Spur, v. i. To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to
hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated
traveler." Shak.
The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess
their fear.
Dryden.
The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of
yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster.
Macaulay.
Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves.
Grew.
Spur"gall` (?), n. A place galled or excoriated by much using of the
spur.
Spur"gall`, v. t. To gall or wound with a spur.
Spurge (?), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; -- said
of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W.
Cartright.
Spurge, n. [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L.
expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus
Euphorbia. See Euphorbia.
Spurge flax, an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow
leaves. It is native of Southern Europe. -- Spurge laurel, a European
shrub (Daphne Laureola) with oblong evergreen leaves. -- Spurge nettle.
See under Nettle. -- Spurge olive, an evergreen shrub (Daphne oleoides)
found in the Mediterranean region.
Spurge"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.
Spur"ging (?), n. [See 2d Spurge.] A purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Spu"ri*ous (?), a. [L. spurius.] 1. Not proceeding from the true
source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.
2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. "Her spurious
firstborn." Milton.
Spurious primary, or Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer,
primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain
singing birds. -- Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.
Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious;
bastard.
-- Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Spu"ri*ous*ness, n.
Spur"less (?), a. Having no spurs.
Spur"ling (?), n. [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.) A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Tusser.
Spur"ling-line` (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a
cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor. Scot. spurl to sprawl.]
(Naut.) The line which forms the communication between the steering
wheel and the telltale.
Spurn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning.]
[OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick,
offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna,
L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. √171. See
Spur.] 1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick.
[The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup.
Chaucer.