Webster's Dictionary 1913

8182

Spindle

Spin″dle (?), n. [AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. √170. See Spin.] 1. The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels...

8183

Spindle (2)

Spin″dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p.Spindled(?); p. pr. & vb. n.Spindling (?).] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender.It ha...

8184

Spindle-legged

Spin″dle–legged′ (?), a. Having long, slender legs.

8185

Spindle-shanked

Spin″dle–shanked′ (?), a. Having long, slender legs. Addison.

8186

Spindle-shaped

Spin″dle–shaped′ (?), a. 1. Having the shape of a spindle.2. (Bot.) Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; — applied chiefly to roots.

8187

Spindlelegs

Spin″dle‐legs′ (?), n. A spindleshanks.

8188

Spindleshanks

Spin″dle‐shanks′ (?), n. A person with slender shanks, or legs; — used humorously or in contempt.

8189

Spindletail

Spin″dle‐tail′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) The pintail duck.

8190

Spindleworm

Spin″dle‐worm′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) The larva of a noctuid moth (Achatodes zeæ) which feeds inside the stalks of corn (maize), sometimes causing much damage. It is smooth, with a blac...

8191

Spindling

Spin″dling (?), a. Long and slender, or disproportionately tall and slender; as, a spindling tree; a spindling boy.

8192

Spindrift

Spin″drift (?), n. Same as Spoondrift.The ocean waves are broken up by wind, ultimately producing the storm wrack and spindrift of the tempest-tossed sea. J. E. Marr.

8193

Spine

Spine (?), n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine, F. épine. Cf. Spike, Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny.] 1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of...

8194

Spine-finned

Spine″–finned′ (?), a.(Zoöl.) Having fine supported by spinous fin rays; — said of certain fishes.

8195

Spine-tailed

Spine″–tailed (?), a.(Zoöl.) Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips.Spine-tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).

8196

Spineback

Spine″back′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) A fish having spines in, or in front of, the dorsal fins.

8197

Spinebill

Spine″bill′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) Any species of Australian birds of the genus Acanthorhynchus. They are related to the honey eaters.

8198

Spined

Spined (?), a. Furnished with spines; spiny.

8199

Spinel

{ Spi‐nel″ (?), Spi‐nelle″ (?), } n. [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus, perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its pointed crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in...

8200

Spinel (2)

Spin″el (?), n. Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle; unwrought inkle. Knight.

8201

Spineless

Spine″less (?), a. Having no spine.

8202

Spinescence

Spi‐nes″cence (?), n. The state or quality of being spinescent or spiny; also, a spiny growth or covering, as of certain animals.

8203

Spinescent

Spi‐nes″cent (?), a.[L. spinescens, -entis, p. pr. of spinescere to know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent.] (Bot.) Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradual...

8204

Spinet

Spin″et (?), n. [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L. spina a thorn; — so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine.] (Mus.) A keyed instrument of mus...

8205

Spinet (2)

Spi″net (?), n. [L. spinetum. See Spinny.] A spinny. B. Jonson.

8206

Spinetail

Spine″tail′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of the genus Acanthylis, or Chætura, and allied genera, in which the shafts of the tail feathers terminate in...

8207

Spineted

Spin″et‐ed (?), a. Slit; cleft.

8208

Spini-spirulate

Spin′i–spir″u‐late (?), a.(Zoöl.) Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule.