Spar Names a Ship's Pole, a Practice Fight and a Mineral
A spar is a stout pole on a ship. Separate spars mean to box lightly and a crystalline mineral.
A spar is a stout pole supporting a ship's rigging or an aircraft wing; *to spar* is to box or argue without real force; and *spar* is also a non-metallic mineral that splits easily, as in *feldspar*. The boxing sense is the odd one: it comes from cockfighting, where *to spar* described birds striking with their feet before closing in. It moved to human boxing in the 1700s and then to verbal exchanges. The pole is Old Norse *sperra*, a rafter; the mineral is Low German *spar*.
- A ship's pole. *A broken spar.*
- To box lightly. *Sparring partners.*
- To argue mildly. *Sparring over details.*
- A mineral. *Feldspar.*
- Old Norse — *sperra*, a rafter. *The pole.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | spar | A spar. |
| Verb | spar | Sparring. |
| Past | sparred | Sparred. |
| Compound | feldspar | Feldspar. |
| Compound | sparring partner | A sparring partner. |
- The spar snapped in the gale.Ship.
- They sparred for three rounds.Boxing.
- Feldspar is a common mineral.Geology.
Words from cockfighting
- Spar — striking before closing in
- Cockpit — the enclosure where birds fought
- Crestfallen — a defeated bird's drooping comb
- Well-heeled — fitted with sharp spurs
- Show the white feather — a mark of poor breeding, hence cowardice
The pole is Old Norse *sperra*, a rafter. The boxing verb is of uncertain origin, from cockfighting. The mineral is Low German *spar*.
Where does sparring come from?
From cockfighting, where it described birds striking with their feet before closing. It moved to boxing in the 1700s.
Is a cockpit related?
Yes. It originally named the pit where cockfights were held, before the word moved to ships and then aircraft.