Also 6 spyrt. [Of obscure origin: cf. SPURT sb.1]
† 1. a. A brief period of time; a short space. Obs.
c. 1550. Wever, Lusty Juventus, D iij. I wil play a spyrt, why should I not?
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 85. Heere for a spirt [they] linger, no good opportunitye scaping.
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. i. (1620), I. 2. The Spirts that he was idle (which was the longer part of the Year).
† b. A short distance. Obs.–1
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 85. I must except the Strada Noua here, which for a spirt surpasseth all the streets I ever saw any where else.
2. Naut. A short or slight spell of wind.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 5. A small spirt of wind would now run us into fair weather.
1799. Naval Chron., I. 440. Orders came down … to sail from Cawsand Bay the first spirt of wind. Ibid. (1805), XIII. 243. She sails the first spirt of Wind.
1837. T. Hook, Jack Brag, xx. I think we shall have a spirt of wind presently.
3. A sudden outbreak or brief spell of activity or exertion; a spurt.
1829. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 55. It would undoubtedly cause a spirt of employment and felicity in Ireland. But as soon as this spirt was over [etc.].
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., iv. The strife,… after breaking out afresh some twice or thrice in certain inconsiderable spirts and dashes, died away in silence.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rural Sports, II. II. ii. 386/1. On the days intervening between the gallops a very short and quick spirt will serve to freshen the horse’s wind.
1883. ‘Annie Thomas,’ Mod. Housewife, 142. That dinner’s only a spirt, you know.
