Chapter Soul and Spirit to Speaking of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Spanish Money Fair words and compliments. The Spanish government is a model of dishonest dealings, the byword of the commercial world, yet no man is more irate than a Spaniard if any imputation is laid to his charge as inconsistent with the character of a man of honour.

Spanish Worm A nail concealed in a piece of wood, against which a carpenter jars his saw or chisel. So called from Spanish woods used in cabinet-work.

Spank (A). A slap to urge one to greater energy. (See below.)

Spanker (A). A fore-and-aft sail set upon the mizen-mast of a three-masted vessel, and the jigger-mast of a four-masted vessel. There is no spanker in a one- or two-masted vessel of any rig. A “spanker” used to be called a “driver.” (Supplied by an old sailor of long service.)

Spanking Large, rapid, strong; as a “spanking big fellow,” a “spanking speed,” a “spanking breeze.” A nautical term. (See above.)

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child Solomon (Prov. xiii. 24) says: “He that spareth the rod hateth his son;” but Samuel Butler, in his Hudibras (pt. ii. canto 1, line 843), says:

“Love is a boy, by poets styled,
Then spare the rod, and spoil the child.”

Sparkling Heat Heat greater than white heat.

“There be several degrees of heat in a smith's forge, according to the purpose of their work: (1) a bloud- red heat; (2) a white flame heat; (3) a sparkling or welding heat, used to weld barrs or pieces of iron.”- Kennett: MS. Lansd., 1033, f. 388.

Spartan Dog A blood-hound; a blood-thirsty man.

“O Spartan dog,
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea.”
Shakespeare: Othello, v. ii.

Spasmodic School A name applied by Professor Aytoun to certain authors of the nineteenth century, whose writings are distinguished by spasmodic or forced conceits. Of this school the most noted are Carlyle, Bailey (author of Festus), Alexander Smith, Sydney Dobell, etc.

Speaker's Eye To catch the Speaker's eye. The rule in the House of Commons is that the member whose rising to address the House is first observed by the Speaker is allowed precedence.

Speaking They are on speaking terms. They just know each other.

   They are not on speaking terms. Though they know each other, they do not even salute each other in the street, or say “How d'ye do?”