Also 6–7 spurne, 9 spern. [var. of SPUR sb.1, prob. after prec. or SPURN v.1]
1. † a. The beak of a war-galley. Obs.–1
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, G ij. They came agaynste her wyth two galeies crosse upon her side: wherof the one strake ful with her Spurne.
b. A sharp projection or edge on a horse-shoe. Now dial. or Obs. (Cf. SPRUN.)
1717. Sir W. Hope, Solleysell’s Compl. Horseman, I. xxxi. 301. He makes him a pair of hinder Shoes with long Spurns or Plates before the Toes.
1834. Knowlson, Cattle Doctor (1843), 154. Some horses cut with the spurn of the foot, and some with the heel.
1849. Teesdale Gloss., 123. Spurn. The toe of a horse’s shoe, when sharpened in time of frost, is so called.
2. An outward-growing root or rootlet; one of the main roots of a tree. Obs. exc. dial.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 368. These Trees loue … to haue the superfluous spurnes rid away from the root.
1613. Markham, Eng. Husbandman, II. II. iv. (1635), 60. From the spurnes of the roote will arise new Spiers.
1793. Trans. Soc. Arts, XI. 195. The butt or stem of an ash-tree, having the spurns left to it in felling.
1796–. in dialect glossaries, etc. (Midl., Chesh., Shropsh., Warw.).
fig. 1620. Sanderson, Serm., I. 160. If there be any sprigs or spurns of that root here. Ibid. (1648), II. 241. The flesh … is ever and anon putting forth spurns of avarice, ambition, envy.
3. A slanting prop or stay; a spur or spur-stone.
1620–1. in North Riding Soc. (1885), III. 110. That a Wickham man be committed to the House of Corr[ectio]n for cutting downe a windemille spurne.
1847. in Halliwell (Linc.).
1866. Peacock, Eng. Ch. Furniture, 180, note. The fastenings or wooden supports—spurns, as a Lincolnshire man would say, of the ‘shafte’ or May-pole.
b. Mining. (See quots.)
1837. Hebert, Engin. & Mech. Encycl., I. 375. The spern, a small piece of coal left as a support to many tons above, which fall when this is taken away.
1860. Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. (ed. 2), 79. Spurns, small ties or connections, left between the coals hanging and the ribs and pillars.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 233. Spurns, narrow pillars or webs of coal between each holing, not cut away until the last thing before withdrawing the sprags.
