cockspur
Americannoun
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a North American hawthorn, Crataegus crus-galli, having leathery, toothed leaves and red fruit, cultivated as a small ornamental tree.
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a gaslight burner having three jets.
noun
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a spur on the leg of a cock
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an annual grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate regions
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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.
In the way of fruit-bearing shade trees he recommends sugar maple, flowering dogwood, white and cockspur thorn, native red mulberry, tupelo, black cherry, choke cherry, and mountain ash.
From The Bird Study Book by Pearson, Thomas Gilbert
He used two types of burners, the Argand and the cockspur.
From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Luckiesh, Matthew
It was somewhat more efficient than the cockspur burner.
From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Luckiesh, Matthew
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 Merriman, Owen
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 Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
Definitions 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.
