spur

Meaning

Noun

1. A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.
2. A jab given with the spurs.
3. (figuratively) Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does a horse.
4. An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.
5. Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.
6. Roots, tree roots.
7. A mountain that shoots from another mountain or range and extends some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.
8. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale to strip off the blubber.
9. A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, such as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
10. The short wooden buttress of a post.
11. A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.
12. Ergotized rye or other grain.
13. A wall in a fortification that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
14. A piece of timber fixed on the bilgeways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.
15. A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam cannot be placed.
16. A branch of a vein.
17. A very short branch line of a railway line.
18. A short branch road of a motorway, freeway or major road.
19. A short thin side shoot from a branch, especially one that bears fruit or, in conifers, the shoots that bear the leaves.

Verb

1. (transitive) To prod (especially a horse) on the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.
2. (transitive) To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object
3. (transitive) To put spurs on.
4. (intransitive) To press forward; to travel in great haste.
5. To form a spur (senses 17-18 of the noun)

Verb

Alternative form of speer.

Synonyms

urge

stimulate

encourage

prod

goad

incite

impel

instigate

stir up

prompt

spur on

abet

stir

incentive

trigger

provocate

stimulus

motive

branch line

spine

fillip

prick

provoke

push

sting

stimulator

drive

gad

force

urge on

urging

spur track

impetus

egg on

spurring

ridge

rouse

ram

🐏

rower

projection

arouse

overcharge

needle

press

prodding

motivate

branch

inducement

inspire

impulsion

Translations

éperon

ergot

espolear

sperone

anspornen

espuela

prikkelen

Sporn

de sporen geven

aansporen

antreiben

instigar

esporar

herausfordern

incitar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɜː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spure

Inherited from Old English: spora

In summary

From Middle English spure, spore, from Old English spora, spura, from Proto-West Germanic *spurō, from Proto-Germanic *spurô, from Proto-Indo-European *sperH- (“to kick”).

Sentences

Do not spur a free horse .