Spunge

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spunge \Spunge\ (sp[u^]nj), n.
     A sponge. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
     spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.]
     [Formerly written also {spunge}.]
     1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
        Porifera. See Illust. and Note under {Spongiae}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
        Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
        the varieties of the genus {Spongia}. The most valuable
        sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
        and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
        indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
        (a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
            after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
            agency of the yeast or leaven.
        (b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
        (c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
        discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
        sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
        nap, and having a handle, or staff.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
        to the heel.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Bath sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse
        commercial sponges, especially {Spongia equina}.
  
     {Cup sponge}, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.
        
  
     {Glass sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}, in the Vocabulary.
  
     {Glove sponge}, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
        officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
        fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.
  
     {Grass sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse
        commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
        as {Spongia graminea}, and {Spongia equina}, variety
        cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.
  
     {Horse sponge}, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
        {Spongia equina}.
  
     {Platinum sponge}. (Chem.) See under {Platinum}.
  
     {Pyrotechnical sponge}, a substance made of mushrooms or
        fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
        put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
        dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
        brought from Germany.
  
     {Sheep's-wool sponge}, a fine and durable commercial sponge
        ({Spongia equina}, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
        the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
        smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.
  
     {Sponge cake}, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
        spongy.
  
     {Sponge lead}, or {Spongy lead} (Chem.), metallic lead
        brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
        compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
        batteries and otherwise.
  
     {Sponge tree} (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
        Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
        used in perfumery.
  
     {Toilet sponge}, a very fine and superior variety of
        Mediterranean sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety
        Mediterranea); -- called also {Turkish sponge}.
  
     {To set a sponge} (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
        to be used in leavening a larger quantity.
  
     {To throw up the sponge}, to give up a contest; to
        acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
        the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
        throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
        {throw in the towel} is more common, and has the same
        origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
        man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.
  
     {Vegetable sponge}. (Bot.) See {Loof}.
  
     {Velvet sponge}, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
        equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
        West Indies.
  
     {Vitreous sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}.
  
     {Yellow sponge}, a common and valuable commercial sponge
        ({Spongia agaricina}, variety corlosia) found in Florida
        and the West Indies.
        [1913 Webster]