To set a sponge

To set a sponge
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.

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  • set a sponge — phrasal : to make a thin yeast batter which when risen and added to the full amount of flour for bread dough will facilitate fermentation * * * set a sponge To leaven a small mass of dough for use in leavening a large quantity • • • Main Entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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]} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sponge cake — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sponge lead — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sponge tree — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sponge (TV series) — Sponge (Korean: 스펀지) is a South Korean TV variety show that debuted in November 2003 on KBS2. The show claims to be infotainment, and revolves around presenting various pieces of triva in an entertaining fashion. The pieces of trivia are often… …   Wikipedia

  • Sponge reef — taxobox image caption = Hexactinellae from Ernst Haeckel s Kunstformen der Natur , 1904 name = Hexactinellid Reef Sponges regnum = Animalia phylum = Porifera classis = Hexactinellida subclassis = Hexasterophora subdivision ranks = Orders… …   Wikipedia

  • Bath sponge — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cup sponge — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Glass sponge — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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