[f. SPAR sb.2]
1. Consisting of, abounding in, spar; of the nature of spar.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, IV. 192. The Water … taking the Sparry Particles as they lay dispersedly mingled with the Sand.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., 64, note. One or more vast Stones, which … are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it.
1749. Phil. Trans., XLVI. 276. Among the great Numbers of sparry Productions which I saw in this Mine.
1778. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 28. Neither have we yet seen a perfect Sparry Rhomb in Cornwall.
1812. Brackenridge, Views Louisiana (1814), 66. I have seen some pieces penetrated with sparry matter.
1851. Mantell, Petrifactions, vi. § 6. 482. Upon breaking through the sparry floor [of the cave] the ossiferous deposit is exposed.
1877. Le Conte, Elem. Geol., II. (1879), 225. Certain mineral matters … in a purer and more sparry form than they exist in the rocks.
b. Impregnated with spar.
1724. J. Macky, Journ. thr. Eng., II. xii. 201. From it continually drops a sparry water, which … petrifies.
1782. Phil. Trans., LXXII. 203. Nor is there an instance of any earth rendered permanently fluid by any means, except in sparry air.
c. Of places: Rich in spar.
1789. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. (1791), 130. Graces and Loves … On venturous step her sparry caves explore.
1806. Moore, ‘I stole along the flowery bank,’ ii. 9. Oh for a Naiad’s sparry bower, To shade me in that glowing hour!
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, V. v. With pendants hanging like stalactites from some sparry cavern.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, I. v. 152. The sparry walks at Matlock.
2. In specific terms denoting mineral substances of the nature of, or containing, spar, as sparry iron (ore).
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 190. Calcareous, or Sparry Iron Ore.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XV. 751/2. The sparry quartz, which is the scarcest of the whole.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., II. 95. Bog iron-ore and sparry-ore appear, in a great measure, to be formed by this combination.
1805. R. Jameson, Min., II. 308. Sparry Ironstone…. Colour light yellowish-grey.
1816. P. Cleaveland, Min., 552. Thus it is associated with … gray copper, sparry iron, &c.
1854. trans. Pereira’s Polarized Light (ed. 2), 128. Selenite, or sparry gypsum, is the native crystallised hydrated sulphate of lime.
1868. Joynson, Metals, 6. The spathose ores—‘chalybeate,’ ‘sparry carbonite of iron.’
1875. Croll, Climate & T., xviii. 308. The rock in which they are found is a sparry iron ore.
b. Sparry acid, hydrofluoric acid.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 3. The sparry acid exists principally in fluor spar.
3. Of luster, etc.: Resembling that of spar.
1792. S. Rogers, Pleas. Mem., II. 251. A cool sequestered grot From its rich roof a sparry lustre shot.
1820. Blackw. Mag., VI. 385. Icicles … gleam in the sunshine with a sparry light.
c. 1830. N. P. Willis, Schol. Thebet Ben Khorat, 65. The sparry glinting of the Morning Star.
1845. Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 266. Full of all sparkling sparry loveliness.
