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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spiry

Bade the dark woods their solemn shades extend, High to the clouds yon spiry tower ascend?

From The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles Vol. 2 by George Gilfillan

The grass-plot was full of romantic light, and on its eastern margin was an etching of spiry spruce.

From Wild Life on the Rockies by Enos Abijah Mills

The wool should 'be short, close, curled, fine, and free from spiry projecting fibres.'

From The Romance of Industry and Invention by Robert Cochrane

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 John Ruskin

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 William Cowper

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