sphygmograph 
a piece of paper moved by clockwork a curve 
which indicates the changes of tension of the 
blood within. The paper is blackened by holding it 
over a smoking lamp, and the tracer, moving in accordance 
with the pulsations of the artery, indicates the rapidity, 
strength, and uniformity of the beats. The tracings are 
preserved by a thin varnish of gum dainar dissolved in 
benzolin. 
sphygmographic (sfig-mo-graf 'ik), a. [< sphyg- 
motjraph + -ic.] Of or pertaining to, or regis- 
tered or traced by, the sphygmograph. 
sphygmography (sfig-mog'ra-fi), n. [As sphyg- 
moaraph + -y s .] 1. The act or art of taking 
pulse-tracings or sphygmograms. 2. A de- 
scription of the pulse. 
sphygmoid (sfig'raoid), a. [< Gr. c^vy^f, pulse, 
+ fi'dof. form.] Pulse-like. 
sphygmology (sfig-mol'o-ji), . [< Gr. o-^x/^f, 
pulse, + -Aoy/a, < teyeiv, speak: see -ologi/.] 
The sum of scientific knowledge concerning 
the pulse. 
sphygmomanometer (sfig'mo-ma-nom e-ter), 
n. [< Gr. aQvynoc., pulse, + /iav6r, rare, + fdrpov, 
measure (cf. manometer).'] An instrument for 
measuring the tension of the blood in an artery. 
sphygmometer (sfig-mom'e-ter), . [< Gr. a<t>\r>- 
/i6;, pulse, + fierpov, measure.] Same as sphyg- 
momanometer. 
sphygmophone (sfig'mo-fpn). n. [< Or. o-^iwof, 
pulse, + <t>avri, sound, voice.] An instrument 
by the aid of which each pulse-beat makes a 
sound. It is a combination of a kind of sphyg- 
mograph with a microphone. 
sphygmoscope (sfig'mo-skop), n. [< Gr. m/ivyfiAf, 
pulse, + OKomiv, view.]' An instrument for ren- 
dering the arterial pulsations visible. One form 
of it works by the projection of a ray of light from a mir- 
ror which is moved by the pulsation ; in another form 
the impact of the pulsation is received in a reservoir of 
liquid, which is caused by it to mount in a graduated 
tube. The invention of the instrument is ascribed to 
Galileo. 
sphygmus (sfig'mus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
the beating of the heart, the pulse, < 
beat violently, throb.] The pulse. 
sphynx, . An occasional misspelling of sphinx. 
Sphyrsena (sfi-re'na), n. [NL. (Artedi, Bloch, 
etc.), < L. sphyrseii'a, < Gr. afi-paiva, a sea-fish 
so called, a hammer-fish, < a<j>vpa, hammer, mal- 
let.] 1. The representative genus of Sphyrse- 
nidse. It contains about 20 species of voracious pike- 
like flshes, of most temperate and tropical seas. S. spet 
or S. rndyari-s is the becuna. of both coasts of the Atlantic 
and of the Mediterranean, the sphyrsena of the ancients, 
about 2 feet long, of an olive color, silvery below, when 
young with dusky blotches. S. aryetttea of the Pacific 
coast, abundant from San Francisco southward, about 3 
feet long, is an important food-fish. S. pieuda, the bar- 
racuda of the West Indies, grows to be sometimes 7 or 8 
or even, it is claimed, 10 feet long. See cut under becuna. 
2. [(. c.~\ A fish of this genus. 
Sphyraenidae (sfi-reu'i-de), . pi. [NL. (Bona- 
parte, 1831), < Sphyrxna + -idee.] A family of 
percesocine acanthopterygian fishes, typified 
by the genus Spliyreena. About 20 species are known, 
all of which are closely related, and usually referred to 
the single genus Sphyrsena. They are mostly inhabitants 
of the tropical seas ; but a few advance northward and 
southward into cooler waters, as along the United States 
coast to New England. They are voracious and savage, 
and the larger ones are much dreaded. See cut under 
becuna. Also Sphyrtenaidei. 
sphyraenine (sfi-re'uin), a. [< Spliyrsena + 
-Hie 1 .] Same as sphyrsenoid. 
sphyraenoid (sfi-re'noid), a. [< Sphyrsena + 
-old.] Of or pertaining to the Sphyrxnidse. 
Sphyrna (sfer'na), n. [NL. (Rafinesque, 1815), 
an error for 'SpKyra, < Gr. oxdi'pa, a hammer.] A 
genus of hammer-headed sharks, giving name 
to the family Sphyrnidie. It contains those in which 
the head is most hammer-like, and grooves extend from 
the nostrils to the front. S. tiburo, the bonnet-shark, is 
now placed in another genus (Jieniceps). Zyymia is an ex- 
act synonym of Sphyrni, but is preoccupied in entomol- 
ogy. Also called Cestracion (after Klein). See cut under 
hammerhead. 
Sphyrnidae (sfer'ni-de), n. pi. [NL., < Sphyrna 
+ -idee.] A family of anarthrous selachians ; 
the hammer-headed sharks, having an extra- 
ordinary conformation of the head. There are 
3 genera and 5 or species, found in most seas. The body 
usually has the common shark-like form ; but the head is 
expanded laterally into a kidney-like shape, or arched Hkea 
hammer-head. The eyes are upon the sides of the expand- 
ed head, and the nostrils are on the front edge. The fins 
are like those of ordinary sharks. See cuts under ham- 
merhead and shark. Also called Zygxnidse. 
sphyrnine (sfer'nin), a. [< Sphyrna + -tne 1 .] 
Of the character or appearance of a hammer- 
headed shark; belonging to the Sphyrnidee; 
zygrenine. 
Sphyropicus (sfi-ro-pi'kus), n. [NL. (orig. 
Sphyrapicus, S. F. Baird, 1858), < Gr. atyvpa, a 
hammer, + L. picus, a woodpecker.] A remark- 
able genus of Picidse, having the tongue ob- 
5828 
tuse, brushy, and scarcely extensile, owing to 
the shortness of the hyoid bones, whose horns 
do not curl up over the hindhead ; the sapsuck- 
ers, or sapsucking woodpeckers. There are sever- 
al species, all American, feeding upon soft fruits and s;ii>- 
wood as well as upon insects. The common yellow-bel- 
lied woodpecker of the 1'nited States is S. voritu, of which 
a variety, S. nuclialw, is found in the west, and another, 
S ruber has the whole head, neck, and breast carmine-red. 
A very distinct species is S. Ihyruidetwo! the western I'mt 
ed States, notable for the great difference between the 
sexes, which long caused tliem to be regarded as different 
species, and even placed in different genera. The condi- 
tion of the hyoid apparatus in this genus is unique, though 
an approach to it is seen in the genus Xenopiau. See cut 
under sapsvcker. 
spialt (spi'al), n. [Early mod. E. also spyat, 
spy all; by apheresis from espial: see espial, and 
ci.spion,spy.~\ 1. Close or secret watch; espial. 
I have those eyes and ears shall still keep guard 
And epial on thee. B. Jonson, Catiline, iv. -1. 
2. A spy ; a watcher ; a scout. 
Secretaries and gpials of princes and states bring in bills 
for intelligence. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 
spiauterite (spi-a'ter-it), . [< G. spiautn; 
spelter (see spelter), + -ite 2 .] Same as mirt:ttc. 
spica (spi'ka), n. [< L. spica, a point, spike, 
ear of grain: see spike 1 ."] 1. In hot., a spike. 
2. In svrg., a spiral bandage with reversed 
turns: so named because it was thought to re- 
semble a spike of barley. 3. In ornith., a spur; 
a calcar. 4. [cap.] In astron., a very white 
star of magnitude 1.2, the sixteenth in order of 
brightness in the heavens, a Virginis, situated 
on the left hand of the Virgin.- spica celtlca, an 
old name of Valeriana Celtica. Spica nardi. Same as 
spikenard. 
spical (spi'kal), a. [< NL. *spicalis, < L. spica, 
a spike: see spike 1 .] Same as spicate: as, the 
spical palpi of a dipterous insect. 
Spicatae (spi-ka'te), n. pi. [NL., fern. pi. of L. 
spicatws. spiked : see spicate.] A section of pen- 
natuloid polyps, distinguished by a bilateral 
arrangement of the polyps on the rachis, which 
is elongate, cylindrical, and destitute of pin- 
nules. 
spicate (spi'kat), a. [< L. spicatus, spiked, pp. 
of spicare, furnish with spikes, < spica, a spike: 
see spikei.] 1. In hot., having the form of a 
spike ; arranged or disposed in spikes. 2. In 
ornith., spurred; calcarate; spiciferous. 
spicated (spi'ka-ted), a. [< spicate + -ed?.] 
In bot., same as spicate. 
spicateous (spi-ka'te-us), a. [Irreg. < spicatt 
+ -e-ous.] In zob'l., spicate; specifically, of or 
pertaining to the Spicatae. 
spicatum (spi-ka'tum), n. [L., sc. opus, lit. 
'spicate work': see spicate.] In anc. masonry, 
herring-bone work: so called from the resem- 
blance of the position of the blocks of any two 
contiguous courses to that of the grains in an 
ear of wheat. 
SpiccatO (spik-ka'to), . [It., pp. of spiccare, 
detach, divide.] In music, same as picchttato. 
spice 1 (spis), . [< ME. spice, spyce, spyse, 
itpece, species, kind, spice (Icel. sjpfe, spices, < 
E.), < OF. espice, espece, kind, spice, F. epice, 
spice, espece, kind, species, especes, pi., specie, 
= Pr. ettpecia, esneci = Sp. especia, spice, espe- 
cie, species, = Pg. especia, spice, especie, spe- 
cies, specie, = It. spezie, species, kind, pi. 
spices, drugs, < L. species, look, appearance, 
kind, species, etc., LL. also spices, drugs, etc. 
(ML. espicise, after Bom.): see species. Doub- 
let of species and specie.] If. Kind; sort; va- 
riety; species. 
The spices of penance ben three. Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
Justice, all though it be but one . . . vertne, yet is it 
described in two kyndes or spices. 
Sir T. Klyot, The Oovernour, iii. 1. 
The very calling it a Bartholomew pig, and to eat it so, 
is a spice of idolatry. B. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, L 1. 
2f. Kind of thing; anything of the kind or 
class before indicated; such sort: used demon- 
stratively or indefinitely. 
Chydynge comys of hert hy, 
And grett pride and velany, 
And other npice that mekylle deres. 
R. de Brunne, MS. Bowes, p. 31. (Hallimll.) 
Al that toucheth dedly synne 
In any spyce that we falle ynne. 
MS. Harl. 1701, f. 1. (Battimll. 
For trewthe telleth that loue is triacle of heuene; 
May no synne be on him sene that vseth that spise. 
Piers Plowman (B), L 147. 
3t. An exemplification of the kind of thing 
mentioned; specimen; sample; instance; piece. 
Whanne he seeth the lepre in the skynne, and the heeris 
chaungid into whijt colour, and thilk spice of lepre lower 
than the skynne and that other flesh, aplaage of lepre it 
is. Wydif, Lev. xiii. S. 
spice-cake 
He hath spicei of them all, not all. Shak., Cor.,iv. 7. 46. 
4. A characteristic touch or taste ; a modicum, 
smack, or flavoring, as of something piquant or 
exciting to the mind : as, a spice of roguery or 
of adventure. [In this sense now regarded as 
a figurative use of def . 5 ; compare sauce in a 
similar figurative use.] 
I think I may pronounce of them, as I heard good 
Senecio, with a spice of the wit of the last age, say, viz., 
"That a merry fellow is the saddest fellow in the world." 
Slede, Tatler, No. 45. 
The world loves a spice of wickedness. 
w, Hyperion, i. 7. 
5. A substance aromatic or pungent to the 
taste, or to both taste and smell; a drug; a 
savory or piquant condiment or eatable ; a rel- 
ish. The word in this sense formerly had a much wider 
range than at present (def. e); it is still used in northern 
England as including sweetmeats, gingerbread, cake, and 
any kind of dried fruit. 
"Hastow aujte in tin purs, any hote spices?" 
"I naue peper and piones [peony-seeds]," quod she, "and 
a pounde of gai like, 
A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed for fastyngdayes." 
Piers Plowman (B), v. 311. 
Now, specifically 6. One of a class of aro- 
matic vegetable condiments used for the sea- 
soning of food, commonly in a pulverized state, 
as pepper, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, 
and cloves ; collectively, such substances as a 
class: as, the trade in spices or spice. 
So was her love diffused ; but, like to some odorous spices, 
Suffered no waste nor loss, though filling the air with 
aroma. Longfellow, Evangeline, ii. 5. 
7. A piquant odor or odorous substance, es- 
pecially of vegetable origin; a spicy smell. 
[Poetical.] 
The woodbine spices are wafted abroad, 
And the musk of the rose is blown. 
Tennyson, Maud, xxii. 
8. Figuratively, a piquant concomitant; an 
engaging accompaniment or incident; an at- 
tractive or enjoyable variation. 
Is not birth, . . . youth, liberality, and such like, the 
spice and salt that season a man ? 
Shak., T. and C., i. 2. 277. 
Variety 's the very spice of life, 
That gives it all its flavour. 
Cwper, Task, II. 606. 
Madagascar spice, the clove-nutmeg. See Ravensara. 
Spice plaster. See pJ,iter.=Syn. 4. Relish, savor, 
dash. 
spice 1 (spis), '. t. ; pret. and pp. spiced, ppr. 
spicing. [< ME. spice, < OF. espicer, F. epicer 
= Sp. especiar, spice ; from the noun.] 1. To 
prepare with a condiment or seasoning, espe- 
cially of something aromatic or piquant; season 
or temper with a spice or spices : as, highly 
spiced food ; to spice wine. 
Shulde no curyous clothe comen on hys rugge, 
Ne no mete In his mouth that maister lohan spiced. 
Piers Plowman (B), xix. 282. 
2. To vary or diversify, as speech, with words 
or matter of a different kind or tenor; inter- 
lard; make spicy, piquant, or entertaining: as, 
to spice one's talk with oaths, quips, or scandal : 
to spice a sermon with anecdotes. 
spice 2 (spis), n. [Perhaps a var. of spite 1 .] A 
small stick. [Prov. Eng.] 
spice-apple (spis'ap"!), . An aromatic variety 
of the common apple. 
spiceberry (spis' ber"i), n. ; pi. spiceberries (-iz). 
The checkerberry or wiiitergreen, GavUlierin 
procumbens. 
spice-bpx (spis'boks), n. 1. A box to keep 
spices in ; specifically, a cylindrical box inclos- 
ing a number of smaller boxes to contain the dif- 
ferent kinds of spice used in cooking. 2. In 
decorative art, a cylindrical box, low in propor- 
tion to its diameter, and having a lid; especial- 
ly, such a box of Indian or other Oriental work. 
Spice-boxes are usually of metal, often of gold or silver, 
and decorated with damascening or otherwise. 
Small boxes of very graceful form, covered with the 
most delicate tracery, and known to Europeans as spice- 
boxes. G. C. if. Birdwood, Indian Arts, I. 160. 
spice-bush (spis'bush), . A North American 
shrub, Lindera Benzoin, the bark and leaves of 
which have a spicy odor, bearing small yellow 
flowers very early in the spring and oval scarlet 
berries in late summer. See Lindera and/eer- 
bush. Also spiceicood. 
spice-cake (spis'kak), n. A cake flavored with 
a spice of some kind, as ginger, nutmeg, or cin- 
namon. 
She 's gi'en him to eat the good spice-cake, 
She 's gi'en him to drink the blood-red wine. 
Young Beichan and Susie Pye (Child's Ballads, IV. 5). 
A spice-cake, which followed by way of dessert, vanished 
like a vision. Charlotte Bronte, Shirley, i. 
