‖n. [ L. aspalathus, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Bot.) (a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ See Spale & Spall. ] (Shipbuilding) One of the temporary wooden braces, placed horizontally across a frame to hold it in position until the deck beams are in; a cross-pawl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. espalier, fr. It. spalliera, fr. spalla shoulder, the same word as F. épaule. See Epaulet. ] (Hort.) A railing or trellis upon which fruit trees or shrubs are trained, as upon a wall; a tree or row of trees so trained. [ 1913 Webster ]

And figs from standard and espalier join. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Espaliered p. pr. & vb. n. Espaliering. ] To form an espalier of, or to protect by an espalier. [ 1913 Webster ]

A spalting knife. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Spell a splinter. ] 1. A lath; a shaving or chip, as of wood or stone. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Shipbuilding) A strengthening cross timber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. espaule; cf. It. spalla. See Epaule. ] The shoulder. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. spall, spell. See Spale, Spell a splinter. ] A chip or fragment, especially a chip of stone as struck off the block by the hammer, having at least one feather-edge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. (Mining) To break into small pieces, as ore, for the purpose of separating from rock. Pryce. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Masonry) To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give off spalls, or wedge-shaped chips; -- said of stone, as when badly set, with the weight thrown too much on the outer surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ir. spailpin, fr. spailp a beau, pride, self-conceit. ] A scamp; an Irish term for a good-for-nothing fellow; -- often used in good-humored contempt or ridicule. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. spaltstein, from spalten to split. See 1st Spell. ] (Metal.) Spelter. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See 1st Spell. ] 1. Liable to break or split; brittle; as, spalt timber. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Heedless; clumsy; pert; saucy. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ Cf. OE. spalden. See Spalt, a. ] To split off; to cleave off, as chips from a piece of timber, with an ax. [ Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A knife used in splitting codfish. [ Written also spalding knife. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. trans- + palatine. ] (Anat.) Situated beyond or outside the palatine bone; -- said of a bone in the skull of some reptiles. [ 1913 Webster ]