spar

spar¹

—sparlike, adj.

/spahr/, n., v., sparred, sparring.

n.

1. Naut. a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.

2. Aeron. a principal lateral member of the framework of a wing of an airplane.

v.t.

3. to provide or make with spars.

[1250-1300; ME sparre (n.); c. G Sparren, D spar, ON sparri]

spar²

/spahr/, v., sparred, sparring, n.

v.i.

1. (of boxers) to make the motions of attack and defense with the arms and fists, esp. as a part of training.

2. to box, esp. with light blows.

3. to strike or attack with the feet or spurs, as gamecocks do.

4. to bandy words; dispute.

n.

5. a motion of sparring.

6. a boxing match.

7. a dispute.

[1350-1400; ME: orig., thrust (n. and v.); perh. akin to SPUR]

spar³

—sparlike, adj.

/spahr/, n.

any of various more or less lustrous crystalline minerals: fluorspar.

[1575-85; back formation from sparstone spar, OE spaerstan gypsum; cf. MLG spar]

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