spar

pronunciation

How to pronounce spar in British English: UK [spɑ:(r)] word uk audio image

How to pronounce spar in American English: US [spɑr] word us audio image

Noun:

any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer
Verb:

furnish with spars
fight with spurs
box lightly
fight verbally

Word Origin

spar (n.1): early 14c., "rafter;" late 14c., "stout pole," from or cognate with Middle Low German or Middle Dutch sparre, from Proto-Germanic *sparron (cognates: Old English *spere "spear, lance," Old Norse sperra "rafter, beam," German Sparren "spar, rafter"), from PIE root *sper- (1) "spear, pole" (see spear (n.1)). Nautical use, in reference to one used as a mast, yard, boom, etc., dates from 1630s. Also borrowed in Old French as esparre, which might be the direct source of the English word.

spar (v): late 14c., "go quickly, rush, dart, spring;" c. 1400, "to strike or thrust," perhaps from Middle French esparer "to kick" (Modern French éparer), from Italian sparare "to fling," from Latin ex- (see ex-) + parare "make ready, prepare," hence "ward off, parry" (see pare). Etymologists consider a connection with spur unlikely. Used in 17c. in reference to preliminary actions in a cock fight; figurative sense of "to dispute, bandy with words" is from 1690s. Extension to humans, in a literal sense, with meaning "to engage in or practice boxing" is attested from 1755. Related: Sparred; sparring.

spar (n.2): "crystalline mineral that breaks easily into fragments with smooth surfaces," 1580s, from Low German Spar, from Middle Low German *spar, *sper, cognate with Old English spær- in spærstan "gypsum."

1. Pictured here : two polar bears spar , or play fight , in churchill , manitoba .

2. Yet mr schmidt 's deep technical background and sharp intellect make him happy to spar when need be .

3. Earlier " the business " columns small firms hunger for sales , not credit the missteps in managing news corp. 's hacking crisis business , labor spar over colombia free-trade deal