spur /spûr/

1. A goading instrument on a horse rider's heel
2. Incitement, stimulus
3. A hard sharp projection
4. A clawlike projection at the back of a cock's or other bird's leg
5. An artificial substitute for this on a gamecock
6. A short, usu flowering or fruit-bearing, branch
7. A great lateral root
8. Ergot
9. A tubular pouch at the base of a petal
10. An expansion of a leaf base
11. Anything that projects in the shape of a spur, eg an extension from an electrical circuit
12. A lateral branch, as of a hill range
13. A siding or branch line of a railway
14. A strut
15. A structure to deflect the current from a bank

1. To apply the spur to
2. To urge on
3. To provide with a spur or spurs
4. To prune into spurs

1. To press forward with the spur
2. To hasten
3. To kick out

spurˈless adjective

spurred adjective

1. Having or wearing spurs or a spur
2. In the form of a spur
3. Urged
4. (eg of rye) affected with ergot

spurrˈer noun

spurrˈier noun

A maker of spurs

spurrˈing noun and adjective

spurrˈy adjective

Like, of the nature of, or having a spur

spurˈ-gall transitive verb (Shakespeare)

To gall or wound with a spur

spur gear or spur wheel noun

A gear wheel with straight teeth parallel to its axis, as used in spur gearing, a system of such gears connecting two parallel shafts

spurˈ-heeled adjective

Having a long straight hind claw

spur leather noun

A strap for fastening a spur

spur rowel noun

The rowel of a spur

spurˈ-royˈal, spurˈ-ryˈal or spurˈ-rīˈal noun

A former English fifteen-shilling piece of gold, bearing a star like a spur rowel

spurˈway noun (dialect)

A bridle road

spurˈ-whang noun (Scot)

A spur leather

spur wheel see spur gear above.

spurˈ-winged adjective

With a horny spur on the pinion of the wing

gilt spurs

A mark of knighthood

on the spur of the moment

Without premeditation

set spurs to

1. To apply the spur to (a horse) and ride off quickly
2. To urge on
3. To hasten the progress of

win one's spurs

1. To gain distinction by achievement
2. Orig to earn a knighthood

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