sparryadj.1
? Hard, stiff.
ΚΠ
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 29 Whearas most of the grasse..is a small, sparrie, and dry grasse, and sheepe doe not like it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
sparryadj.2
/ˈspɑːri/, U.S. /ˈspɑri/ 1.
a. Consisting of, abounding in, spar; of the nature of spar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral sources > [adjective] > yielding a mineral or metal > spar
spady1683
sparry1695
spathy1757
spathiform1793
spathaceous1794
sparry1796
1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 192 The Water..taking the Sparry Particles as they lay dispersedly mingled with the Sand.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. iii. ii. 64 One or more vast Stones, which..are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it.
1752 Philos. Trans. 1749–50 (Royal Soc.) 46 276 Among the great Numbers of sparry Productions which I saw in this Mine.
1778 W. Pryce Mineralogia Cornubiensis 28 Neither have we yet seen a perfect Sparry Rhomb in Cornwall.
1814 H. M. Brackenridge Views Louisiana i. v. 66 I have seen some pieces penetrated with sparry matter.
1851 G. A. Mantell Petrifactions vi. §6. 482 Upon breaking through the sparry floor [of the cave] the ossiferous deposit is exposed.
1877 J. Le Conte Elements Geol. (1879) ii. 225 Certain mineral matters..in a purer and more sparry form than they exist in the rocks.
b. Impregnated with spar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral sources > [adjective] > yielding a mineral or metal > spar > impregnated with
sparry1722
1722 J. Macky Journey through Eng. II. xii. 198 From it continually drops a sparry Water, which..petrifies.
1782 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 72 203 Nor is there an instance of any earth rendered permanently fluid by any means, except in sparry air.
c. Of places: Rich in spar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral sources > [adjective] > yielding a mineral or metal > spar > rich in
sparry1791
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. 130 Graces and Loves..On venturous step her sparry caves explore.
1806 T. Moore I stole along Flowery Bank ii. 9 Oh for a Naiad's sparry bower, To shade me in that glowing hour!
1847 B. Disraeli Tancred III. v. v. 80 With..pendents..hanging like stalactites from some sparry cavern.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. v. 152 The sparry walks at Matlock.
2.
a. In specific terms denoting mineral substances of the nature of, or containing spar, as sparry iron (ore).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > [adjective] > white lamellar
spady1683
spathy1757
spathaceous1794
sparry1796
spathose1802
spathic1803
spatous1803
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral sources > [adjective] > yielding a mineral or metal > spar
spady1683
sparry1695
spathy1757
spathiform1793
spathaceous1794
sparry1796
1796 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) II. 190 Calcareous, or Sparry Iron Ore.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XV. 751/2 The sparry quartz, which is the scarcest of the whole.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. II. 95 Bog iron-ore and sparry-ore appear, in a great measure, to be formed by this combination.
1805 R. Jameson Syst. Mineral. II. 308 Sparry Ironstone... Colour light yellowish-grey.
1816 P. Cleaveland Elem. Treat. Mineral. & Geol. 552 Thus it is associated with..gray copper, sparry iron, &c.
1854 B. Powell Pereira's Lect. Polarized Light (ed. 2) 128 Selenite, or sparry gypsum, is the native crystallised hydrated sulphate of lime.
1868 F. H. Joynson Metals in Constr. 6 The spathose ores—‘chalybeate’, ‘sparry carbonite of iron’.
1875 J. Croll Climate & Time xviii. 308 The rock in which they are found is a sparry iron ore.
b. sparry acid n. hydrofluoric acid.
ΚΠ
1796 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) II. 3 The sparry acid exists principally in fluor spar.
c. sparry acid air: ‘Fluoric Acid Gas.’
3. Of lustre, etc.: Resembling that of spar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective] > lustrous or shining with reflected light > of or like precious stones, metals, or fabrics
whiteOE
orientc1400
steel-brighta1560
metalline1596
sparry1792
metallic1794
orichalceous1826
1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 251 A cool sequestered grot From its rich roof a sparry lustre shot.
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 6 385 Icicles..gleam in the sunshine with a sparry light.
c1830 N. P. Willis Scholar of Thebet Ben Khorat 65 The sparry glinting of the Morning Star.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 266 Full of all sparkling sparry loveliness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1a1642
adj.21695