The grass . . . is all bespangled with dewdrops. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place where outspanning is done; Hence: An encampment. [ South African ] [ PJC ]

2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy. Farquhar. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. [ Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spaend, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Isa. xiviii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry. prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

But when they spang o'er reason's fence,
We smart for't at our own expense. Ramsay. [ 1913 Webster ]

With glittering spangs that did like stars appear. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, any little thing that sparkless. “The rich spangles that adorn the sky.” Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oak spangle. See under Oak. [ 1913 Webster ]

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spangled coquette (Zool.), a tropical humming bird (Lophornis reginae). See Coquette, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some men by feigning words as dark as mine
Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels, are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under Blenheim). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers, and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a spaniel she will on him leap. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cringing, fawning person. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spanish bayonet (Bot.), a liliaceous plant (Yucca alorifolia) with rigid spine-tipped leaves. The name is also applied to other similar plants of the Southwestern United States and mexico. Called also Spanish daggers. --
Spanish bean (Bot.) See the Note under Bean. --
Spanish black, a black pigment obtained by charring cork. Ure. --
Spanish broom (Bot.), a leguminous shrub (Spartium junceum) having many green flexible rushlike twigs. --
Spanish brown, a species of earth used in painting, having a dark reddish brown color, due to the presence of sesquioxide of iron. --
Spanish buckeye (Bot.), a small tree (Ungnadia speciosa) of Texas, New Mexico, etc., related to the buckeye, but having pinnate leaves and a three-seeded fruit. --
Spanish burton (Naut.), a purchase composed of two single blocks. A
double Spanish burton has one double and two single blocks. Luce (Textbook of Seamanship). --
Spanish chalk (Min.), a kind of steatite; -- so called because obtained from Aragon in Spain. --
Spanish cress (Bot.), a cruciferous plant (Lepidium Cadamines), a species of peppergrass. --
Spanish curlew (Zool.), the long-billed curlew. [ U.S. ] --
Spanish daggers (Bot.) See Spanish bayonet. --
Spanish elm (Bot.), a large West Indian tree (Cordia Gerascanthus) furnishing hard and useful timber. --
Spanish feretto, a rich reddish brown pigment obtained by calcining copper and sulphur together in closed crucibles. --
Spanish flag (Zool.), the California rockfish (Sebastichthys rubrivinctus). It is conspicuously colored with bands of red and white. --
Spanish fly (Zool.), a brilliant green beetle, common in the south of Europe, used for raising blisters. See Blister beetle under Blister, and Cantharis. --
Spanish fox (Naut.), a yarn twisted against its lay. --
Spanish grass. (Bot.) See Esparto. --
Spanish juice (Bot.), licorice. --
Spanish leather. See Cordwain. --
Spanish mackerel. (Zool.) (a) A species of mackerel (Scomber colias) found both in Europe and America. In America called chub mackerel, big-eyed mackerel, and bull mackerel. (b) In the United States, a handsome mackerel having bright yellow round spots (Scomberomorus maculatus), highly esteemed as a food fish. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to other species. See Illust. under Mackerel. --
Spanish main, the name formerly given to the southern portion of the Caribbean Sea, together with the contiguous coast, embracing the route traversed by Spanish treasure ships from the New to the Old World. --
Spanish moss. (Bot.) See Tillandsia (and note at that entry). --
Spanish needles (Bot.), a composite weed (Bidens bipinnata) having achenia armed with needlelike awns. --
Spanish nut (Bot.), a bulbous plant (Iris Sisyrinchium) of the south of Europe. --
Spanish potato (Bot.), the sweet potato. See under Potato. --
Spanish red, an ocherous red pigment resembling Venetian red, but slightly yellower and warmer. Fairholt. --
Spanish reef (Naut.), a knot tied in the head of a jib-headed sail. --
Spanish sheep (Zool.), a merino. --
Spanish white, an impalpable powder prepared from chalk by pulverizing and repeated washings, -- used as a white pigment. --
Spanish windlass (Naut.), a wooden roller, with a rope wound about it, into which a marline spike is thrust to serve as a lever. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) The after sail of a ship or bark, being a fore-and-aft sail attached to a boom and gaff; -- sometimes called driver. See Illust. under Sail. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who takes long, quick strides in walking; also, a fast horse. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Something very large, or larger than common; a whopper, as a stout or tall person. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Spanker boom (Naut.), a boom to which a spanker sail is attached. See Illust. of Ship. [ 1913 Webster ]