Also 8–9 spann. [a. Du. and LG. span (also MDu. and MLG.; G. spann, dial. span), f. spannen to unite, fasten, etc. Cf. OE. ʓespan(n, ʓespon(n in related senses.]
1. Naut. One or other of various ropes or chains used as fastenings or means of connection (see quots.).
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Span, a small line…, the middle of which is usually attached to a stay, from whence the two ends branch outwards to the right and left, and having either a block or thimble attached to their extremities.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, 281. Each of these chains has … a large iron ring, to which is fastened a chain, called an up-and-down span.
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 124. Span, a rope with both ends made fast, for a purchase to be hooked to its bight.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 289. Span,… a double rope with thimbles seized betwixt the two parts, stretched across the rigging as a fair-leader for ropes.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 8. What tackles are used for hoisting the launch in and out?… The stays (fitted with a span) between the fore and main mast. Ibid., 55. A chain span is shackled to the bolts, and the slips are rove round the span and shackled to the cable.
1894. Labour Commission Gloss., 76. Span, a length of chain or wire rope used for suspending ‘derricks’ … to the masts of ships.
2. U.S. and Canada. A pair of horses harnessed and driven together, esp. a pair as nearly alike in color and size as possible.
1769. Boston Gaz., 2 Oct. (Thornton). Wanted, a Spann of good Horses for a Curricle.
1828. P. Cunningham, N. S. Wales (ed. 3), II. 54. A span (pair) of horses is a common expression through all the state of New York, and even as far as Upper Canada.
1840. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. III. xviii. 248. If any man will show me a hoss that can keep it up as he has done…, I’ll give him old Clay for nothin’, as a span for him.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind., xlv. (1844), II. 81. A snug span of little horses.
1883. Harriet Prescott Spofford, in Harper’s Mag., March, 571–2. She had her open landau and her span for summer driving.
transf. 1860. O. W. Holmes, Prof. Breakf.-t., vii. I’d as lief undertake to keep a span of elephants.
fig. 1884. Athenæum, 20 Sept., 364/1. Thus ran this span of printing-houses, driven by Barker, neck and neck.
3. S. Africa. A team of oxen or other draught animals consisting of two or more yokes.
1812. A. Plumtre, Lichtenstein’s S. Africa, I. 192. They could not get on the rest of the way without a double Spann.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (1902), 124/2. My large waggon stuck fast, but was extricated with the help of another span.
1893. Selous, Trav. S. E. Africa, 13. The fine span of oxen that had belonged to Mr. Collison.
4. A fetter or shackle. (Cf. SPAN v.2 1 b.)
1856. Whittier, Panorama, 322. To them the Law is but the iron span That girds the ankles of imbruted man.
