transitive. Formerly: †to urge (an animal) forward with a goad (obsolete). Now: to spur (a horse).

To prick (a horse, etc.) with the spur, in order to urge to a faster pace; to urge on by the use of spurs.

spec. To prick with spurs; to spur. Obsolete.

transitive. To prick, pierce; to spur. Also intransitive.

In various specific uses of sense 31. transitive. To prick (a horse) with the spur. Obsolete.

transitive. To prick, pierce; to spur. Also figurative.

To spur on (a war-horse) to full speed.

With adverbs, as away, forth, on, up; or prepositions, as against, at, into, through, etc.

To spur (a horse) vigorously [= French diguer un cheval]; to thrust, stab, prod; to give (any one) a sharp thrust or nudge (in the ribs, etc.).

In phrases with verbs. to put (also set) (†the) spurs to, to impel or urge on by spurring; = spur, v.1 i. Also figurative.

figurative. With on.

figurative. With up.

transitive. To spur (a horse) with the rowel. Frequently figurative and in figurative contexts.