spider-wasp 
spider-wasp (pi'di-r-\vosp). . Any true wasp 
of the family PoatpiKdtB, which stoves its nrsl 
Spiderwort (Tradescantia 
ca). i, the inflorescence ; z, the lower 
part of the stem with the root. 
Spider-wasp (Ctropales rujivctttris). (Cross shows natural size.) 
with spiders for its young, as Ceropales rufiven- 
trin of North America, which lays its eggs in 
the mud nests of Agenia. See cut under Agenia. 
spider-web (sp'der-web), . The web or net 
spun by a spider; cobweb; gossamer. Also 
spider-oof. 
spider-wheel (spi'der-hwel), . In embroidery, 
any circular pat- 
tern or unit of de- 
sign open and hav- 
ing radiating and 
concentric lines. 
Compare catna- 
rine-wlieel, 4. 
spider- work (spi'- 
der-werk),w. Lace 
worked by spider- 
stitch. 
spiderwort (spl'- 
der-wert), . 1. A 
plant of the genus 
Tradescautia, espe- 
cially T. Virginian, 
the common gar- 
den species. It is a 
native of the central 
and southern United 
States, and was early 
introduced into Euro- 
pean gardens. The pet- 
als are very delicate 
and ephemeral; in the 
wild plant they are 
blue, in cultivation va- 
riable in color, ofteu 
reddish-violet. 
2. By extension, any plant of the order Com- 
melinaceee; specifically, Commelina ecelestis, a 
blue-flowered plant from Mexico. The name is 
also given to Lloydia serotiiia, mountain-spiderwort ; to 
Anthericum (Phalangimn) LiKayo, St. Bernard's lily ; and 
to Paradisia (Czaclcia) Liliastrum, St. Bruno's lily all Old 
World plants, the last two ornamental. 
spidery (spi'der-i), . [<. spider + -y 1 .] Spider- 
like. Cotgrave. 
spiet, . and n. An old spelling of spy. 
Spiegel (spe'gl), n. [Short for spiegeleisen.] 
Same as spiegeleisen. Spiegel-iron. Same as spie- 
ffeleisen. 
spiegeleisen (spe'gl-i"zen), . [G., < splegel (< 
L. speculum), a mirror, + eisen = E. iron.~\ A 
pig-iron containing from eight to fifteen or 
more per cent, of manganese. Its fracture often 
presents large well-developed crystalline planes. This 
alloy, as well as ferromanganese, an iron containing still 
more manganese than spiegeleisen, is extensively used in 
the manufacture of Bessemer steel, and is a necessary ad- 
junct to that process. Also called spiegel-iron. 
spiegelerz (spe'gl-erts), n. [G., < spiegel, a 
mirror, + erz, ore.] Specular ironstone : a 
variety of hematite. 
spier 1 (spi'er), n. [< spy + -er 1 .] One who 
spies; a spy; a scout. Halliwell. 
spier 2 , 0. See speer 1 . 
spiffy (spif'i), a. [Origin obscure.] Spruce; 
well-dressed. [Slang, Eng.] 
spiflicate (spif'li-kat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. spif- 
licated, ppr. spiflicating. [Also spifflicate, smif- 
ligate; appar. a made word, simulating a L. 
origin.] 1. To beat severely ; confound; dis- 
may. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 2. To stifle; 
suffocate; kill. [Slang.] 
So out with your whinger at once, 
And scrag Jane while I spiflicate Johnny. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, II. 166. 
spiflication (spif-li-ka'shon), . [< spiflicate + 
-inn.'] The act of spiflicating, or the state of be- 
ing spiflicated ; annihilation. [Slang.] 
5831 
Whose blood he vowed to drink the Oriental form of 
threatening xpijlicatiim. H. F. Burton, El-Medinah, I. 204. 
Spigelia (spi-jiVH-ii), . [NL. (Linmi'us, 17:>7), 
named after Adrian van dcr Npiryrl ( \ of>8 -1 ( '<-'< ) . 
a Belgian physician and professor of anatomy 
at Padua.] A genus of gamopetalous plants, 
of the order Loganiacvie and tribe /.'/</"""'' 
typo of the subtribe Ny "'.'/' '"'' It is character!/. ,1 
by flowers commonly disposed in one-sided spikes, the 
corolla with valvate lubes, a jointed style, and a two-celled 
ovary becoming in fruit a compressed twin capsule which 
is circumscissile above the cup-shaped persistent base. 
There are about 30 species, natives of America and mostly 
tropical, r> extending into the United States ; of these 2 are 
confined to Florida, 2 to Texas, and 1, S. Marilaiuliat, the 
Maryland pinkroot or worm-grass, reaches Pennsylvania 
and Wisconsin. They are annual or perennial herbs, rarely 
somewhat shrubby, either smooth, downy, or woolly, bear- 
ing opposite feather-veined or rarely nerved leaves, which 
are connected by a line or transverse membrane or by 
stipules. The flowers are usually red, yellow, or purplish, 
and the many-flowered secund and curving spikes are 
often very handsome. In 5. Anthelmia, the Demerara 
pinkroot, the flowers are white and pink, followed by pur- 
ple fruit, and the two pah's of upper leaves are crowded 
in an apparent whorl. See pintcroot. 
Spigelian (spi-je'li-an), a. [< Spiegel (see Sui- 
gelia) + -ian,'} In anat., noting the lobulus 
Spigelii, one of the lobes of the liver. 
spight 1 !, . See Speight. 
spight'-'t, and y. An obsolete erroneous spell- 
ing of spite. 
spignel, n. See spicknel. 
spignet (spig'net), n. [A corruption of spike- 
nard.] The American spikenard, Aralia race- 
mosa. See spikenard. 
spigot (spig'ot), . [Early mod. E. also spig- 
got, spiggott, spiggotte, spygotte, spygote, < ME. 
spigot, spygot, spygott, speget; obs. or dial, also 
sjjif.ket, < ME.spykket, spykette; appar. < Ir. Gael. 
spiocaid, a spigot (= W. ysbigod, a spigot, spin- 
dle), dim. of Ir. spice = W. ysbig, a spike, < L. 
spica, spicus, a point, spike : see spike 1 . The 
Celtic forms may be from the E.] A small peg 
or plug designed to be driven into a gimlet-hole 
in a cask through which, when open, the con- 
tained liquor is drawn off; hence, by exten- 
sion, any plug fitting into a faucet used for 
drawing off liquor. 
He runs down into the Cellar, and takes the Spiggott. In 
the mean time all the Beer runs about the House. 
Selden, Table- Talk, p. 63. 
spigot-joint (spig'ot-joint), re. A pipe-joint 
made by tapering down the end of one piece 
and inserting it into a correspondingly widened 
opening in the end of another piece. Also 
called faucet-joint. E. H. Knight. 
spigot-pot (spig'ot-ppt), n. A vessel of earthen- 
ware or porcelain with a hole in the side, near 
the bottom, for the insertion of a spigot. 
spigurnelt, . [ML. spigurnellus; origin ob- 
scure.] In law, a name formerly given to the 
sealer of the writs in chancery. 
These Bohuns . . . were by inheritance for a good while 
the king's spiguriutUs that is, the sealers of his writs. 
Holland, tr. of Camden, p. 312. 
spike 1 (spik), n. [Early mod. E. also spyke ; < 
ME. spik = Icel. spik = Sw. spik, a spike, = Ir. 
spice = W. ysbig, a spike ; cf . MD. spijcker, D. 
spijker = MLG. LG. spiker = OHG. spicari, spi- 
chdri, spihhiri, MHG. spicJter, G. speicher-nagel, 
spieker = Norw. spiker = Dan. spiger (with add- 
ed suffix -er) ; of. (with loss of initial s) Ir. pice, 
Gael, pic, W. pig. a peak, pike (see pike 1 ) ; = 
Sp. Pg. espiga = It. spiga, a spike, = OF. espi, 
espy, a pointed ornament, also OF. espi, F. epi, 
wheat ; < L. spica, f., also spicus, m., and spicum, 
neut., a point, spike, ear of corn, the top, tuft, 
or head of a plant (spicus crinalis or spicum cri- 
nale, a hair-pin). Hence spicous, spicose, etc., 
and ult. spike 2 , spigot, pike 1 , pick 1 , etc., spine, 
etc.] 1. A sharp point; a pike; a sharp-point- 
ed projection, (a) A long nail or pointed iron inserted 
in something with the point outward, as in chevaux-de- 
frise, the top of a wall, gate, or the like, as a defense or to 
spikenard 
hinder passage. See cut under cheraitx-ile-frise. (6) A 
.-harp projecting point on the sole of a shoe, to prevent 
slipping, as on ice or soft wet ground, (c) The central 
boss of a shield or buckler when prolonged to a sharp 
point. Siu-li a spike is sometimes a mere pointed nnibn 
and sometimes a square or three-cornered steel blade 
screwed or bolted into the boas, (d) In anil. : (l)'llie ani 
ler of a young deer, when straight and without snay >r 
tine; a spike-horn. (2) A young maekerel (i or 7 inches 
long. (3) A spine, as of some animals, (e) A piece of 
hardened steel, with it soft point that can be eh nched, 
used to plug lip the vent of a cannon in order to render 
it useless to an enemy. 
2. A large nail orpin, generally <>f iron. The 
forms of spikes, particularly railroiul-spikes, are 
chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one 
side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, 
grooved, and of other shapes. See cut in preceding column. 
3. An ear, as of wheat or other grain. 
Bote yf the sed that sowen is in the sloh sterue, 
shall nenere spir springen vp, lie xpilc on strawe eurne. 
/'/ Ptom(C), xiii. 180. 
4. In bot., a flower-cluster or form of inflores- 
cence in which the flowers are 
sessile (or apparently so) along 
an elongated, unbrauched com- 
mon axis, as in the well-known 
mullen and plantain. There are 
two modifications of the spike that have 
received distinct names, although not 
distinguishable by exact and constant 
characters. They are ftpadix and cat- 
kin. In the Equisetace/e a spike is an 
aggregation of sporophyls at the apex 
of a shoot. Compare raceine, and see 
cutsunderin/ioTesee'xtf. barley, papyrus, 
and Equisetacese. 
Hence 5. A sprig of some 
P^ an * * n which the flowers form 
a spike or somewhat spike-like 
cluster: as, a spike of lavender. 
t "'o S maa' "sec 
fion"of Ttrs'ho'wTng 
the sessile flowers, 
a 
g 
Spikes. 
a.dock-spike, used in building docks and piers; #. cut-spike, or large 
cut nail ; c, rf.railway-spikes, for fastening rails to sleepers ; e, barbed 
spike ; /. barbed and forked spike ; p. ft, types of forked spikes, the 
points of which spread and become hooked in the timber when driven, 
thus making them extremely difficult to draw out. 
The head of Nardus spreadeth into certaine spites or 
eares, whereby it hath a twofold use, both of spike and 
also of leafe ; in which regard it is so famous. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, xii. 12. 
Within, a stag-horned sumach grows, 
Fern-leafed, with spikes of red. 
Whittier, The Old Burying-Ground. 
spike 1 (spik), v. t.; pret. and pp. spiked, ppr. 
spiking. [< spike 1 , n.] 1 . To fasten with spikes 
or long and large nails : as, to spike down the 
planks of a floor or a bridge. 2. To set with 
spikes; furnish with spikes. 3. To fix upon a 
spike. 4. To make sharp at the end. John- 
son. 5. To plug up the vent of with a spike, 
as a cannon. Spiked loosestrife. See loosestrife. 
spike 2 (spik), n. [= MD. spijcke, spick, D. spijk, 
< OF. spicque, F. spic, lavender; cf. NL. Lavan- 
dwla Spica, spike-lavender; < L. spica, a spike: 
see spike 1 . Cf. aspic?,] Same as spike-lavender. 
Oil Of spike. See oil of lavender, under lavender?. 
spikebill (spik'bil), n. 1. A merganser, as the 
hooded merganser ; a sawbill. See cut under 
merganser. G. Trumbull, 1888. [Michigan.] 
2. The great marbled godwit, Limosafedoa. G. 
Trumbull, 1888. 
[New Jersey.] 
spike -extractor 
(splk'eks -trai- 
tor), n. An ap- 
paratus for ex- 
tracting spikes, 
as from a rail. 
spike-fish (spik'- 
fish), ;. A kind crum -.pVe'ce'hS;ke"d over the rail and sup. 
of saiifish, His- ported on the sleeper 4; f.claw-lever, with 
finnTinriiv rimrri a heel show " '" do " < "' u "?! 16 ' wbi ' h is 
llOpHOTtls ttrilt/l- passed through a slot in the fulcrum-piece. 
canus, so called 
from the long sharp snout. See Histiophorus, 
and cut under saiifish. 
spike-grass (spik'gras), . One of several 
American grasses, having conspicuous flower- 
spikelets. (a) Diplachne .fascicularis. (b) Diitichlis 
maritima (salt-grass), (c) The genus Uniofa, especially 
U. paniculata (also called sea or seaside oats), a tall coarse 
grass with a dense heavy panicle, growing on sand-hills 
along the Atlantic coast southward. 
spikehorn (spik 'horn), n. 1. The spike of a 
young deer. 2. A young male deer, when the 
antler is a mere spike. 
spike-lavender (spik'lav"en-der), n. A laven- 
der-plant, Larandula Spica. See aspic%, and 
oil of lavender (under lavender 2 ). 
Spikelet(sp!k'let),K. [< spike 1 + -let.~\ Inbot., 
a small or secondary spike : more especially ap- 
plied to the spiked arrangements of two or more 
flowers of grasses, subtended by one or more 
glumes, and variously disposed around a com- 
mon axis. See cuts under Meliccx, oat, orchard- 
grass, Poa, reed 1 , 1, rye, and Sorghum. 
spike-nail (spik'nal), n. A spike. 
spikenard (spik'niird), w. [< ME. spikenard, 
xpllkfnardi; n)/yk>iard, xpikantird, < OF. spique- 
ndrd (also simply espic, sjiic) = Sp. espicatuirdi, 
Spike-extractor. 
, rail ; b, spike to he extracted ; f, ful- 
