1. [n]  a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
2. [n]  any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
3. [v]  fight verbally; "They were sparring all night"
4. [v]  box lightly
5. [v]  fight with spurs; of gamecocks in cockfights

Spar
A longing to utter the ineffable penetrates the unconventional prose poems collected in this second volume by previous Nation Poetry Series author, Volkman. Unlike typical prose poems, these are characterized by lyric bursts of rhythmic energy. This volume was distinguished with the 2001 Iowa Poetry Prize.

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1. \Spar\, n. [AS. sp[ae]r in sp[ae]rst[=a]n chalkstone; akin
   to MHG. spar, G. sparkalk plaster.] (Min.)
   An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and
   somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar, or calcite, fluor spar,
   etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue
   minerals of a metalliferous vein.
   {Blue spar}, {Cube spar}, etc. See under {Blue}, {Cube}, etc.
   

2. \Spar\, n. [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG.
   sparro, Dan.& Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin.
   ? 171. Cf. {Spar}, v. t. ]
   1. (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a
      mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
   2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense;
      -- still applied locally to rafters.
   3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   {Spar buoy} (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the
      other end rises above the surface of the water.
   {Spar deck} (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially,
      in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight
      line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which
      spare spars are usually placed. See under {Deck}.
   {Spar torpedo} (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a
      spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and
      intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.
   

3. \Spar\, v. t. [OE. sparren, AS. sparrian; akin to G.
   sperren, Icel. sperra; from the noun. [root]171. See {Spara}
   beam, bar.]
   1. To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
   Note: A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too
         small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.
   

4. \Spar\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sparred}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Sparring}.] [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esparer to kick,
   F. ['e]parer, or Icel. sperra to stretch out the legs, to
   struggle.]
   1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
   2. To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or
      defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for
      exercise or amusement; to box.
            Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.
                                                  --Dickens.
   3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]
   

5. \Spar\, n.
   1. A contest at sparring or boxing.
   2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
   

Early system on Datatron 200 series. Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959).