Spear thistle

Spear Spear, n. [OE. spere, AS. spere; akin to D. & G. speer, OS. & OHS. sper, Icel. spj["o]r, pl., Dan. sp[ae]r, L. sparus.] 1. A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance.

Note: [See Illust. of {Spearhead}.] ``A sharp ground spear.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. --Micah iv. 3. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: A spearman. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

3. A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals. [1913 Webster]

4. A shoot, as of grass; a spire. [1913 Webster]

5. The feather of a horse. See {Feather}, n., 4. [1913 Webster]

6. The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod. [1913 Webster]

{Spear foot}, the off hind foot of a horse.

{Spear grass}. (Bot.) (a) The common reed. See {Reed}, n., 1. (b) meadow grass. See under {Meadow}.

{Spear hand}, the hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right hand. --Crabb.

{Spear side}, the male line of a family. --Lowell.

{Spear thistle} (Bot.), the common thistle ({Cnicus lanceolatus}). [1913 Webster]