Spink
(Spink) n. [Cf. dial. Sw. spink a kind of small bird, Gr. spi`ggos, and E. finch.] (Zoöl.) The
chaffinch.
Spinnaker
(Spin"na*ker) n. (Naut.) A large triangular sail set upon a boom, — used when running
before the wind.
Spinner
(Spin"ner) n.
1. One who, or that which, spins one skilled in spinning; a spinning machine.
2. A spider. "Long-legged spinners." Shak.
3. (Zoöl.) A goatsucker; — so called from the peculiar noise it makes when darting through the air.
4. (Zoöl.) A spinneret.
Ring spinner, a machine for spinning, in which the twist, given to the yarn by a revolving bobbin, is
regulated by the drag of a small metal loop which slides around a ring encircling the bobbin, instead of
by a throstle.
Spinneret
(Spin"ner*et) n. (Zoöl.) One of the special jointed organs situated on the under side, and
near the end, of the abdomen of spiders, by means of which they spin their webs. Most spiders have
three pairs of spinnerets, but some have only two pairs. The ordinary silk line of the spider is composed
of numerous smaller lines jointed after issuing from the spinnerets.
Spinnerule
(Spin"ner*ule) n. (Zoöl.) One of the numerous small spinning tubes on the spinnerets of
spiders.
Spinney
(Spin"ney) n.; pl. Spinneys Same as Spinny. T. Hughes.
Spinning
(Spin"ning) a. & n. from Spin.
Spinning gland (Zoöl.), one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms
and other larvæ. — Spinning house, formerly a common name for a house of correction in England,
the women confined therein being employed in spinning. — Spinning jenny (Mach.), an engine or
machine for spinning wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles revolving simultaneously.
— Spinning mite (Zoöl.), the red spider. — Spinning wheel, a machine for spinning yarn or thread,
in which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.
Spinny
(Spin"ny) n.; pl. Spinnies [OF. espinaye,espinoye, espinei, espanoi, F. épinaie, from L. spinetum
a thicket of thorns, fr. spina a thorn. See Spine.] A small thicket or grove with undergrowth; a clump
of trees. [Written also spinney, and spinny.]
The downs rise steep, crowned with black fir spinnies.
C. Kingsley. Spinny
(Spin"ny), a. [Cf. Spiny, a.] Thin and long; slim; slender. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Spinose
(Spi*nose") a.[L. spinosus, from spina a thorn.] Full of spines; armed with thorns; thorny.
Spinosity
(Spi*nos"i*ty) n. The quality or state of being spiny or thorny; spininess.
Spinous
(Spi"nous) a.
1. Spinose; thorny.
2. Having the form of a spine or thorn; spinelike.
