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Webster 1913 Edition

Span

Span

,
archaic
imp.
&
p.
p.
of
Spin
.

Span

,
Noun.
[AS.
spann
; akin to D.
span
, OHG.
spanna
, G.
spanne
, Icel.
spönn
. √170. See
Span
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
2.
Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
Yet not to earth’s contracted
span

Thy goodness let me bound.
Pope.
Life's but a
span
; I'll every inch enjoy.
Farquhar.
3.
The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.
4.
(Naut.)
A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
5.
[Cf. D.
span
, Sw.
spann
, Dan.
spaend
, G.
gespann
. See
Span
,
Verb.
T.
]
A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
Span blocks
(Naut.)
,
blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards.
–
Span counter
,
an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters.
Halliwell.
“Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns.”
Shak.
–
Span iron
(Naut.)
,
a special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat.
–
Span roof
,
a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides.
Gwilt.
–
Span shackle
(Naut.)
,
a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Span

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spanned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Spanning
.]
[AS.
pannan
; akin to D. & G.
spannen
, OHG.
spannan
, Sw.
spänna
, Dan.
spaende
, Icel.
spenna
, and perh. to Gr. [GREEK] to draw, to drag, L.
spatium
space. √170. Cf.
Spin
,
Verb.
T.
,
Space
,
Spasm
.]
1.
To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object;
as, to
span
a space or distance; to
span
a cylinder.
My right hand hath
spanned
the heavens.
Isa. xiviii. 13.
2.
To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.
The rivers were
spanned
by arches of solid masonry.
prescott.
3.
To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.

Span

,
Verb.
I.
To be matched, as horses.
[U. S.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Span

SPAN

,
Noun.
[This word is formed on the root of bend, L. pando. The primary sense is to strain, stretch, extend, hence to join a team.]
1.
The space from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; the eighth of a fathom.
2.
A short space of time. Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.
3.
A span of horses, consists of two of nearly the same color, and otherwise nearly alike, which are usually harness side by side. The word signifies properly the same as yoke, when applied to horned cattle, from buckling or fastening together. But in America, span always implies resemblance in color at least; it being an object of ambition with gentlemen and with teamters to unite two horses abreast that are alike.
4.
In seamen's language, a small line or cord, the middle of which is attached to a stay.

SPAN

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To measure by the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.
2.
To measure. This soul doth span the world.

SPAN

,
Verb.
I.
To agree in color, or in color and size; as, the horses span well. [New England.]

SPAN

, pert. of spin. We now use spun.

Definition 2024

Span

Span

See also: span, SPAN, spàn, spân, spãn, špan, and Spāņ

German

Noun

Span m ‎(genitive Spans or Spanes, plural Späne)

  1. chip
  2. shaving
  3. clipping

Declension

span

span

See also: Span, SPAN, spàn, spân, spãn, špan, and Spāņ

English

Pronunciation

Noun

span ‎(plural spans)

  1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
  2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
    • Alexander Pope
      Yet not to earth's contracted span / Thy goodness let me bound.
    • Farquhar
      Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.
    • 2007. Zerzan, John. Silence.
      The unsilent present is a time of evaporating attention spans,
  3. The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.
  4. The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.
  5. (nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
  6. (obsolete) A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
  7. (mathematics) the space of all linear combinations of something
Translations
Related terms

Etymology 2

Old English spannan

Pronunciation

Verb

span ‎(third-person singular simple present spans, present participle spanning, simple past and past participle spanned)

  1. To traverse the distance between.
    The suspension bridge spanned the canyon as tenuously as one could imagine.
  2. To cover or extend over an area or time period.
    The parking lot spans three acres.
    The novel spans three centuries.
    World record! 5 GHz WiFi connection spans 189 miles.
    • Prescott
      The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.
  3. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.
    to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder
    • Bible, Isa. xiviii. 13
      My right hand hath spanned the heavens.
  4. (mathematics) to generate an entire space by means of linear combinations
  5. (intransitive, US, dated) To be matched, as horses.
  6. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
Translations

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Verb

span

  1. (archaic, nonstandard) simple past tense of spin
    • 1890, H. Rider Haggard, Eric Brighteyes[]:
      So they went in to where Gudruda sat spinning in the hall, singing as she span.
    • 2014 September 29, Reuters, “Five spectators in critical condition following stunt truck accident”, in Irish Independent:
      a giant pick-up truck span out of control during a stunt show in a Dutch town, killing three people

Anagrams

Dutch

Pronunciation

Verb

span

  1. first-person singular present indicative of spannen
  2. imperative of spannen

Anagrams

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

From Dutch gespannen.

Noun

span

  1. tense

Etymology

From Middle High German spān, from Old High German spān ‎(“chip of wood, shaving”), from Proto-Germanic *spēnuz ‎(“chip, shaving”). Cognate with Old English spōn ‎(“piece of wood, chip”). More at spoon.

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -aːn

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