| 释义 |
▪ I. ‖ vara|ˈvara|
Also 7 varra.
[Sp. and Pg. vara rod, yardstick:—L. vāra forked pole, trestle, f. L. vārus bent.]
1. A linear measure used in Spain, Portugal, and Spanish America, of varying length in different localities, but usu. about 33 inches long; a Spanish yard. Cf. vare1 1.
1674S. Jeake Arith. Surv. (1696) 115 The 100 Ells of Antwerp make at Cadiz..for Cloth 81 Varras. 1748Earthquake of Peru i. (ed. 2) 39 Quarters, of 150 Varas or Spanish Yards, that is 64 Fathoms square. 1811Pinkerton Mod. Georg. (ed. 3) 689 A mass of native iron..about 31/4 varas in length..and..half a vara in thickness. 1850B. Taylor Eldorado xviii. (1862) 187 The minimum extent is two hundred varas square (a vara is a little less than a yard) of irrigable land.
2. Bullfighting. A long spiked lance used by a picador.
1932E. Hemingway Death in Afternoon i. 6 The picador can perform his mission with the spiked pole, or vara. 1934R. Campbell Broken Record 83 Trident, vara, and lance. 1967McCormick & Mascareñas Compl. Aficionado i. 20 It [sc. tercio] is used both of the entire lidia (‘bull fight’..), which is said to be divided into the tercio of the vara (from the picador's long pole tipped by the pic), of the banderillas; and the faena. 1968[see morillo].
▪ II. vara
dial. variant of very adv. |