What does "spar" mean?
Spar: (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
Additional senses
- 2.(Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters.
- 3.The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spar buoy (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water. -- Spar deck (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed. See under Deck. -- Spar torpedo (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.
- 4.To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
- 5.To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel. Note: A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.
- 6.To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
- 7.To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box. Made believe to spar at Paul with great science. Dickens.
- 8.To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]
- 9.A contest at sparring or boxing.
- 10.A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-spar-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00