spring bell (spring bel)

A species of rushlily, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum. See rush-lily. spring-block (spring blok), n. 1. Naut., a common block or deadeye connected to a ringbolt by a spiral or india-rubber spring. It is attached to the sheets, so as to give a certain amount of elasticity.-2. In a vehicle, a piece of wood fixed on the axle as a support for the spring.-3. In a car-truck, a distance-piece placed above or below an elliptic spring. spring-board (spring börd), n. An elastic board used in vaulting, etc. 9. An elastic body, as a strip or wire of steel coiled spirally, a steel rod or plate, strips of steel suitably joined together, a ma or strip of india-rubber, etc., which, when bent or forced from its natural state, has the power of recovering it again in virtue of its elasticity. Springs are used for various purposes - as for diminishing concu ion, as in carriages; for motive power, as in clocks and watches; for communicating motion by sudden release from a state of tension, a bow, the spring of a gun-lock, etc.; for measuring weight and other force, as in the spring-balance; as regulators to control the movement of wheel-works, etc. To the trunk again, and shut the spring of it. Shak ., Cymbeline, ii. 2. 47. 10. In entom., a special elastic organ by which an insect is enabled to spring into the air. (a) The springing-organ of species of the family Poduridæ. It consists of several bristle-like appendages at the end of the abdomen, which are united at their bases and bent under the body. In leaping, the end of the abdomen is first bent down and then suddenly extended, bringing the elastic bristles with great force against the ground. See cut under springtail. (b) The springing-organ of a skipjack beetle, or elater. It consists of a spine extending backward from the prosternum and received in a cavity of the me so sternum. When the insect is placed on its back, it extends the prothorax so as to bring the spine to the edge of the me so sternal cavity; then, suddenly relaxing the muscles, the spine descends violently into the cavity, and the force given by this sudden movement causes the base of the elytra to strike against the supporting surface with such power that the body is thrown into the air. See cut under click - beetle. IMG:content-1848.png:[blocks in formation] springallt, springaldlt (s ME. springal , spryngal , spryngold , es espringold = MHG. springal , springolf , espringale , es- pringalle (AF. also sp also springalde ), also espingalle , espinguale , a and also espringole , espringarde , es- pingarde (Pr. espingala = Sp. Pg. espingarda = It. spin garda , ML. spin garda ), a military en- gine, also a dance, espringuier , espringhier , espringier , espinguer , espinguier , spring, dance (= It. spring are , spingare , kick about), spring an , spring, jump: see spring.] A mil i- tary engine, resembling the ballista, used in Europe in the middle ages. Eke withynne the castelle were Spryngoldes, gunnes, and bows, archers. Rom. of the Rose, 1. 4191. springal2, springald2 (spring'al, -ald), n. [Also springel, spring all, spring old, springow, Levins, Manip. Vocab. (E. E. T. S.), p. 16. Ha, well done! excellent boy! dainty, fine springal ! Middle ton , More Di emblers Besides Women, v. 1. springardt (spring'ärd), n. Same as springal1 . spring-back (spring'bak), n . In bookbinding , a false back put on the sewed sections of a book, which springs upward when the book is opened flat, but returns to its proper position when the book is closed. The outer or true back does not change its outward curve, being kept stiff on li. brary books by sheets of stiff paper, in large blank books by molded pasteboard or sheets of thin steel. spring-balance (spring'bal"ans), n . See bal ance.