spiry

¹ American  

[spahyuhr-ee] / ˈspaɪər i /

adjective

1. having the form of a spire, slender shoot, or tapering pointed body; tapering up to a point like a spire.

2. abounding in spires or steeples.

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spiry ² American  

[spahy-ree] / ˈspaɪ ri /

adjective

1. spiral; coiled; coiling; helical.

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spiry British  

/ ˈspaɪərɪ /

adjective

1. poetic of spiral form; helical

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Etymology

Origin of spiry¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; spire ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of spiry²

First recorded in 1670–80; spire ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Churches rear their spiry steeples in every direction.

From Lands of the Slave and the Free Cuba, the United States, and Canada by Murray, Henry A.

O'er whose low cells the dock and mallow spread, And rampant nettles lift the spiry head, Whilst from the hollows of the tower on high The grey-cap'd daws in saucy legions fly.

From The Farmer's Boy A Rural Poem by Bloomfield, Robert

And the bank of black cloud rose to the zenith, and out of it came bursts of spiry lightning, and waves of darkness seemed to heave and float, between their flashes, over the whole heavens.

From The King of the Golden River by Ruskin, John

As on the ears of growing corn the dews Fall grateful, while the spiry grain erect Bristles the fields, so, Menelaus, felt Thy inmost soul a soothing pleasure sweet!

From The Iliad of Homer Translated into English Blank Verse by William Cowper by Cowper, William

The excellent Mrs. Motte was present when her fine new house, supposed to be worth six thousand dollars, took fire; and without a sigh, beheld the red spiry billows prevailing over all its grandeur.*

From The Life of General Francis Marion by Weems, M. L. (Mason Locke)