资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Spar \Spar\, n. [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG.
   sparro, Dan.& Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin.
   ? 171. Cf. {Spar}, v. t. ]
   1. (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a
      mast, yard, boom, or gaff.

   2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense;
      -- still applied locally to rafters.

   3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   {Spar buoy} (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the
      other end rises above the surface of the water.

   {Spar deck} (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially,
      in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight
      line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which
      spare spars are usually placed. See under {Deck}.

   {Spar torpedo} (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a
      spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and
      intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.

Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, n.; pl. {Torpedoes}. [L. torpedo, -inis,
   from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See {Torpid}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch
      fishes belonging to {Torpedo} and allied genera. They are
      related to the rays, but have the power of giving
      electrical shocks. Called also {crampfish}, and
      {numbfish}. See {Electrical fish}, under {Electrical}.

   Note: The common European torpedo ({T. vulgaris}) and the
         American species ({T. occidentalis}) are the best
         known.

   2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them
      up. Specifically:
      (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel,
          beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so
          arranged that they will be exploded when touched by a
          vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an
          operator on shore.
      (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive
          charge, and projected from a ship against another ship
          at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise
          automatic in its action against a distant ship.

   3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be
      exploded by electricity or by stepping on it.

   4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed
      on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive
      wheels, -- used as an alarm signal.

   5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a
      bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of
      obstructions or to open communication with a source of
      supply of oil.

   6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet,
      which explodes when thrown upon a hard object.

   {Fish torpedo}, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped,
      self-propelling submarine torpedo.

   {Spar torpedo}, a canister or other vessel containing an
      explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar
      which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against
      an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo.

   {Torpedo boat}, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching,
      operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against
      an enemy's ship.