early 14c., "rafter;" late 14c., "stout pole," from or cognate with Middle Low German or Middle Dutch sparre, from Proto-Germanic *sparron (cognates: Old English *spere "spear, lance," Old Norse sperra "rafter, beam," German Sparren "spar, rafter"), from PIE root *sper- (1) "spear, pole" (see spear (n.1)). Nautical use, in reference to one used as a mast, yard, boom, etc., dates from 1630s. Also borrowed in Old French as esparre, which might be the direct source of the English word.
spar (v)
late 14c., "go quickly, rush, dart, spring;" c. 1400, "to strike or thrust," perhaps from Middle French esparer "to kick" (Modern French éparer), from Italian sparare "to fling," from Latin ex- (see ex-) + parare "make ready, prepare," hence "ward off, parry" (see pare). Etymologists consider a connection with spur unlikely. Used in 17c. in reference to preliminary actions in a cock fight; figurative sense of "to dispute, bandy with words" is from 1690s. Extension to humans, in a literal sense, with meaning "to engage in or practice boxing" is attested from 1755. Related: Sparred; sparring.
spar (n.2)
"crystalline mineral that breaks easily into fragments with smooth surfaces," 1580s, from Low German Spar, from Middle Low German *spar, *sper, cognate with Old English spær- in spærstan "gypsum."
实用例句
1. With protective gear on you can spar with a partner.
戴上护具后可以和对手练习轻拳出击。来自柯林斯例句
2. The mast, which was a solid spruce spar, bent like a bow, and for a moment I thought we were going to lose it.
坚固的云杉木做成的桅杆已经弯得像一把弓，那一刻我觉得它马上就要断了。来自柯林斯例句
3. We can be conviniently studied with reference to a crystal of calcite or Iceland spar.
我们可以很方便地以方解石或冰洲石晶体来进行研究.来自辞典例句
4. Mr Obama and John McCain continued to spar over foreign policy.
奥巴马和约翰?麦凯恩在对外政策上仍在持续争吵.来自互联网
5. The rope, rod, or spar on which such a ring moves.
