Speak-house, O. E. A parlour.
Spean, Hind. A monumental bridge, of no great height, among the Khmers or ancient inhabitants of Cambodgia. The balustrade of this bridge was formed by means of Nagagas (q.v.).
Spear, Her., is seldom seen in blazon, though it appears as a “punning device” in the arms granted to Shakspeare’s father. (See Lance, Cuspis, &c.)
Specillum, R. A surgeon’s probe, of iron, bronze, or silver.
Spectra. Impressions which remain for a time on the retina of the eye, after looking at certain bright and coloured objects. They are either similar in colour and form to the objects which excited them, or vary according to the laws of the spectrum; e.g. if the eye is fixed on a red wafer, lying on a sheet of white paper, it will appear fringed with a faint green; then if, after a time, the eye is turned to another part of the paper, where there is no wafer, a green wafer will appear.
Spectrum. The series of colours that a beam of white light slips into under refraction:—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Specula, R. A watch-tower.
Specularia, Gr. and R. Window-panes made with a kind of transparent stone (lapis specularis).
Speculum, R. (specio, to behold). A mirror; they were made in ancient times of a white composition of copper and tin, and afterwards of silver. The back of the mirror was decorated with beautiful engraved or enchased designs. There were also glass mirrors backed with a thin leaf of metal. Mirrors were not contrived to be hung against a wall, or to stand on a table, but were generally held by female slaves in front of their mistresses. (See Mirrors.)
Specus, R. Originally a dark grotto or cave; later the covered canal of an aqueduct.