Span, span, n. the space from the end of the thumb to the end of the little-finger when the fingers are extended: nine inches: the spread of an arch between its abutments: a space of time, the full duration of anything: extent of stretch, as the spread of a man's arms, in measuring trees, &c.—v.t. to measure by spans: to measure: to embrace:—pr.p. span′ning; pa.t. and pa.p. spanned.—ns. Span′-coun′ter, Span′-far′thing, a game played by one throwing a coin or counter on the ground, and another trying to throw his so near it that he can span the distance between the two.—adjs. Span′less, that cannot be spanned or measured; Span′-long, of the length of a span.—n. Span′ner, one who spans: an iron tool or lever used to tighten the nuts of screws. [A.S. span—spannan; Ger. spanne—spannen.]
Span, span, n. a yoke of horses or oxen. [Borrowed from Dut.; from the same root as above word.]
Span, span, adv. wholly—in Span′-new, Spick′-and-span.
Spancel, span′sel, n. a tether for a cow's legs.—v.t. to fasten a cow with such.—adj. Span′celed (her.), hobbled. [Old Dut. spansel.]
Spandrel, span′drel, n. the irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the enclosing right angle.—Also Span′dril. [Ety. dub.; prob. conn. with span.]
Spandy, span′di, adv. Same as Span (3).
Spane, Spean, spān, v.t. (Scot.) to wean. [A.S. spanan; Ger. spänen.]
Spanemia, spa-nē′mi-a, n. poverty of blood—also Spanæ′mia.—adjs. Spanē′mic, Spanæ′mic. [Gr. spanos, scarce, haima, blood.]
Spang, spang, n. a spangle, shining ornament.