Spawn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spawned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spawning.] [OE. spanen, OF. espandre, properly, to shed, spread, L. expandere to spread out. See Expand.] 1. To produce or deposit (eggs), as fishes or frogs do.
2. To bring forth; to generate; -- used in contempt.
One edition [of books] spawneth another.
Fuller.
© Webster 1913.
Spawn, v. i. 1. To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs do.
2. To issue, as offspring; -- used contemptuously.
© Webster 1913.
Spawn, n. [&root;170. See Spawn, v. t.] 1. The ova, or eggs, of fishes, oysters, and other aquatic animals.
2. Any product or offspring; -- used contemptuously.
3. Hort. The buds or branches produced from underground stems.
4. Bot. The white fibrous matter forming the matrix from which fungi.
Spawn eater Zool., a small American cyprinoid fish (Notropis Hudsonius) allied to the dace.
© Webster 1913. |