6. The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a
pump rod.
Spear foot, the off hind foot of a horse. -- Spear grass. (Bot.) (a)
The common reed. See Reed, n., 1. (b) meadow grass. See under Meadow.
-- Spear hand, the hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right
hand. Crabb. -- Spear side, the male line of a family. Lowell. -- Spear
thistle (Bot.), the common thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus).
Spear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Speared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spearing.] To
pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.
Spear, v. i. To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire.
Mortimer.
Spear"er (?), n. One who uses a spear; as, a spearer of fish.
Spear"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and powerful fish (Tetrapturus
albidus) related to the swordfish, but having scales and ventral fins.
It is found on the American coast and the Mediterranean. (b) The carp
sucker.
<! p. 1380 !>
Spear"head` (?), n. The pointed head, or end, of a spear.
Spear"man (?), n.; pl. Spearmen (&?;). One who is armed with a spear.
Acts xxiii. 23.
Spear"mint` (?), n. [So named from its spiry, not capitate,
inflorescence. Dr. Prior.] (Bot.) A species of mint (Mentha viridis)
growing in moist soil. It vields an aromatic oil. See Mint, and Mentha.
Spear"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) An Australian tree (Acacia Doratoxylon), and
its tough wood, used by the natives for spears.
Spear"wort` (?), n. [AS. sperewyrt.] (Bot.) A name given to several
species of crowfoot (Ranunculus) which have spear-shaped leaves.
Spear"y (?), a. Having the form of a spear.
Spece (?), n. Species; kind. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Specht (?), n. [See Speight.] (Zoöl.) A woodpecker. [Obs. or prov.
Eng.] Sherwood.
Spe"cial (?), a. [L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or
quality: cf. F. spécial. See Species, and cf. Especial.] 1. Of or
pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.
A special is called by the schools a "species".