Span

span, n. The space from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended 9 inches; a brief extent 'or portion of time. (Arch.) Extent of an arch between abutments. (Faut.) A rope secured at both ends to any object, the purchase being hooked to the bight. A pair of horses driven together. — v. [spanned (spand), -ning.] am, tame, far, pa , or opera, fare end, SPARE To measure by the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompa ing object; to measure, or reach, from one side of to the other; tc compa . [AS. and OHG. spannan, to bind, connect, D. spannen, to span, stretch, put horses to, Dan. spsende, to stretch, span, strain, buckle, Gr. spae in, to draw, draw out; space, spin, speed, spay; not span-new, q. v.] — Span'ner, n. One who spans; a fireman's wrench for hose couplings.— Span'drel, n. (Arch.) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the rectangle inclosing or the space between the outer moldings of 2 contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch s Spandrels. above and inclosing them. — Span'-long, a. Of the length of a span. —worm, n. A naked caterpillar (called also geometer and looper) of several genera, including the canker-worm, — so called from the way in which spans or measures the distance over which pa es.