SPIN-EM-ROUNDS, a street game consisting of a piece of brass, wood, or
iron, balanced on a pin, and turned quickly around on a board, when the
point, arrow shaped, stops at a number and decides the bet one way or
the other. The contrivance very much resembles a sea compass, and was
formerly the gambling accompaniment of London piemen. The apparatus
then was erected on the tin lids of their pie cans, and the bets
were ostensibly for pies, but more frequently for “coppers,” when no
policeman frowned upon the scene, and when two or three apprentices or
porters happened to meet.
SPINIKEN, a workhouse.
SPIRT, or SPURT, “to put on a SPIRT,” to make an increased exertion for
a brief space, to attain one’s end; a nervous effort.
SPITFIRE, a passionate person.
SPLENDIFEROUS, sumptuous, first-rate.