cockspur
Americannoun
-
a North American hawthorn, Crataegus crus-galli, having leathery, toothed leaves and red fruit, cultivated as a small ornamental tree.
-
a gaslight burner having three jets.
noun
-
a spur on the leg of a cock
-
an annual grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate regions
-
a small thorny North American hawthorn tree, Crataegus crus-galli
Etymology
Origin of cockspur
First recorded in 1585–95; for cock's spur
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The shape and general appearance of this tube has procured for it, among the workmen, the name of the "cockspur" burner.
From Gas Burners Old and New by Owen Merriman
He used two types of burners, the Argand and the cockspur.
From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh
The little lady hath no shoon, no skirt that holds together, save by the grace of cockspur thorns that bind the tatters.
From The Hidden Children by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
The gas-burner first employed by Murdock received the name "cockspur" from the shape of the flame.
From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh
But to whomsoever is due the credit of its invention, certain is it that the batswing burner was a considerable improvement upon the old cockspur.
From Gas Burners Old and New by Owen Merriman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
