Part 634

Spell"er (?), n. 1. One who spells.

2. A spelling book. [U. S.]

Spell"ful (?), a. Abounding in spells, or charms.

Here, while his eyes the learned leaves peruse, Each spellful mystery explained he views.

Hoole.

Spell"ing, n. The act of one who spells; formation of words by letters; orthography.

Spell"ing, a. Of or pertaining to spelling.

Spelling bee, a spelling match. [U.S.] - - Spelling book, a book with exercises for teaching children to spell; a speller. -- Spelling match, a contest of skill in spelling words, between two or more persons.

Spell"ken (?), n. A theater. [Slang] Byron.

Spell"work` (?), n. Power or effect of magic; that which is wrought by magic; enchantment.

Like those Peri isles of light That hang by spellwork in the air.

Moore.

Spelt (?), imp. & p. p. of Spell. Spelled.

Spelt, n. [AS. spelt, fr. L. spelta.] (Bot.) A species of grain (Triticum Spelta) much cultivated for food in Germany and Switzerland; -- called also German wheat.

Spelt, n. [See Spalt.] (Metal.) Spelter. [Colloq.]

Spelt, v. t. & i. [See Spell a splinter.] To split; to break; to spalt. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Spel"ter (?), n. [Cf. LG. spialter, G. & D. spiauter. Cf. Pewter.] (Metal.) Zinc; -- especially so called in commerce and arts.

Spe*lunc" (?), n. [L. spelunca cave.] A cavern; a cave. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Spence (?), n. [OF. despense, F. dépense, buffet, buttery, fr. OF. despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. See Dispense, Spend.] 1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry.

In . . . his spence, or "pantry" were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately slaughtered.

Sir W. Scott.

Bluff Harry broke into the spence, And turned the cowls adrift.

Tennyson.

2. The inner apartment of a country house; also, the place where the family sit and eat. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Spen"cer (?), n. [OF. despensier. See Spence, and cf. Dispenser.] One who has the care of the spence, or buttery. [Obs.] Promptorium Parvulorum.

Spen"cer, n. [From the third Earl Spencer, who first wore it, or brought it into fashion.] A short jacket worn by men and by women. Ld. Lutton.

Spen"cer, n. (Naut.) A fore- and-aft sail, abaft the foremast or the mainmast, hoisted upon a small supplementary mast and set with a gaff and no boom; a trysail carried at the foremast or mainmast; -- named after its inventor, Knight Spencer, of England .

Spencer mast, a small mast just abaft the foremast or mainmast, for hoisting the spencer. R. H. Dana, Jr.