3. An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench; specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the couplings of hose.
4. pl.
Defn: A contrivance in some of the ealier steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
SPAN-NEW Span"-new`, a. Etym: [Icel. spann, properly, new as a ship just split; spann chip + n new. See Spoon, and New.]
Defn: Quite new; brand-new; fire-new. "A span-new archbishop's chair." Fuller.
SPANNISHING
Span"nish*ing, n. Etym: [From OF. espanir to spread, F. épanou. See
Expand.]
Defn: The full blooming of a flower. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
SPANPIECE
Span"piece, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The collar of a roof; sparpiece.
SPANWORM
Span"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)