1. [n]  a railway line connected to a trunk line
2. [n]  a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward; "cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on"
3. [n]  a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; "the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves"
4. [n]  tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers
5. [n]  any pointed projection
6. [v]  goad with spurs, as of horses when riding
7. [v]  equip with spurs; "spur horses"
8. [v]  strike with a spur
9. [v]  give heart or courage to
10. [v]  incite or stimulate; "The Academy was formed to spur research"

1. \Spur\, n.
   1. (Mining) A branch of a vein.
   2. The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor.
   

2. \Spur\, n. [See {Sparrow}.] (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A sparrow. [Scot.]
   (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]
   

3. \Spur\, n. [OE. spure, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor,
   G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre,
   and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track,
   examine, and E. spurn. [root]171. Cf. {Sparrow}, {Spere},
   {Spoor}, {Spurn}.]
   1. An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a
      horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs
      have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs
      were the badge of knighthood.
            And on her feet a pair of spurs large. --Chaucer.
   2. That which goads to action; an incitement.
            Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
            (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn
            delights and live laborious days.     --Milton.
   3. Something that projects; a snag.
   4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. --Shak.
   5. (Zo["o]l.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and
      legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.;
      especially, the spine on a cock's leg.
   6. A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range
      of mountains, and extends to 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. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected
      part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
   9. (Arch.)
      (a) The short wooden buttress of a post.
      (b) 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.
   10. (Bot.)
       (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a
           spur. --Gray.
       (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]
   11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins
       to an inner wall.
   12. (Shipbuilding)
       (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before
           launching, having the upper ends bolted to the
           vessel's side.
       (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support
           the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.
   {Spur fowl} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Asiatic
      gallinaceous birds of the genus {Galloperdix}, allied to
      the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each
      leg.
   {Spur gear} (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project
      radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel.
   {Spur gearing}, gearing in which spur gears are used. See
      under {Gearing}.
   {Spur pepper}. (Bot.) See the Note under {Capsicum}.
   {Spur wheel}. Same as {Spur gear}, above.
   

4. \Spur\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spurred}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Spurring}.]
   1. To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to
      urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.
   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.
            Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. --Shak.
   3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.
   

5. \Spur\, v. i.
   To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to
   hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. ``Now spurs
   the lated traveler.'' --Shak.
         The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the
         fight, confess their fear.               --Dryden.
         The roads leading to the capital were covered with
         multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster.
                                                  --Macaulay.
         Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves.
                                                  --Grew.
   

An early system on the IBM 650.

[Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)].

1. A tubular pouch at the base of a perianth part, often containing nectar.
2. A dike anchored to higher ground at one end and exposed to current at the other.