sparks
Diamonds. Term much in use among the lower orders, and generally applied to stones in rings and pins.
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sparrow
Mumbling a sparrow; a cruel sport frequently practised at wakes and fairs: for a small premium, a booby having his hands tied behind him, has the wing of a cock sparrow put into his mouth: with this hold, without any other assistance than the motion of his lips, he is to get the sparrow's head into his mouth: on attempting to do it, the bird defends itself surprisingly, frequently pecking the mumbler till his lips are covered with blood, and he is obliged to desist: to prevent the bird from gett
sparrow-mouthed
Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged without removing their ears, and who when they yawn have their heads half off.
spartan dog
A blood-hound; a blood- thirsty man. O Spartan dog More fell than anguish, hunger or the sea.
Spasmodic School
The. A name applied by Professor Aytoun to certain authors of the 19th century, whose writings were distinguished by forced conceits and unnatural style. The most noted are Bailey (author of Festus}, Gerald Massey, Alexander Smith, and Sydney Dobell.
spatch cock
[Abbreviation of DISPATCH COCK.] A hen just killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, split, and broiled: an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion.
spawny
lucky
speak
Any thing stolen. He has made a good speak; he has stolen something considerable.
speak as you find
Say what you think is true, without hiding your opinions
speak for
to represent or express opinions for someone or something
speak for oneself
to express one's own thoughts or feelings
speak in circles
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak of
To bespeak; show; indicate; foretell; suggest; speak to.
speak of the devil and he appears
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak of the devil and he shall appear
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak one's mind
Express one's thoughts or opinions honestly and freely
speak out
Express one's opinion or feelings openly
speak softly and carry a big stick
Be gentle but have the power to act strongly if necessary
speak someone's language
Understand and share someone's thoughts or feelings
speak to
address or talk to someone
speak to somebody
talk to someone, often to give or get information
speak up
Express your thoughts or opinions openly
speak with a forked tongue
To speak deceitfully or hypocritically
speaking heads
Fables and romance tell of a good many artificial heads that could speak (cp.
speaking in lutestring
Flash, highly polished oratory. The expression was used more than once by Junius. Shakespeare has "taffeta phrases and silken terms precise.
spear carrier
An actor with a small, unimportant role
special delivery
delivered directly and immediately
special military operation
Euphemism for war or invasion
special needs
Requiring extra support or care due to a disability
Special Pleading
Quibbling; making your own argument good by forcing certain words or phrases from their obvious and ordinary meaning. A pleading in law means a written statement of a cause pro and con, and "special pleaders" are persons who have been called to the bar, but do not speak as advocates. They advise on evidence, draw up affidavits, state the merits and demerits of a cause, and so on.
special relationship
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
special treatment
Preferential or unusual handling
specialty crop
A crop grown for a specific purpose or market
specked whiper
A coloured hankerchief. CANT.
specklebellies
Dissenters. A term used in Worcester and the North, though the etymology seems unknown in either place.
specks
Damaged oranges.—Costermonger’s term.
spectator sport
An activity that is interesting to watch, but not to participate in.
Spectre of the Brocken
An optical illusion, first observed on the Brocken (the highest peak of the Hartz range in Saxony), in which shadows of the spectators, greatly magnified, are projected on the mists about the summit of the mountain opposite. In one of De Quincey's opium-dreams there is a powerful description of the Brocken spectre.
speech
A tip or wrinkle on any subject. On the turf a man will wait before investing on a horse until he "gets the SPEECH," as to whether it is going to try, or whether it has a good chance. To "give the SPEECH," is to communicate any special information of a private nature.
speech is silver, silence is golden
It is often better to remain silent than to speak
speed merchant
A person who drives very fast
speed up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Speedy Gonzales
Someone who moves or acts very quickly
speel
To run away, make off; "SPEEL the drum," to go off with stolen property.—North.
spell
A turn of work, an interval of time. "Take a SPELL at the capstern."—Sea. "He took a long SPELL at that tankard." "After a long SPELL."
spellken
Or SPEELKEN, a playhouse. German, SPIELEN. See KEN.—Don Juan.
Spencean Philanthropists
Disciples of Thomas Spence (1750-1814) who, in 1775, devised a system of land nationalization. The inhabitants of each parish would form a corporation and appoint local officials to collect rents, deduct expenses, and divide what was left among the parishioners. No tax or toll would be required beyond the rent. A day of rest would be allowed every five days.
spend time
use a period of time doing something
spend time doing something
Use a period of time for an activity
spend time with somebody
To be in someone's company and engage in activities together
Spenserian Metre
The metre devised by Spenser (1592), founded on the Italian ottava nma, for his Faerie Queene. It is a stanza of nine iambic^ lines, all of ten syllables except the last, which is an Alexandrine. Only three different rhymes are admitted into a stanza, and these are disposed :ababbcbcc.
sperm donor
a man who donates sperm for artificial insemination
sperminated
pregnant
spesh
special
spew
Vomit.
spew up
to vomit
spice
To rob. Spice the swell; rob the gentleman.
spice islands
A privy. Stink-hole bay or dilberry creek. The fundament.
spick and span
Completely clean and tidy
Spick and Span New
Quite and entirely new. A spic is a spike or nail, and a span is a chip. So ^that a spick and span new ship is one m which every nail and chip is new. According to Dr. Johnson, who, in recording the term says it is one which he "should not have expected to have found authorized by a polite writer," span new is from A.S.
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