spar
noun
[ spɑː ]
• a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship.
Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French esparre, or from Old Norse sperra ; related to Dutch spar and German Sparren .
spar
verb
• make the motions of boxing without landing heavy blows, as a form of training.
• "one contestant broke his nose while sparring"
• (of a gamecock) fight with the feet or spurs.
spar
noun
• a period or bout of sparring.
• a close friend.
• "Buster was his spar and he didn't want to let him down"
Origin:
Old English sperran, spyrran ‘strike out’, of unknown origin; compare with Old Norse sperrask ‘kick out’.
spar
noun
• a crystalline, easily cleavable, translucent or transparent mineral.
Origin:
late 16th century: from Middle Low German; related to Old English spærstān ‘gypsum’.
