SPUR

Spur

A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline. There are rules in most equestrian organizations about spur design, use and penalties for using spurs in any manner that constitutes animal abuse.

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spur

Noun

  1. A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.
  2. Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does to a horse.
  3. An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.
  4. Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.
  5. Roots, tree roots.
  6. A mountain that shoots from another mountain or range and extends some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.
  7. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale to strip off the blubber.
  8. A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, such as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
  9. The short wooden buttress of a post.
  10. A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.
  11. Ergotized rye or other grain.
  12. A wall in a fortification that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
  13. A piece of timber fixed on the bilgeways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.
  14. A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam cannot be placed.

Noun (etymology 2)

  1. A sparrow.
  2. A tern.

Verb

  1. To prod (especially a horse) in the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.
  2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.
  3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: spur
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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