Hezekiah Sprowle, esquire and colonel is “a retired India merchant,” i.e., he used to deal in West India rum, molasses, etc. His wife was an heiress, and helps him push their way up the social ladder.
Miss Matilda Sprowle, just out of school. “There’s one piece o’goods,” said the colonel[colonel] to his wife, “that we han’t disposed of, nor got a customer for yet. That’s Matildy. I don’t mean to set her up at vaandoo, I guess she can have her pick of a dozen.”--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Elsie Venner (1861).
Spruce, M.C. (Captain), in Lend Me Five Shillings, by J. M. Morton (1764-1838).
Spruch-Sprecher (The) or “sayer of sayings” to the archduke of Austria.--Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).
Spuma´dor, Prince Arthur’s horse. So called from the foam of its mouth, which indicated its fiery temper.--Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. (1590).
⁂ In the Mabinogion, his favorite mare is called Llamrei (“the curveter”).
Spurs (The Battle of), the battle of Guinnegate, in 1513, between Henry VIII. and the duc de Longueville. So called because the French used their spurs in flight more than their swords in fight. (See Spurs of Gold, etc.)
Squab (The Poet). Dryden was so called by Lord Rochester.
Square (Mr.), a “philosopher,” in Fielding’s novel called The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749).
Squeers (Mr. Wackford), of Dotheboy’s Hall, Yorkshire, a vulgar, conceited, ignorant schoolmaster, overbearing, grasping, and mean. He steals the boys’ pocket money, clothes his son in their best suits, half starves them, and teaches them next to nothing. Ultimately, he is transported for purloining a deed.