space 
II. trans. 1. To set at intervals; put a space 
between; specifically, in j>ri>/tiiit/. to arrange 
the spaces and intervals in or between so that 
there may be no obvious disproportion : as, to 
space a paragraph ; to space words, lines, or let- 
ters. 
The porch, too, is open, and consists of columns spaced 
equidistantly over its floor, without either the bracketing 
arrangements of the southern or the domical forma of the 
northern styles. J. f'ergusson, Hist. Indian Arch., p. 889. 
2. To divide into spaces. 
The artificer is ordered "to set up the frames and to 
spate out the rooms, that the Nine Worthies may be so 
instauled as best to please the eye." 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 27. 
3. To measure by paces. Halliwell. [Prov. 
Eng.] Spaced braid, a white cotton braid used for the 
trimming of washable garments. The name is derived 
space-box (spas'boks), n. ta printing, a petty 
case of wood or millboard, in six or eight divi- 
sions, holding the spaces needed for corrections 
on stone. Sometimes called space-barge or 
space-paper in England. 
space-curvature (spas'ker'va-tur), n. A cur- 
vature of three-dimensional space in a space of 
four dimensions. 
spacefill (spas' fill), a. [< space + -fill.] Wide ; 
extensive. Sandys. 
space-homology (spas'ho-moFo-ji), . Geo- 
metrical homology in three dimensions. 
spaceless (spas'les), a. [< space + -less.] Des- 
titute of space. Coleridge. 
space-line (spas'lin), . In printing, same as 
lead 2 , 3. 
space-mark (spas'mark), i. See proof-reading. 
space-perception (spas'per-sep'shon), n. The 
perception of space that is, of bodies as ex- 
tended or moving. 
spacer (spa'ser), n. 1. A device used in ca- 
ble telegraphy for reversing the current at 
proper intervals, thus increasing the speed of 
transmission : also used for a somewhat simi- 
lar purpose on land-lines. 2. In a typewriter, 
a key, and the mechanism connected with it, by 
which spaces are made between words. 
space-relation (spas're-la"shon), . A spatial 
relation, such as that two points lie within a 
tetrahedron of which four others are the verti- 
ces, and the like. 
space-rule (spas'rol), . In printing, a hair- 
line of type-metal, type-high and about one 
thirty-sixth of an inch thick. Such rules are made 
of many lengths, from one twelfth of an inch to half an 
inch. They are used for cross-lines in table-work. 
space-writing (spas'ri"ting), n. In newspaper 
work, the system of payment to reporters or 
other writers in proportion to the space allowed 
to their articles in print; also, writing or work 
under this system. 
The standard of literary excellence in the news columns 
of the New York press has also been lowered by the gen- 
eral substitution of space writing for the work of salaried 
reporters, as well as by the influence already referred to. 
Westminster Rev., CXXVIII. 858. 
spacial, spaciality, etc. See spatial, etc. 
spacing (spa'sing), n. [Verbal n. of space, v.] 
1 . The making of spaces, la) The allowing and 
gaging of intervals between words in setting type, type- 
writing, or the like. 
The change in the spacing being effected by a small cam 
at the side of the carriage. Set. Amer., N. S., LV. 24. 
(6) In art, tnach., etc., the division of any surface into 
special parts. 
In the spaces of decoration, as in all else, the Japanese 
artist studiously avoids uniformity or repetition of exact 
spacing. Encyc. Brit., XIII. 591. 
2. A space thus made. 
Each tongue upon discs is cut slantingly across at regu- 
lar spacinffs by steam passages analogous to the guide- 
plate vents of water turbines. The Engineer, LXIX. 225. 
3. Spaces collectively. 
spacing-lace (spa' sing-las), . Same as seam- 
ing-lace. 
spacious (spa'shus), a. [Formerly also spatious; 
< F. spacieux = Sp. espacioso = Pg. espaqoso = 
It. spazioso, < L. spatiosus, roomy, ample, < 
Kjxitium, room, space: see space.] 1. Inclos- 
ing an extended space ; of great extent ; wide- 
extended. 
As though no other place, on Britain's spacious earth. 
Were worthy of his end, but where he had his birth. 
Drayton, Polyolbion, I. 189. 
The spacious firmament on high, 
With all the blue ethereal sky. 
Addisan, Ode, Spectator, No. 465. 
2. Having large or ample room ; not contracted 
or narrow ; roomy. 
5791 
On the North side of the Church is a tpatimu Court, 
which I could not conjecture to be less than ..n. hiiiuh. d 
and fifty yards long, and eighty or one hundred broad. 
MtMntrett, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. !_'(>. 
Those melodious bursts that fill 
The spacious times of great Elizabeth. 
Tennyson, Fair Women. 
3f. Extensive; on a large scale; abounding: 
said of persons. 
Is 't possible that such a gpacimu villain 
Should live, and not be plagued? 
B. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour, i. 1. 
= Syn. Wide, capacious, ample, broad. 
spaciously (spa'shus-li), adv. In a spacious 
manner; widely; extensively; roomily. 
spaciousness (spa'shus-nes), n. The quality 
of being spacious ; largeness of extent ; exten- 
siveness; roominess. 
spadassin (spad'a-sin), n. [< F. spadassin, < 
It. spadaccino, swordsman, < spada, sword : see 
spade 1 , spathe.] A swordsman; especially, a 
person devoted to fencing and presumed to be 
expert with the sword ; hence, less properly, a 
bravo. 
Bully swordsmen, spadassiiu of that party, go swag- 
gering ; or indeed they can be had for a trifle of money. 
Carlyle. (Imp. Dot.) 
spaddle (spad'l), n. [Dim. of spade*. Cf . pad- 
dle 2 .] A little spade ; a spud. [Obsolete or 
provincial.] 
Others destroy moles with a spaddle, waiting in the 
mornings and evenings for them. Mortimer, Husbandry. 
spade 1 (spad), . [< ME. spade, < AS. spadu, 
spsedu, also rarely spada, spad, in an early gloss 
spadi, = OS. spado = OFries. spada = MD. 
xjHiile, spaeye, D. spade, spa = MLG. LG. spade 
= OHG. *spato, MHG. "spate, G. spate, spaten 
= Icel. spathi = Sw. Dan. spade, a spade (ef. 
MD. spade, a sword, = OF. espee, F. epee, a 
sword, = Pr. Sp. Pg. espada = It. spada, a 
sword : see spade 2 ), < L. spatha, < Gr. (malty, a 
broad blade of wood or metal, a spatula, the 
spathe or sheath of a flower, prob. <onav, draw 
out. Cf. span 1 , space. From the same source 
are ult. spade 2 , spaddle, paddle 2 , spadille, spa- 
droon, epaulet, espalier, spalP, spatule, spatula.] 
1. A tool for digging and cutting the ground, 
having a rather thick iron blade, usually flat, 
so formed that its terminal edge (either straight 
spade-graft 
Ing of a spade, i , 2(bf. To 
call a spade a spade, t .,,11 tlm proper 
names, even though tin hinnrly or coarse; 
peak plainly :uni uith.mt mini'lui: in 
IK r.'-*:u \ oMIJ'-r Illlr- il;l\ ,- IM-I |[ !n;|ilr ;l^ TM til' MIJ>|' -1 
occult origin of this phrase ; but it means what it says 
to call a siintili' thing by Its hinipli- n:mi<-. it h. nit rircum- 
locution or :ttti i i. d 
Chesham does not like to fait a spade a spade. He calls 
It a horticultural utensil. Thackeray, l-hilip, xxiii. 
spade' (spad), c. t. ; pret. and pp. spaded, ppr. 
niiinliiiij. [< ximili i. n. ] 1. To dig or cut with a 
spade ; dig up (the ground) by means of a spade. 
2. In whaling, to use the boat-spade on, as 
a whale ; cut the tendons of the flukes of; ham- 
string. 
spade- (spad), . [Prob. < Sp. Pg. espada, spade 
at cards, usually in pi. espadas, spades (sing. 
espada, the ace of spades) ; appar. a particular 
use of espada, a sword (< L. x]>atlm, < Gr. av68t/, 
a broadsword), these cards having, it is said, 
among the Spaniards, the figure of a sword; 
according to others the figure was orig. in- 
tended, as in the cards now in use, for the head 
of a pike, in which case the name spade is prob. 
an orig. E. designation, the head of a pike suf- 
ficiently resembling the pointed spade: see 
spade 1 .] A playing-card of one of the two 
black suits of a pack, the other being clubs. 
" Let Spades he trumps ! " she said, and trumps they were. 
Pope, K. of the U, ill 46. 
spade 3 (spad), n. [< L. spado, < Gr. avaiuv, an 
impotent person, a eunuch. Cf. spay*.] 1. An 
emasculated person ; a eunuch. 2. An emas- 
culated animal ; a gelding. 
spade-bayonet (spad'ba'o-net), n. A broad- 
bladed implement intended to be attached to a 
military rifle ; a trowel-bayonet. It is capable of 
being used for digging, as in sinking a tent-pole, making 
hasty intrenchments when better tools are not within 
reach, and the like, and is also capable of use as a weapon. 
spade-bonet (spad'bon), n. The blade-bone, 
shoulder-blade, or scapula. 
By th' shoulder of a ram from oft the right side par'd. 
Which usually they boil, the spade-bone being bar'd. 
Drayton, Polyolbion, v. 266. 
spade-farm (spad'farm), . A farm or piece 
of ground kept especially for manual labor 
with the spade, whether for producing garden 
vegetables or the like, or with a view to the 
perpetuation of a certain kind of labor. 
spade-fish (spad'fish), n. Cheetodipterusfaber: 
same as moonfsh (d). See angel-fish, 3, and cut 
under Cheetodipterus. 
spade-foot (spad'fut), a. and n. I. a. Spade- 
footed; scaphiopod. 
II. . ; pi. spade-foots (-futs). A spade-footed 
or scaphiopod toad ; a spade-toad. There are sev- 
eral species of different genera, one of the best-known 
Spades. 
a, Irish spade with foot-piece ; *. Creek spade with foot -piece ; c, 
Japanese spade; it, spade for cutting turf; e, ditching-spades;/*, post- 
spade, for digging poet-holes ; g, polished drain-spade with foot-piece ; 
A, long-handled garden spade ; i, ditching-spade. 
or curved) may be pressed into the ground or 
other resisting substance with one foot, and a 
handle, usually with a crosspiece at the top, to 
be grasped by both hands. A spade differs from a 
two-handed shovel chiefly In the form and thickness of 
the blade. 
Tho nomen heo spade and schouele and ner the place 
wende, 
Deope heo gonne to delue ther as the smoke out weude. 
Holy Rood (E. E. T. 8.), p. 43. 
Strength may wield the pond'rous spade, 
Slay turn the clod, and wheel the compost home. 
Cowper, Task, ilL 636. 
2. A tool of soft iron used with diamond-pow- 
der by cameo-cutters in finishing. 3. In whal- 
ing, a large chisel-like implement used on blub- 
ber or bone in cutting-in. See phrases follow- 
ing. 4. In herpet., a formation on the foot of 
some toads with which they dig. See spade- 
foot Boat-spade, an instrument, carried under the 
stern-sheets of a whale-boat, resembling a very large 
chisel, having a wide blade, and a handle six or eight feet 
long. This instrument was employed to stop a running 
whale by the process known as hamstringing or spading 
fluke* (cutting the cords about the small), which required 
much experience and dexterity, and was a very hazardous 
undertaking; it has been done away with by the intro- 
duction of bomb-lances. The boat-spade is still carried 
in case of emergency. Bone-spade, a cutting-spade, 
with a long thin shank, used by whalers for cutting out 
the throat-bone of a baleen-whale. Cutting-spade, 
sharp instrument like a very large narrow chisel fixed 
to a pole ten or more feet In length, used for cutting the 
blubberfrom awhale. Half-round spade, a long-han- 
dled spade with a blade curved, or rolled up on the sides, 
resembling a carpenters' gouge, and used for cutting 
holes in the head of the blubber when boarding. Shoe- 
spade-foot {S 
being Scaphiopus hoOrrooki, of eastern and southerly parts 
of the United States. 
spade-footed (spad'tut'ed), a. Scaphiopod, as 
a toad; belonging to the Scaphionodinx. 
spadeful (spad'ful), . [< spade* + -//.] As 
much as can be taken up with a spade. 
spade-graft (spad'gr&ft), . The depth to 
which a spade will dig: about a foot. Also 
spade's graft. [Prov. Eng.] 
They [British relics) were discovered In 1827 near Gul- 
borough, at about a spade's graft beneath the surface. 
Proc. Soc. of A ntiy. (1844), L SO. (Dana.) 
Obvene. Rererse. 
Spade-guinea, 1787. British Museum. <Sie of the original. ) 
