- throw in the towel
- Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.]
[Formerly written also {spunge}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under {Spongi[ae]}.
[1913 Webster]
2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongi[ae] (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially the varieties of the genus {Spongia}. The most valuable sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies. [1913 Webster]
3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger. [1913 Webster]
4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically: (a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven. (b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition. (c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked. [1913 Webster]
5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff. [1913 Webster]
6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel. [1913 Webster]
{Bath sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges, especially {Spongia equina}.
{Cup sponge}, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.
{Glass sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}, in the Vocabulary.
{Glove sponge}, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.
{Grass sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted, as {Spongia graminea}, and {S. equina}, variety {cerebriformis}, of Florida and the West Indies.
{Horse sponge}, a coarse commercial sponge, especially {Spongia equina}.
{Platinum sponge}. (Chem.) See under {Platinum}.
{Pyrotechnical sponge}, a substance made of mushrooms or fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder, brought from Germany.
{Sheep's-wool sponge}, a fine and durable commercial sponge ({Spongia equina}, variety {gossypina}) found in Florida and the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.
{Sponge cake}, a kind of sweet cake which is light and spongy.
{Sponge lead}, or {Spongy lead} (Chem.), metallic lead brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary batteries and otherwise.
{Sponge tree} (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumery.
{Toilet sponge}, a very fine and superior variety of Mediterranean sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety Mediterranea); -- called also {Turkish sponge}.
{To set a sponge} (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity.
{To throw up the sponge}, to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now, {throw in the towel} is more common, and has the same origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] ``He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate.'' --Lowell.
{Vegetable sponge}. (Bot.) See {Loof}.
{Velvet sponge}, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the West Indies.
{Vitreous sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}.
{Yellow sponge}, a common and valuable commercial sponge ({Spongia agaricina}, variety corlosia) found in Florida and the West Indies. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
