Also 6 spere. [Variant of SPIRE sb.3]
1. A young tree, esp. a young oak; a sapling. Also attrib. in spear oak, tree.
1543. Mem. Fountains (Surtees), 412. Yonge saplings, speres of okes and ashes.
1891. J. Cox, in Pall Mall Gaz., 23 March, 3/3. Large numbers of spear trees are destroyed while decaying pollards are left standing.
1895. Daily News, 20 May, 6/5. Bury Wood, which is mainly composed of spear oaks, horn-beam, and blackthorn.
† b. transf. A stripling, youth. Also fig. Obs.
1525. Skelton, Magnyf., 947. In faythe, Lyberte is nowe a lusty spere. Ibid. (a. 1529), Agst. Garnesche, iii. 41. At Gynys when ye ware But a slendyr spere, Dekkyd lewdly in your gere.
2. techn. A pump-rod. Also attrib.
1729. Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 9 Oct. Took in … 18 small Sparrs, and 9 Spears.
1731. Phil. Trans., XXXVII. 7. The four Necks of the Crank have each an Iron Spear, or Rod, fixed at their upper Ends to the respective Libra, or Lever.
1750. Blanckley, Nav. Expos., 124. Stave or Spear (Pump Hand) is a long Rod of Iron with an Eye at the upper End, which Hooks to the Brake.
1824. Mechanic’s Mag., No. 43. 238. Which requires least manual labour in the case of a common ship-pump, a long or a short spear?
1849. Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms, Northumb. & Durh., 49. Spears are made of Memel or Norway fir, in lengths of about 40 feet, and joined together by spear-plates.
1862. Times, 28 Jan., 9/5. The engine from which the pumps derive their motive power is placed close to the pits, and the great beam to which their ‘spears’ or rods were attached projected over the upcast.
