英文字典中文字典Word104.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Span \Span\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spanned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Spanning}.] [AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG.
spannan, Sw. sp[aum]nna, Dan. spaende, Icel. spenna, and
perh. to Gr. ? to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. [root]170.
Cf. {Spin}, v. t., {Space}, {Spasm}.]
1. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers
extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as,
to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.
[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]


Span \Span\, archaic
imp. & p. p. of {Spin}.
[1913 Webster]


Span \Span\, n. [AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G.
spanne, Icel. sp["o]nn. [root]170. See {Span}, v. t. ]
1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger
when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
[1913 Webster]

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]


Span \Span\, v. i.
To be matched, as horses. [U. S.]
[1913 Webster]


Spin \Spin\ (sp[i^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spun}(Archaic imp.
{Span}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spinning}.] [AS. spinnan; akin to
D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth.
spinnan, and probably to E. span. [root]170. Cf. {Span}, v.
t., {Spider}.]
1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or
machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin
goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a
fibrous material.
[1913 Webster]

All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence
did but fill Ithaca full of moths. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by
degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to
spin out large volumes on a subject.
[1913 Webster]

Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?
--Sheridan.
[1913 Webster]

3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day
in idleness.
[1913 Webster]

By one delay after another they spin out their whole
lives. --L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]

4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to
spin a top.
[1913 Webster]

5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads
produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid,
which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said
of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow
form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it
with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal
revolves, as in a lathe.
[1913 Webster]

{To spin a yarn} (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or
fabulous tale.

{To spin hay} (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient
carriage on an expedition.

{To spin street yarn}, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
[1913 Webster]