Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound.
Pope.
Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.
Farquhar.
3. The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam,
girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.
4. (Naut.) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be
hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both
ends can be used.
5. [Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spænd, G. gespann. See Span, v. t. ] A
pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair
of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
Span blocks (Naut.), blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads,
for the studding-sail halyards. -- Span counter, an old English child's
game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to
hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can
span the space between them, and touch both the counters. Halliwell.
"Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns."
Shak. -- Span iron (Naut.), a special kind of harpoon, usually secured
just below the gunwale of a whaleboat. -- Span roof, a common roof,
having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides. Gwilt. --
Span shackle (Naut.), a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck,
with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the
old-fashioned fish davit. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Span (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spanning.]
[AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan.
spænde, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. &?; to draw, to drag, L. spatium
space. √170. Cf. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm.] 1. To measure by the
span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers
encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a
cylinder.
My right hand hath spanned the heavens.
Isa. xiviii. 13.