Part 652

Spin"et (?), n. [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L. spina a thorn; -- so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine.] (Mus.) A keyed instrument of music resembling a harpsichord, but smaller, with one string of brass or steel wire to each note, sounded by means of leather or quill plectrums or jacks. It was formerly much used.

Dumb spinet. (Mus.) See Manichordon.

Spi"net (?), n. [L. spinetum. See Spinny.] A spinny. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spine"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of the genus Acanthylis, or Chætura, and allied genera, in which the shafts of the tail feathers terminate in rigid spines. (b) Any one of several species of South American and Central American clamatorial birds belonging to Synallaxis and allied genera of the family Dendrocolaptidæ. They are allied to the ovenbirds. (c) The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spine"-tailed (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips.

Spine-tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).

Spin"et*ed (?), a. Slit; cleft. [Obs. & R.]

Spi*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. spinifer; spina thorn + ferre to produce.] Producing spines; bearing thorns or spines; thorny; spiny.

Spin"i*form (?), a. Shaped like a spine.

Spi*nig"er*ous (?), a. [L. spiniger; spina spine + gerere to bear.] Bearing a spine or spines; thorn-bearing.

Spin"i*ness (?), n. Quality of being spiny.

Spin`i-spir"u*late (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule.

Spink (spk), n. [Cf. dial. Sw. spink a kind of small bird, Gr. spi`ggos, and E. finch.] (Zoöl.) The chaffinch.

Spin"na*ker (?), n. (Naut.) A large triangular sail set upon a boom, -- used when running before the wind.

Spin"ner (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, spins one skilled in spinning; a spinning machine.

2. A spider. "Long-legged spinners." Shak.

3. (Zoöl.) A goatsucker; -- so called from the peculiar noise it makes when darting through the air.

4. (Zoöl.) A spinneret.

Ring spinner, a machine for spinning, in which the twist, given to the yarn by a revolving bobbin, is regulated by the drag of a small metal loop which slides around a ring encircling the bobbin, instead of by a throstle.

Spin"ner*et (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the special jointed organs situated on the under side, and near the end, of the abdomen of spiders, by means of which they spin their webs. Most spiders have three pairs of spinnerets, but some have only two pairs. The ordinary silk line of the spider is composed of numerous smaller lines jointed after issuing from the spinnerets.

Spin"ner*ule (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the numerous small spinning tubes on the spinnerets of spiders.

Spin"ney (?), n.; pl. Spinneys (&?;). Same as Spinny. T. Hughes.

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Spin"ning (?), a. & n. from Spin.

Spinning gland (Zoöl.), one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other larvæ. -- Spinning house, formerly a common name for a house of correction in England, the women confined therein being employed in spinning. -- Spinning jenny (Mach.), an engine or machine for spinning wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles revolving simultaneously. -- Spinning mite (Zoöl.), the red spider. -- Spinning wheel, a machine for spinning yarn or thread, in which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.

Spin"ny (?), n.; pl. Spinnies (#). [OF. espinaye,espinoye, espinei, espanoi, F. épinaie, from L. spinetum a thicket of thorns, fr. spina a thorn. See Spine.] A small thicket or grove with undergrowth; a clump of trees. [Written also spinney, and spinny.]

The downs rise steep, crowned with black fir spinnies.

C. Kingsley.