Spiritualist. One who cherishes a belief in the power of communicating with departed spirits through the instrumentality of a Medium.
Spitalfields. The derivation of this name is generally given as from an ancient priory of “St Mary of the Spittle.” This is wrong. There may have been such a priory, but if so, like the present parish church, its designation arose out of the “spital,” or hospital in the sense of an almshouse, founded in the fields for the poor by Walter Brune and his wife during the reign of Richard Cœur de Lion.
Spithead. This famous roadstead, so eminently adapted for naval reviews, received its name from being situated at the head of the “spit” or sandbank which extends along the coast for three miles.
Spitzbergen. Danish for “sharp-pointed mountains,” relative to the mountain peaks in these islands.
Spook. Expresses the Dutch for “ghost.” Introduced to the United States by the early settlers of New York, this term has obtained currency on both sides of the Atlantic in connection with Spiritualism.
Spooning. This word is a play on “billing and cooing.” Courting couples in the act of whispering “soft nothings” have their mouths in such close contact that it resembles the manner of a mother bird feeding her young brood.
Sporting Women. An Americanism for “gay women.”
Spouting. Colloquial for public speaking, because the orator indulges in a constant flow of rhetoric, like water issuing from a pump spout.
Sprat Day. 9th November, the opening of the London sprat-selling season.
Spread Eagle. An inn sign adopted from the arms of Germany, indicative of the fact that the wines of that country were to be had on the premises.