Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Spawn

Spawn

,
Verb.
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.

Spawn

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs do.
2.
To issue, as offspring; – used contemptuously.

Spawn

,
Noun.
[√170. See
Spawn
,
Verb.
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 1828 Edition


Spawn

SPAWN

,
Noun.
It has no plural. [If this word is not contracted, it belongs to the root of L. pano. If contracted, it probably belongs to the root of spew or spaw. The radical sense is that which is ejected or thrown out.]
1.
The eggs of fish or frogs, when ejected.
2.
Any product or offspring; an expression of contempt.
3.
Offsets; shoots; suckers of plants. [Not in use in American.]

SPAWN

, v.t.
1.
To produce or deposit, as fishes do their eggs.
2.
To bring forth; to generate; in contempt.

SPAWN

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs.
2.
To issue, as offspring; in contempt.