spirituous 
ituous; <-f. (T. spirituonon, Sw. Dan. upii'itmtxd 
pi., alcoholic liquors; < ML. "spirituosus, full of 
spirit, < L. s/iiri/u.*, spirit: see spirit; cf. ./>- 
ilons.] If. Having the quality of spirit; ethe- 
real; immaterial; intangible. 2f. Lively; ac- 
tive; gay; cheerful; enlivening. 
Hedon, Well, I am resolved what I'll do. 
Ana. What, my good spirituous spark ? 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ill. 2. 
That it may appear aiery and fpiritttous, * fit for the 
welcome of chearful guests ; the principal difficulty will 
be in contriving the lights and stair-cases 
Sir H. Wotton, Reliquiaj, p. 42. 
3. Containing much alcohol; distilled, whether 
pure or compounded, as distinguished from fer- 
mented; ardent: applied to a liquor for drink- 
ing. = Syn. 3. Spirituous, Spiritual, Spirited. Spirituous 
is now strictly confined to the meaning of alcoholic- as 
spirituous, ardent, or intoxicating liquors. Spiritual is 
as strictly confined to that higher field of meaning which 
is opposed to corporeal or carnal, secular or temporal 
Spirited expresses active animal spirits, or that spirit which 
is a vigorous movement of the feelings and the will as 
a spirited horse, boy, reply. 
spirituousness (spir'i-tu-us-nes), n. The char- 
acter of being spirituous. Boyle. 
spiritus (spir'i-tus), x, ; pi. spiritus. [L.: see 
spirit.'] 1. A breathing; an aspirate. 2. In 
phar., spirit; any spirituous preparation: the 
officinal name of various spirits, specified by a 
qualifying term: as, spiritus vini Gallici, spirit 
of French wine (that is, brandy) ; spiritus eethe- 
ris eompositus, compound spirit of ether snlr- 
Itus asper, a rough breathing ; in Gr. gram., the mark f) 
placed over or before an initial vowel, or over the second 
letter of an initial diphthong, to indicate that it should 
be preceded by a sound like A in English : also placed 
over p when it is initial or is preceded by another p(pp) 
Spiritus lenls, a soft or smooth breathing ; in Or. gram 
the mark ( ) denoting the absence of the rough breathing' 
spiritweed (spir'it-wed), >i. Same as spiritleaf. 
spirit-world (spir'it-werld), . The world of 
disembodied spirits ; Hades ; the shades. 
spirity (spir'i-ti), a. [< spirit + -y 1 .] Full of 
spirit; spirited. [Scotch.] 
spirivalve (spi'ri-valv), a. [< L. spira^, a coil, 
spire, + valva, door (valve).] Having a spiral 
shell, as a univalve mollusk ; spirally whorled 
as a shell. 
5843 
and very many varieties in the Vnited States. They arc 
popularly called .fray-spit or frog-spittle. Seefrnn-spit and 
cuts under chlorophyl and conjugation, 4. 
spirolet, Spirolt (spi'rol, -rol), H. [< OF. spirole, 
a small ciilverin.] A small culveriu. 
Long pieces of artillery called basilisks, and smaller 
sized ones, known by the name of spirals. 
Urguhart, tr. of Rabelais, i. 47. 
SpiroloCUline (spl-ro-lok'u-lin), . Composed 
of spirally coiled Ipculi or chamberlets : specifi- 
cally noting certain foraminifers. Amer. Jour. 
*'/., No. 160, p. 328. 
spirometer (spi-rom'e-ter), . [Irreg. < L. 
spirare, breathe (see spire^), + metnim, mea- 
sure.] A contrivance for measuring the ex- 
spit 
but specimens of the entire animal are extremely rare 
AUoSpirula,Spirulea. (ft) [/.p.; pi. pfttfte(-16).] 
A member of this genus. Imp. Diet. 2. [J. c. ; 
pi. spirula; (-le).] In sponges, an irregular 
spineless polyact spicule of spiral form. 
spirulate (spir'Q-lat), . [< LL. spirilla, dim. 
of L. spira, a coil, spire (see Spirula), + -fe>i.] 
Spiral in form, or in disposition of parts; spi- 
rally arranged: said of structures, markings, 
etc. 
SpirulidSB (spl-ro'li-de), . pi. [NL., < Spir- 
it/a + -idie.} A family of cephalopods, typi- 
fied by the genus Kpintln. They are squids or sepi- 
oids with the mantle supported by a cartilaginous promi- 
nence or ridge and a corresponding pit or furrow, the 
nd an 
*.~~j ^lAj-vn-uiiai \rttpituity OI lilt 
The instrument most commonly 
employed consists of an inverted 
chamber submerged in a water- 
bath. The breath is conducted by 
a flexible pipe and internal tube 
so as to collect in the chamber, C- 
which rises in the water, and is 
fitted with an index which marks . 
the cubic inches of air expired O- 
after a forced inspiration. In the 
accompanying cut, a a is a small 
gas-holder containing an inverted 
vessel a' ; b, index, which shows on 
the scale c the number of cubic 
inches expired; d, manometer, 
which, when a' is held down, shows "" 
the pressure which the lungs can 
exert; e, plug-vent for outlet of 
expired air ; /, cock for outlet of 
water ; g, tube through which the 
expiration is made. A 
spirometric(spi-ro-met'rik), r 
a. [As spirometir + -ic.'] Of ff^ 
or pertaining to the spirom- 
eter; ascertained by means 
of the spirometer; as tested 
by the spirometer.-splrometric ca 
Jmerential capacity of the lungs, measi 
5 unman iui 
ifiK ?ffi 
tgs. terminal, aim an internal tubular shell 
partitioned into numerous chambers by transverse septa 
and wound in a loose coll. 
spirulite (spir'5-ttt), n. [< NL. Spirula + ite*.'] 
A fossil cephalopod resembling or related to 
Spimla. 
spiry 1 (spir'i), a. [Early mod. E. spirie; < spire* 
+ -y ' . ] 1 . Having the form of a spire or pyra- 
^ mid ; tapering like a spire. 
In these lone walls (their days' eternal bound) 
Those moss-grown domes with spiry turrets crown'd. 
Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 1. 142. 
2. Abounding in spires or steeples. 
,/ And villages embosom'd soft in trees, 
And spiral towns by surging columns mark'd 
Of household smoke. Thomson, Spring, 1. 953. 
spiry 2 (spir'i), a. [< spire* + -yi.] Of a spiral 
form; spiral; wreathed; curled. 
Hid in the spiry volumes of the snake. 
" Dryden, State of Innocence, iv. 2. 
spiscioust, . A variant of spissous. 
spisst (spis), a. [= OF. espais, espois, F. epais 
= Sp. espeso = Pg. cspesso = It. spesso, < L. 
mc spissus, thick, compact, dense.] Thick; close; 
,tai dense. 
I 
^7 r~ Lr "^ 
56Sr-* 
/ *y~ 
Spirometer. 
ipaclty, extr< 
ired by the t< 
spirket(sper'ket),. [Origin obscure.] Inship- 
building, a space forward and aft between the 
floor-timbers. Hamersly. 
spirketing, spirketting (sper'ket-ing), . [< 
spirket.'] In ship-building, the strakes of plank 
worked between the lower sills of ports and 
waterways. Thearle, Naval Arch., $ 209. 
spirling (sper'ling), n. Same as sparlingl. 
Spirobranchia (spl-ro-brang'ki-a), n. pi. [NL., 
< Or. aireipa, a coil,' spire, + 'fipdyxta, gills.] 
Same as Brachiopoda. Also Spirobranchiata. 
spirobrancbiate (spi-ro-brang'ki-at), a. and n. 
[< NL. spirobranchiatus', < Qr. oxupa, a coil, spire, 
+ ppayxta, gills.] I. a. Of or pertaining to the 
Spirobranchiata ; brachiopod. 
II. n. A brachiopod. 
Spirochaeta (spi-ro-ke'ta), n. [NL. (Ehrenberg. 
1833), <Gr. <nr>2,acoil,'spire,-l-;t-a/rj7,a bristle.] 
A genus of Schizomy- 
cetes or bacteria, hav- 
ing the cells united 
in long slender 
threads which usual- 
ly show narrow spi- 
ral windings. The fila- 
ments have the liveliest 
movements, and clearly 
propel themselves for- 
ward and back, but are 
also able to bend in va- 
rious ways. S. plicatilis 
occurs among alga; in 
JESTED 1 ^e 
blood of those sick with recurrent fever, is the cause of 
the disease; S. Cohnii is found in the mucus of the teeth 
and S. ffigantea in sea-water. Also Spirochtete. 
spirogonimium (spi*ro-go-nim'i-um), n. ; pi 
spirogonimia (-a). [NL.,'< Gr. awelpa, a coil, 
spire, + NL. gonimiwn, q. v.] In bot., a go- 
nimium similar to a hormogonimium, but not 
moniliform, with the syngonimia subglobose, 
smaller and more scattered, as in Omphalaria. 
Spirogyra (spi-ro-ji'ra), n. [NL. (Link, 1833), 
so called with ref . to the spiral bands of chloro- 
phyl in the cells; < Gr. amlpa, a coil, spire, + 
yvpof, a circle, ring.] A genus of fresh-water 
algaa, of the class Conjugate and order Zygue- 
macex. They are among the commonest of fresh-water 
algffl, forming dense bright-green masses, in both running 
and stagnant water, and have often a slimy feel, owing to 
the well-developed mucilaginous sheath in which each fila- 
ment is enveloped. The cells have one to several parietal 
chlorophyl-bands spirally winding to the right. Conjuga- 
tion is scalariform or lateral. There are about 40 species 
e ues pos- 
sible inspiration. 
spirometry (spl-rom'e-tri), . [As spirometer 
+ -j/3.] The use of the spirometer in measur- 
ing the capacity of the lungs. 
Spiromonas (spi-rom'o-nas), n. [NL. (Perty, 
1852), < Gr. aireipa, a coil, spire, + ftov&s, a unit.] 
A genus of pantostomatous flagellate infusori- 
ans, spirally twisted on their long axis (whence 
the name). These animalcules are free-swimming or 
temporarily attached, soft and plastic, with two anterior 
subequal flagella, one of which is adherent at will. S 
volulnlis is an example. According to Kent the Cycli- 
dmm awtartum and Ueteromita angustata of Duiardin are 
both species of Spiromonas. 
spirophore (spi'ro-tor), . [Irreg. < L. spirare, 
breathe, + Gr. -Qopof, < <t>epeiv = E. fcear 1 .] An 
apparatus for producing artificial respiration 
in cases of suspended animation, as in persons 
rescued from drowning, it consists of an air-tight 
case, in which the body is inclosed up to the neck and 
an air pump, for producing at proper intervals a partial 
vacuum in the case, thus causing the external air to ail 
the lungs of the patient. 
Spirophyton (spi-rof'i-tou), . [NL. (Hall), 
< Gr. airelpa, a coil, spire, + <ptrr6v, a plant.] 
A genus of fossil algte, a characteristic plant 
of a subdivision of the Devonian occurring in 
the State of New York, and called from this 
fossil (Spirophyton cauda-galli) the cauda galli 
? Ti k S' B alga belon 8 to group which appeared early 
in the Silurian, and continued into the Tertiary but is 
now extinct. The frond of Spirophyton was broad thin 
with a distinct transversal nervation, and spirally convo- 
luted around a slender axis, the convolution widening with 
the distance from the point of attachment. 
Spirozoqid (spi-ro-zo'oid), n. [< Gr. amtpa, a 
coil, spire, + E. zooM.] The defensive zooid 
of certain hydroid hydrozoans, as of Podoco- 
ryne, a tubularian polyp : so called as coiling 
or curling spirally when not in 
action. These zooids are long slender 
filaments always provided with cnidae or 
lasso-cells for nettling, and are some- 
times called spiralozooids. Compare doc- 
tylozooid and machopolyp. 
spirt 1 , spirt 2 . See spurft, spurt 2 . 
spirtle, v. and n. See spurtle. 
Spirilla (spir'o-la), re. [NL. (La- 
marck, 1799), < LL. spirula, dim. 
of L. spira, a coil, spire : see 
SfVe2.] 1. I u Cephalopoda: (a) 
A genus of sepioid cuttlefishes, 
typical of the family SpiruUdx, 
having a delicate shell in the 
hinder part of the body rolled 
into aflat ordiscoidal spiral, with 
discrete whorls whose involute 
spire presents ventrally, and no 
guard. There are several species, as S. 
lams and S. Jragilis. The shells are com- 
mon, and are sometimes carried by the 
Gulf Stream to the coast of England, 
This spiss and dense, yet polish'd, this copious yet con- 
cise treatise of the variety of languages. Bremcood. 
spissated (spis'a-ted), . [< L. spissatus, pp. 
of spissare, thicken, condense, < spissus, thick, 
compact: see spiss.] Inspissated; thickened, 
as by evaporation. Warbtirton, Divine Lega- 
tion, ii. 4. 
spissedt (spist), a. [< spiss + -ed2.] Thick- 
ened; condensed; inspissated. 
Of such a tpissed Substance there's no need. 
Heywood, Hierarchy of Angels, p. 214. 
spissitude (spis'i-tud), n. [< L. spissitudo, thick- 
ness, density, < spissus, thick, compact: see 
spiss.'] Density; the denseness or compact- 
ness which belongs to substances not perfectly 
liquid nor perfectly solid; inspissated condi- 
tion. 
From this Grossness and Spissitude of Air proceeds the 
slow Nature of the Inhabitants. Uowell, Letters, I. I. 8. 
spissoust (spis'us), . [< L. spissus, thick : see 
spjss.] Thick. Hist, of Francion (1655). (Nares) 
spit 1 (spit), n. [(a) < ME. "spitte, spytte, spette, 
earlier spite, spyte, spete, < AS. spitu, a spit, = 
MD. spit, spet, speet, spete, D. spit = MLG. spit 
LG. spitt = OHG. MHG. spig, G. spiess (= Dan 
spid = Sw. spett,< LG. ?), a roasting-spit, in G. 
also the branches of a deer's horn (hence OF 
espoit, espoi, a spit, espois, F. epois, a deer's 
horn, = Sp. Pg. espeto, a spit, = Olt. spito, spedo, 
a spit); orig. neut. of the adj., OHG. spizzi, 
MHG. spit;e, spiz, G. spits, pointed (G. spitze 
a point), (b) Cf. LG. speet (prop, "spiet), a 
spear, in humorous use a sword, = OHG. spioz, 
MHG. spieg, G. spiess, a spear, lance, pike, = 
Icel. apt, a spear, = Sw. spjvt = Dan. spyd, a 
spear (hence OF. espiet, espet, espie, also estmt, 
espoi = It. spiedo, spicde, a spear), (c) Cf. Icel. 
spyta, a spit, a wooden peg, < ypjot, a spear. The 
above forms have been partly confused with one 
another, (d) Cf. W. pid, a tapering point,] 1 
A slender bar, sharply pointed at the end, to be 
thrust through meat which is to be roasted in 
fr ?. nt ?f>, the fi f?- The rotation of the >P" brin a 
parts of the meat in turn to the heat. The ordinary spit 
is several feet long, and rests on supports at the sides of 
the fireplace. Shorter spits are used for small birds kid- 
neys, etc. See cut under njritraclt. 
With your arms crossed on your thin-belly doublet like 
a rabbit on a spit. Shale., L. L. L., ill. 1. 20. 
He loves roast well 
That eats the tptt. 
Fletcher, JIad Lover, II. 1. 
2t. A sword. [Cant,] 
Going naked with a spit on his shoulder. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 09. 
3f. The obelisk or dagger (t) used as a refer- 
ence-mark. 
Either your starres or your spit* (that I may use Origen's 
notes) shall be welcome to my margent 
Up. Hall, To Hugh Cholmley. (Latham.) 
