam cannot be placed.
16. A branch of a vein.
17. A very short branch line of a railway line.
18. A short branch road of a motorway, freeway or major road.
19. A short thin side shoot from a branch, especially one that bears fruit or, in conifers, the shoots that bear the leaves.

Forms

Deriveds

spur cell · whip and spur · hotspur · spur-winged · knight's spur · spurwing · spurflower · under-spur-leather · spur leather · footspur · great spur wheel · spurwinged · spurrer · spurlet · spur-winged lapwing · spur-winged plover · spur road · forespur · sandspur · spurgall · cockspur · twinspur · spurmaking · spur-leather · spur of the moment · Prince of Wales spur · spurless · spur-throated locust · spurrier · longspur · mastspore · larkspur · spur valerian · spurwort · spur-wheel · bone spur · spur gear · spur-heeled · spur-throated grasshopper · spur-royal · spur-way · spurlike · spur gearing · spurdog · spur-winged goose · spur-shell · spurmaker · spurfowl · spur-of-the-moment

Meronyms

prick · rowel

Translations (182)

cmn 馬刺 /马刺 (implement for prodding a horse) · hy խթան (implement for prodding a horse) · tl tahid (appendage near the foot) · es acicate (anything that inspires or motivates) · ga spor (botany: A short thin side shoot from a branch) · gl aliciente (anything that inspires or motivates) · grc κέντρον (anything that inspires or motivates) · es espuela (implement for prodding a horse) · pt prolongamento (any protruding part) · es puón (appendage near the foot) · tl espuwelas (implement for prodding a horse) · sh kosa (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · is spori (implement for prodding a horse) · es acicate (implement for prodding a horse) · sv sporre (implement for prodding a horse) · tr mahmuz (appendage near the foot) · fr éperon (implement for prodding a horse) · sv sporre (anything that inspires or motivates) · nn spore (implement for prodding a horse) · de Ansporn (anything that inspires or motivates) · he דָּרְבָּן (implement for prodding a horse) · fi torajyvävilja (ergotized grain) · cmn 鼓舞 (anything that inspires or motivates) · vi cựa (appendage near the foot) · oc esperon (appendage near the foot) · it sperone (implement for prodding a horse) · mi tuakahiwi (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · enm spore (appendage near the foot) · it cima (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · es espolón (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · es espuela (anything that inspires or motivates) · sv sporre (appendage near the foot) · nb spore (anything that inspires or motivates) · ga speir (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · cmn 山嘴 (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · la calcar (anything that inspires or motivates) · fa مهمیز (implement for prodding a horse) · sk ostroha (implement for prodding a horse) · fr embranchement (any protruding part) · kk өкшелік (implement for prodding a horse) · it spuntone (any protruding part) · da spore (appendage near the foot) · ko 박차 (implement for prodding a horse) · fi haara (any protruding part) · sh мамуза (implement for prodding a horse) · enm spore (implement for prodding a horse) · bg разклонение (mining: branch of a vein) · it picco (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · uk шпо́ра (implement for prodding a horse) · hu sarkantyú (implement for prodding a horse) · it sporgenza (any protruding part) · fi sivuraide (very short branch line of a railway line) · he דורבן (implement for prodding a horse) · cmn 距 (appendage near the foot) · gl aguilloada (anything that inspires or motivates) · lv piesis (implement for prodding a horse) · ga spor (implement for prodding a horse) · de Eckblatt (architecture: projection from the round base of a column) · fi kannustus (jab given with the spurs) · cmn 刺激 (anything that inspires or motivates) · pl ostroga (implement for prodding a horse) · it pinnacolo (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · es espolón (implement for prodding a horse) · sh mamuza (implement for prodding a horse) · hy բիտ (appendage near the foot) · eo sprono (implement for prodding a horse) · cy sbardun (implement for prodding a horse) · pt espora (implement for prodding a horse) · eo sprono (anything that inspires or motivates) · fi kannustin (anything that inspires or motivates) · bg сти́мул (anything that inspires or motivates) · la calcar (appendage near the foot) · cy ysbardun (implement for prodding a horse) · it sprono (anything that inspires or motivates) · ro pinten (appendage near the foot) · sh оструга (implement for prodding a horse) · it guglia (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · uz mahmez (implement for prodding a horse) · ru шпо́ра (implement for prodding a horse) · ca esperó (implement for prodding a horse) · bg шпо́ра (implement for prodding a horse) · gl espora (implement for prodding a horse) · mi karahiwi (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · da spore (anything that inspires or motivates) · eo sprono (appendage near the foot) · pt conexão (any protruding part) · ja 刺激 (anything that inspires or motivates) · it sperone (any protruding part) · pl sprone (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · cs ostruha (implement for prodding a horse) · ms taji (appendage near the foot) · ang spora (implement for prodding a horse) · ar مِهْمَاز (implement for prodding a horse) · es espolada (jab given with the spurs) · gl estímulo (anything that inspires or motivates) · grc κέντρον (implement for prodding a horse) · ja 拍車 (implement for prodding a horse) · kk тепкі (implement for prodding a horse) · fi kannus (implement for prodding a horse) · gl espora (appendage near the foot) · fa اسب انگیز (implement for prodding a horse) · wa sporon (implement for prodding a horse) · da spore (implement for prodding a horse) · sq mamuz (implement for prodding a horse) · ro pinten (implement for prodding a horse) · ota مهموز (implement for prodding a horse) · gl acicate (anything that inspires or motivates) · bg пришпорване (jab given with the spurs) · ga brod (implement for prodding a horse) · it spunzone (any protruding part) · it protuberanza (any protruding part) · nb spore (implement for prodding a horse) · id taji (appendage near the foot) · es espolazo (jab given with the spurs) · cmn 鞭策 (anything that inspires or motivates) · it vetta (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · mi kipa (implement for prodding a horse) · ms pacu (implement for prodding a horse) · ru сти́мул (anything that inspires or motivates) · fi kannus (appendage near the foot) · izh kannus (appendage near the foot) · izh kannus (implement for prodding a horse) · be астро́га (implement for prodding a horse) · ky шпора (implement for prodding a horse) · be шпо́ра (implement for prodding a horse) · mi taukaka (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · sq shpor (implement for prodding a horse) · ur مہمیز (implement for prodding a horse) · sl ostroga (implement for prodding a horse) · mn түлхэц (implement for prodding a horse) · bg подбуда (anything that inspires or motivates) · uz shpor (implement for prodding a horse) · cmn 激勵 /激励 (anything that inspires or motivates) · pt espora (anything that inspires or motivates) · et kannus (implement for prodding a horse) · fr ergot (appendage near the foot) · el σπιρούνι (implement for prodding a horse) · ru отро́г (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · sq çapua (appendage near the foot) · pt espora (appendage near the foot) · it diramazione (any protruding part) · km ក្រចាប់ (implement for prodding a horse) · vi đinh thúc ngựa (implement for prodding a horse) · es espolín (implement for prodding a horse) · es chocoyas (implement for prodding a horse) · ru шпо́ра (appendage near the foot) · it pizzo (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · su siih (appendage near the foot) · as আল (implement for prodding a horse) · nl spoor (implement for prodding a horse) · fi haarake (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · hi महमेज़ (implement for prodding a horse) · oc esperon (anything that inspires or motivates) · it divaricazione (any protruding part) · wa sporon (appendage near the foot) · uk остро́га (implement for prodding a horse) · gl esporón (appendage near the foot) · cmn 支線 /支线 (any protruding part) · it sperone (appendage near the foot) · ps مهميز (implement for prodding a horse) · ca contrafort (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · mi mātātāu (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · de Sporn (implement for prodding a horse) · nn spore (anything that inspires or motivates) · tr mahmuz (implement for prodding a horse) · la calcar (implement for prodding a horse) · tr mahmuz (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · sh ostruga (implement for prodding a horse) · oc esperon (implement for prodding a horse) · es espolón (appendage near the foot) · mi taumutu (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · ga spor (projection from a mountain or mountain range) · grc κέντρον (appendage near the foot) · mk мамуза (implement for prodding a horse) · cs ostruha (appendage near the foot) · es puntal (carpentry: brace strengthening a post and some connected part) · az mahmız (implement for prodding a horse) · hy կոտոշ (appendage near the foot) · tg маҳмез (implement for prodding a horse) · bo རྟིང་ལྕགས (implement for prodding a horse) · tl tari (implement for prodding a horse) · ga spor (appendage near the foot)

spur en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English spure, spore, from Old English spora, spura, from Proto-West Germanic *spurō, from Proto-Germanic *spurô, from Proto-Indo-European *sperH- (“to kick”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To prod (especially a horse) on the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.
   • Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head! Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood; Amaze the welkin with your broken staves! c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], line 339:
2. (transitive) To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object
   • My desire / (More sharp than filed steel) did spur me forth... c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], line 4:
   • What is unbearable, in fact, is the feeling, 13 years after 9/11, that America has been chasing its tail; that, in some whack-a-mole horror show, the quashing of a jihadi enclave here only spurs the sprouting of another there; that the ideology of Al Qaeda is still reverberating through a blocked Arab world whose Sunni-Shia balance (insofar as that went) was upended by the American invasion of Iraq. 2014 November 17, Roger Cohen, “The horror! The horror! The trauma of ISIS [print version: International New York Times, 18 November 2014, p. 9]”, in The New York Times:
   • But the latest Santa Fe development, while not spurring the Rock Island to any further acceleration, has drawn fire from a totally unexpected quarter. 1940 May, “Overseas Railways: Acceleration Proceeds in U.S.A.”, in Railway Magazine, page 298:
3. (transitive) To put spurs on.
   • to spur boots
4. (intransitive) To press forward; to travel in great haste.
5. To form a spur (senses 17-18 of the noun)
   • It spurs off the Robin Hood line, providing ten miles of single-line test track with a three-mile double section, capable of testing up to 75mph. 2021 June 16, Andrew Mourant, “Plans for new test centre remain on track: Testing for rolling stock and infrastructure”, in RAIL, number 933, page 42:

Forms

Deriveds

spur on · spurrer

Synonyms

incite · impel · egg on · draw · whip up · provoke · stir up · spur on · push · incite · encourage · obligate · goad · spark off · excite · sting · inflame · stir · light a fire under · motive · bring about · promote · ignite · grill · send · actuate · rouse · stimulate · motivate · lash · urge · move · instigate · abet · induce · stimulate · cheer · engender · evoke · drive · prompt · spur · oblige · set off · goose · impel · drive · instigate · invoke · stoke · foment · tempt · whet · fuel

Translations (89)

it spronare (to prod) · it spronare (to urge or encourage to action) · hu sarkall (to urge or encourage to action) · ja 突く (to prod) · gl estimular (to urge or encourage to action) · bg пришпорвам (to prod) · fi varustaa kannuksilla (to put spurs on) · cmn 帶動 /带动 (to urge or encourage to action) · fi kannustaa (to prod) · kk тебіну (to prod) · es espolear (to urge or encourage to action) · de mit Sporen versehen (to put spurs on) · enm don on spores (to put spurs on) · enm sporen (to urge or encourage to action) · txb wārw- (to urge or encourage to action) · sv sporra (to urge or encourage to action) · de anspornen (to urge or encourage to action) · es espolonear (to prod) · la calcarō (to prod) · bg пришпоря (to urge or encourage to action) · he דִּרְבֵּן (to prod) · mi kipa (to prod) · pt provocar (to urge or encourage to action) · es acicatear (to prod) · ru побужда́ть (to urge or encourage to action) · id memacu (to prod) · sv sporra (to prod) · pt estimular (to urge or encourage to action) · ota مهموزلمق (to prod) · gl esporear (to urge or encourage to action) · ota اوزنگیلمك (to prod) · ro îndemna (to urge or encourage to action) · enm sporen (to prod) · gl aguilloar (to urge or encourage to action) · cs přimět (to urge or encourage to action) · cs popohnat (to urge or encourage to action) · nl bewegen (to urge or encourage to action) · ja 拍車をかける (to prod) · cy sbarduno (to urge or encourage to action) · zh 策(马)前进 (to prod) · he דִּרְבֵּן (to urge or encourage to action) · ko 박차를 가하다 (to urge or encourage to action) · it montare gli speroni (to put spurs on) · ru пришпо́ривать (to prod) · fr éperonner (to prod) · ru пришпо́рить (to prod) · it incoraggiare (to urge or encourage to action) · es espolear (to prod) · it incitare (to urge or encourage to action) · kk жігерлендіру (to urge or encourage to action) · it stimolare (to urge or encourage to action) · hu megsarkantyúz (to prod) · cs pobídnout ostruhami (to prod) · cs pohánět (to urge or encourage to action) · pt instigar (to urge or encourage to action) · la incitō (to urge or encourage to action) · nl aansporen (to urge or encourage to action) · pt esporar (to prod) · ota دورتمك (to urge or encourage to action) · ru подгоня́ть (to urge or encourage to action) · ja 行動させる (to urge or encourage to action) · gl esporear (to prod) · cmn 促進 /促进 (to urge or encourage to action) · cs pobídnout (to prod) · eo sproni (to prod) · cs pobídnout (to urge or encourage to action) · es arrear (to prod) · ota كوروكلمك (to urge or encourage to action) · enm sporen (to put spurs on) · fi kannustaa (to urge or encourage to action) · fi yllyttää (to urge or encourage to action) · cmn 刺激 (to urge or encourage to action) · es poner espuelas (las) (to put spurs on) · cmn 鞭策 (to urge or encourage to action) · nl aanmoedigen (to urge or encourage to action) · tr mahmuzlamak (to prod) · ca esperonar (to urge or encourage to action) · bg пришпорвам (to urge or encourage to action) · cmn 激勵 /激励 (to urge or encourage to action) · cmn 刺激(某事)發生 /发生 (to urge or encourage to action) · it pungolare (to prod) · de die Sporen geben (to prod) · gl aguillar (to urge or encourage to action) · zh 策(馬 /马)前進 /前进 (to prod) · it instigare (to urge or encourage to action) · ca esperonar (to prod) · cs pobízet (to urge or encourage to action) · cmn 鼓舞 (to urge or encourage to action) · fr stimuler (to urge or encourage to action)

spur en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

See sparrow.

Meanings

1. A tern.

Forms

spur en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Short for spurious.

Meanings

1. A spurious tone, one that interferes with a signal in a circuit and is often masked underneath that signal.

Forms

spur en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Meanings

1. The track of an animal, such as an otter; a spoor.

Forms

Translations (4)

es rastro (track of an animal — see also track) · bg следа (track of an animal — see also track) · fi jälki (track of an animal — see also track) · fi jäljet (track of an animal — see also track)

spur en · VERB · etymology 5

Pronunciation

• /spɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /spɝ/ (General-American)
• /spɜː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /spʌr/ (Scotland)
• /spɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /speː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /spøː/ (New-Zealand)

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, dialectal, obsolete) Alternative form of speer.
   alt of speer
   • Are you come, old Maſter? Very good, your Horſe is well ſet up; but ere you part, I'll ride you, and ſpur your Reverend Juſticeſhip ſuch a queſtion, as I ſhall make the ſides of your Reputation bleed, truly I will. Now muſt I play at Bo-peep. 1625, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Elder Brother. A Comedy.”, in Fifty Comedies and Tragedies. […], [part 1], London: […] J[ohn] Macock [and H. Hills], for John Martyn, Henry Herringman, and Richard Marriot, published 1679, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iv, page 119, column 1:
   • 1638, Thomas Heywood, "The Rape of Lucrece. A true Roman Tragedy", in The Dramatic Works of Thomas Heywood, Vol. V, John Pearson, 1874, pages 230 & 231. Clo[wne]. Fie upon't, never was poore Pompey ſo overlabour'd as I have beene, I thinke I have ſpurd my horſe ſuch a queſtion, that he is ſcarce able to wig or wag his tayle for an anſwere, but my Lady bad me ſpare for no horſe fleſh, and I thinke I have made him runne his race.
   • I haue yonder vncouered a faire girle, Ile be ſo bolde as ſpurre her, vvhat might a bodie call her name? c. 1590 (date written), [John Lyly], Mother Bombie. […], London: […] Thomas Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby, published 1594, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii:
   • The Pall Mall Magazine, Vol. 33, 1904, page 435. They hadde spurred questions all the morning, his Majestie being so grossly overtaken with two whole nights' feasting, (which meant a surfeit of sausage laid upon a stomach not over strong), that between sick and sullen he bore a dull edge to the business.

Forms