spur-winged 
drius, ^(rialiten, Eudromias, Squatarola, etc.); they are 
commonest among those plovers which are related to the 
lapwing of Europe (Vancllm crixtatw, which, however, 
has none), and which have a hind toe and often wattles on 
the face. The presence of spurs and wattles is often coin- 
cident. South American spur-winged plovers, with hind 
toe and no wattles, constitute the genus Belonoptrrux; 
they are two, the Cayenne and the Chilian lapwings, Ii. 
cayennensis and B. chilensis ; both are crested. The type 
of the genus Iloplopteru* is the Egyptian spur-winped 
plover, H. spinosus, with large spurs, a crest, no hind toe, 
and no wattles ; it has when adult the whole crown, chin, 
throat, breast, flanks, and legs black, and the greater wing- 
coverts and some other parts white. It inhabits espe- 
cially northern Africa, abounds in Egypt and Nubia, and 
extends into parts of Europe and Asia. It is among the 
birds supposed to have been a basis of the trochilus of 
the ancients (compare crocodile-bird, sicsac, and cut un- 
der FluFianus). It is represented in South Africa by the 
black-backed spurred lapwing, H. speciosus, with large 
spurs and the top of the head white. The Indian spur- 
winged lapwing, //. ventralis, has a black cap, a black 
patch on the belly in white surroundings, and large spurs. 
Two South American forms, with spurs, but no wattles, 
crest, or hind toe, are the Peruvian bronze-winged lap- 
wing, //. resplendens, and the little white-winged, //. 
cayanus (or tttolattts, if the term cayanus be thought too 
near cayennensis) ; each of these has been made the basis 
of a different generic name. In the type of the genus 
Chettusia, C. greyaria (see cut under Chettusia), and sev- 
eral related species, a hind toe is present, and neither 
spurs nor wattles are developed ; but the name has been 
used to cover various species with wattles and spurs, 
more properly separated under the term Lobiranellus. In 
this group it is the rule that large wattles are associated 
with well-developed spurs, for in those species which have 
very small wattles the spurs are almost or quite obsolete. 
genera. (See Sarciophorus, Xiphidwpterus.) Five of the 
best-marked species of LobivaneUus proper, with large 
spurs, large wattles, and a hind toe, are the following: 
Sumatra, etc.; L. personatus, of northern Australia, New 
Guinea, and some other islands ; and L. lobatus, of eastern 
Australia from Buckingham Bay to Tasmania (see cut un- 
der wattled). 
spurwort(sper'wert),i. [(spur + (for/ 1 .] The 
neld-madder, Sherardia arvensis: so called from 
its whorls of leaves, likened to the rowel of a 
spur. 
sput (sput), n. [Origin obscure.] A thimble 
or annular plate used to reinforce a hole in a 
boiler. E. H. Knight. 
Sputa, n. Plural of sputum. 
sputationt (spu-ta'shon), . [= F. sputation 
= Pg. esputaySo, < L. sputare, pp. spiitatus, 
spit, spit out, < spuere. spit: see spew.] The 
act of spitting ; that which is spit. Harvey. 
sputativet (spu'ta-tiv), a. [< L. sputare, spit, 
spit put (see sputation), + -ire.'] Pertaining 
to spitting; characterized by spitting. Sir H. 
Wotton, Reliquiae, p. 370. 
sputcheon (spuch'on), w. [Origin obscure.] In 
a sword-scabbard, the inner part of the mouth- 
piece, which holds the lining in place. E. H. 
Knight. 
sputet (sput), >. i. [< ME. spate, sputi, by apher- 
esis from dispute.'] To dispute. 
Whatt ! thay sputen * speken of so spitous fylthe. 
Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 845. 
sputter (sput'er), r. [Also in var. splutter; cf. 
LG. spritttern, sputtern, sprinkle, G. spritdeln, 
spout, squirt ; freq. of the verb represented 
by spout. Cf. spurtle 1 , spirtle 1 .] I. iiitrans. 
1. To spit, or eject saliva from the mouth in 
moisture in small detached parts and with 
small explosions; emit small particles, as of 
grease, soot, etc., with some crackling or noise. 
They could neither of 'em speak for Rage ; and so fell a 
sputt'ring at one another like two roasting Apples. 
Conyreoe, Way of the World, iv. 8. 
Like the green wood, 
That, sputtering in the flame, works outward into tears. 
Dryden, Cleomenes, i. 1. 
2. To speak so rapidly and vehemently as to 
seem to spit out the words, as in excitement or 
anger. 
The soul, which to a reptile had been changed, 
Along the valley hissing takes to flight, 
And after him the other speaking sputters. 
Longfellow, tr. of Dante's Inferno, xxv. 138. 
II. trans. 1. To emit forcibly in small or 
scattered portions, as saliva, flame, etc. ; spit 
out noisily. 
A poisoned tongue cannot forbear to sputter abroad his 
venom. Rev. T. Adams, Works, I. 73. 
Thus sourly wail'd he, sputt'ring dirt and gore ; 
A burst of laughter echo'd through the shore. 
Pope, Iliad, xxiii. 921. 
2. To emit in small particles or amounts with 
5872 
sputter (sput'er), w. [< sputter, ?-.] 1. The 
act of sputtering. 2. That which is thrown 
off or ejected in sputtering. 
She pouted out her blubber-lips, as if to bellows up wind 
and sputter into her horse-nostrils. 
Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe, IV. vii. (Davies.) 
3. The noise made by a person who or a thing 
which sputters; hence, bustle; ado; excited 
talk; squabble. 
What a deal of Pother and Sputter here is, between my 
Mistress and Mr. Myrtle, from mere Punctilio! 
ntn'lf, Conscious Lovers, iv. 1. 
sputterer (sput'er-er), n. One who or that 
which sputters. 
sputum (spu'tum), H.; pi. sputa (-ta). [NL., < 
L. sputum, that which is spit out, spittle, < 
spuere, pp. spiitus, spit: see spew.] 1. Spittle ; 
a salival discharge from the mouth. 2. In 
patlioL, that which is expectorated or ejected 
from the lungs: used also in the plural, in des- 
ignation of the individual masses jEruginous 
sputa, very green expectoration. Globular sputa, 
nummular sputa. Rusty sputa, sputa tinged with 
blood, and characteristic of some stages of pneumonia. 
Sputum coctum, purulent, loose sputum, forming itself 
into masses, as of the later stages. of bronchitis. Spu- 
tum crudum, scant, tenacious, mucous sputum, as of the 
early stage of bronchitis. 
spy (spi), V.; pret. and pp. spied, ppr. spying. [< 
ME. spyen, spien, by at>heresis from eapyen, es- 
pien, < OF. espier = it. spiare = MD. spien, < 
squab 
[In the following passage, spy is supposed by some to mean 
that which precedes and announces the time for the assas- 
sination of Banquo, by others the very eye, the exact mo- 
ment. 
I will advise you where to plant yourselves ; 
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time, 
The moment on 't ; for 't must be done to-night. 
Shak., Macbeth, iii. 1. 130.) 
5f. A glance; look; peep. [Rare.] 
Each others cquall puissaunce envies, 
And through their iron sides with cniell spies 
Does seeke to perce. Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 17. 
6t. An eye. 
With her two crafty spyes 
She secretly would search eachdaintivlim. 
Spenser, . Q., III. i. 36. 
If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here 's a 
goodly sight. Shak., Tempest, v. 1. 259. 
= Syn. 2. Emissary, Spy (see emissary), scout. 
spyalt, n. See sjiinl. 
spyboat (spl'bot), >i. A boat sent to make dis- 
coveries and bring intelligence. [Rare.] 
Giving the colour of the sea to their spyboats, to keep 
them from being discovered, came from the Veneti. 
Arbuthnnt. 
Spycraft (spi'kraft), n. The art or practices of 
a spy ; the act or practice of spying. [Rare.] 
All attempts to plot against the Government were ren- 
dered impracticable by a system of vigilance, jealousy, 
spycraft, sudden arrest, and summary punishment. 
Brougham. 
speja, spseja, watch, observe, spy, = L. spectre, 
look, = Gr. OKexTcoBai, look, = Skt.-v/pof ,\/j>ay, 
see. From the Teut. root are also ult. espy, spi- 
al, espial, spion, espionage, etc.; from the L. root 
ult. E. species, spectacle, etc.; from the Gr., skep- 
tic, scope 3 , etc.] I. trans. 1. To discover at a 
distance, or from a position of concealment; 
gain sight of ; see ; espy. 
As they forward went, 
They spyde a knight fayre pricking on the playne. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 44. 
2. To discover by close search or examination ; 
gain a knowledge of by artifice. 
Look about with your eyes ; spy what things are to be 
reformed in the Church of England. Latimer. (Imp. Diet.) 
His master's eye 
Peers not about, some secret fault to spy. 
Crabbe, Works, I. 40. 
3. To explore; view, inspect, or examine se- 
cretly, as a country : usually with out. 
Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages 
thereof. Num. xxi. 32. 
4t. To ask; inquire; question. 
Thej folke had farly of my fare, 
And what I was full taste the! spied. 
They askid yf I a prophet* ware. 
York Plays, p. 173. 
Thenne watz spyed & spured [speered] vpon spare wyse. 
Sir Gawayne and the Green Kniyht (E. E. T. S.), 1. 901. 
II. intrans. 1. To search narrowly; scruti- 
nize; pry. 
It is my nature's plague 
To spy into abuses. Shak., Othello, iii. 3. 147. 
2. To play the spy ; exercise surveillance. 
Ive you 
Donne, Letters, Ixxvii. 
.... . [< ME. spy, sjrie, short 
_ 4e, aspi/e, espye (= MD. spic), < OF. espie, 
a spy; from the verb: see spy, v. Cf. spion. ] 
1 . A person who keeps a constant watch on the 
actions, motions, conduct, etc., of others; one 
who secretly watches what is going on. 
This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy. 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 655. 
He told me that he had so good spies that he hath had 
the keys taken out of De Witt's pocket when he was 
a-bed, and his closet opened, and papers brought to him, 
spy-hole (spi'hol ), n. A hole for spying ; a peep- 
hole. 
spyism (spi'izm), w. [<spy + -ism.] The act 
or business of spying; the system of employing 
spies. Imp. Diet. 
spy-money (spi'mun'i), . Money paid to a 
spy; a reward for secret intelligence. B. Jon- 
son, Bartholomew Fair, ii. 1. 
Spyridia (spi-rid'i-a), n. [NL. (Harvey), < Gr. 
airvpif (airvpid-), a basket.] A genus of floride- 
ous algae, giving name to the order Spyridiaccie 
(which see for characters). The species are 
few in number and mostly tropical. There are, 
however, two forms on the New England coast. 
Spyridiaceae (spi-rid-i-a'se-e), n. pi. [NL., < 
Kpuridia + -aceee.] A mon'otypic order (or sub- 
order) of florideous algae. The fronds are filiform, 
monosiphonous, and formed of longer branching fila- 
ment* from which are given off short simple branches. 
The antheridia are borne on the secondary branches ; the 
tetraspores are tripartite, and borne at the nodes of the 
secondary branches ; the cystocarps are subterminal on the 
branches. 
Spy Wednesday^ The Wednesday immedi- 
ately preceding Easter: so called in allusion 
to the preparations made by Judas Iscariot on 
that day to betray Christ. 
sq. An abbreviation of square: as, sq. ft. (that 
is, square foot or feet); sq. m. (square mile or 
miles). 
squat, n. An old spelling of squaw. 
squab 1 (skwob), v. ; pret. and pp. sqtiabbed, ppr. 
squabbing. [Also in some senses squob ; cf. Sw. 
dial, sqvapp, a word imitative of a splash (Icel. 
ski-ampa, paddle in water), Norw. sqvapa, trem- 
ble, shake, = G. schwapp, a slap, E. swap, strike 
(see swap, sieab, squabble) ; akin to Norw. Tcvej)- 
again. Pepys, Diary, IV. 72. 
2. A secret emissary who goes into an enemy's 
camp or territory to inspect his works, ascer- 
tain his strength and his intentions, watch his 
movements, and report thereon to the proper 
officer. By the laws of war among all civilized 
nations a spy is liable to capital punishment. 
On the morowe erly Gawein sente a spie for to se what 
the saisnes diden that thei hadde lefte at the brigge of 
dione. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 290. 
Edmund Palmer, an officer in the enemy's service, was 
taken as a spy lurking within our lines ; he has been tried 
as a spy, condemned as a spy, and shall be executed as a spy. 
Oen. Israel Putnam, To Sir Henry Clinton, Aug. 7, 1777. 
rapidly and with indistinctness ; jabber. 
In the midst of caresses ... to sputter out the basest 
accusations ! 
Since knowledge is but sorrow's 
It is not safe to know. 
Sir W. Davenant, The Just Italian, v. 1 (song). 
ly; flap; flop. 
They watched the street, and beheld ladles in ... 
short cloaks with hoods squabbing behind (known as car- 
dinals). S. Judd, Margaret, ii. 11. 
II. trans. To squeeze ; knock ; beat. Halli- 
icell. [Prov. Eng.] 
squab 1 (skwob), adv. [An elliptical use of 
squab 1 , .] So as to strike with a crash ; with a 
heavy fall; plump. [Colloq.] 
The eagle took the tortoise up into the air and dropt 
him down, squab, upon a rock. Sir K. L' Estrange, Fables. 
squab 2 (skwob), a. and n. [Also squob ; cf. Sw. 
dial, sqrabb, loose or fat flesh, sqvabba, a fat 
woman, sqrabbig, flabby; connected with the 
verb squab 1 . Cf. quab 3 .] I. a. 1. Fat; short 
and stout ; plump ; bulky. 
A little squab French page who speaks no English. 
Wycherley, Country Wife, iv. 3. 
2. Short; curt; abrupt. [Rare.] 
We have returned a squab answer retorting the infrac- 
tion of treaties. 
Walpole, To Mann, July 25, 1756. (Dames.) 
3. Unfledged, newly hatched, or not yet having 
attained the full growth, as a dove or a pigeon. 
Why must old pigeons, and they stale, be ilrrst, 
When there's so many squab ones in the nest? 
W. King, The Old Cheese. 
Hence 4. Shy, as from extreme youth; coy. 
