A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

sot --- late O.E. sott "stupid person, fool," from O.Fr. sot, from Gallo-Romance *sott- (cf. M.L. sottus, c.800), of uncertain origin, with cognates from Portugal to Germany. Meaning "one who is stupefied with drink" first recorded 1592. As a verb, it is attested from c.1386 (implied in sotted); besot "affect with a foolish manifestation" first recorded 1580.

Sothic --- as in Sothic cycle, a period of 1,460 years, from Fr. Sothique, from Gk. Sothis, an Egyptian name of the star Sirius.

sotto voce --- 1737, from It., lit. "under voice," from sotto, from L. subtus "below" (cf. Fr. sous).

sou --- small Fr. coin, 1556, back-formation from sous, pl. of O.Fr. soul, formerly a coin worth one-twentieth of a livre, from L. solidus (see solidus).

soubrette --- 1753, theatrical jargon for lady's maid characters in plays and operas, who were usually pert, flirtatious, and intriguing, from Fr., from Prov. soubreto "affected, conceited," fem. of soubret "coy, reserved," from soubra "to set aside," originally "to exceed," from O.Prov. sobrar, from L. superare "to rise above, overcome," from super "over, above, beyond" (see super-).

soufflé --- 1813, from Fr. soufflé, noun use of pp. of souffler "puff up," from L. sufflare, from sub- "under, up from under" + flare "to blow" (see blow (v.1)).

souffre-douleur --- 1845, from Fr., lit. "suffer sorrow;" one who is in a subservient position and must listen to or share another's troubles, specifically "a woman who acts as a paid companion to an older woman."

sough (v.) --- to make a moaning or murmuring sound, O.E. swogan, from P.Gmc. *swoganan (cf. O.S. swogan "to rustle," Goth. gaswogjan "to sigh"), from PIE imitative base *(s)wagh- (cf. Gk. echo). The noun is c.1381, from the verb.

sought --- pt. and pp. of seek, from O.E. sohte (see seek).

souk --- Arab bazaar, 1826, from Arabic suq "marketplace."

soul (1) --- O.E. sawol "spiritual and emotional part of a person, animate existence," from P.Gmc. *saiwalo (cf. O.S. seola, O.N. sala, O.Fris. sele, M.Du. siele, Du. ziel, O.H.G. seula, Ger. Seele, Goth. saiwala), of uncertain origin. Sometimes said to mean originally "coming from or belonging to the sea," because that was supposed to be the stopping place of the soul before birth or after death. Hence, from P.Gmc. *saiwaz (see sea). Meaning "spirit of a deceased person" is attested in O.E. from 971. As a synonym for "person, individual" (e.g. every living soul) it dates from c.1320. Soulmate (1822) is first attested in Coleridge. Soul-searching (n.) is attested from 1948, from the phrase used as a pp. adj. (1612).

soul (2) --- instinctive quality felt by black persons as an attribute, 1946, jazz slang, from soul (1). Soulful "full of feeling" is attested from 1863. Hence Soul music, essentially gospel music with "girl" in place of "Jesus," etc., first attested 1961; William James used the term in 1900, in a spiritual/romantic sense, but in ref. to inner music. Also from this sense are soul brother (1957), soul food (1957), etc.

sound (adj.) --- uninjured, O.E. gesund "sound, safe, healthy," from P.Gmc. *sundas, from root *swen-to- (cf. O.S. gisund, O.Fris. sund, Du. gezond, O.H.G. gisunt, Ger. gesund "healthy," source of the post-sneezing interjection gesundheit; also O.E. swið "strong," Goth. swinþs "strong," Ger. geschwind "fast, quick"), with connections in Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic. Meaning "financially solid or safe" is attested from 1601; of sleep, "undisturbed," from 1548. Sense of "holding accepted opinions" is from 1526. Soundly "completely" is attested from 1577.

sound (n.1) --- noise, c.1280, soun, from O.Fr. son, from L. sonus "sound," from PIE *swonos, from base *swen- "to sound" (cf. Skt. svanati "it sounds," svanah "sound, tone;" L. sonare "to sound;" O.Ir. senim "the playing of an instrument;" O.E. geswin "music, song," swinsian "to sing;" O.N. svanr, O.E. swan "swan," prop. "the sounding bird"). The final -d was established c.1350-1550 as part of a tendency to add -d- after -n-. The verb is attested from c.1300, from L. sonare, from sonus. First record of sound barrier is from 1939. Soundtrack is from 1929; sound check is from 1977; sound effects is 1909, originally live accompaniments to silent films.

sound (n.2) --- narrow channel of water, c.1300, from O.N. sund "a strait, swimming," cognate with O.E. sund "power of swimming, water, sea," both from P.Gmc. *swumto-, from base *swem- (see swim (v.)).

sound (v.) --- fathom, probe, 1336 (implied in sounding), from O.Fr. sonder, from sonde "sounding line," probably from a Gmc. source (cf. O.E. sund "water, sea;" see sound (n.2)).

soup (n.) --- liquid food, 1653, from Fr. soupe "soup, broth," from L.L. suppa "bread soaked in broth," from a Gmc. source (cf. M.Du. sop "sop, broth"), from P.Gmc. base *supp-, from PIE *sub-, from base *seue- "to take liquid" (see sup (2)). Primordial soup is from a concept first expressed 1929 by J.B.S. Haldane. Soup kitchen is attested from 1839. In Ireland, souper meant "Protestant clergyman seeking to make proselytes by dispensing soup in charity" (1854).

soup (v.) --- increase the horsepower of an engine, 1921, probably from soup (n.) in slang sense of "narcotic injected into horses to make them run faster" (1911), influenced by supercharge (v.).

soupcon --- 1766, from Fr. soupçon "suspicion," from O.Fr. sospeçon, from L.L. suspectionem (see suspicion)

sour --- O.E. sur, from P.Gmc. *suraz (cf. O.N. surr, M.Du. suur, Du. zuur, O.H.G. sur, Ger. Sauer), from PIE base *suro- "sour, salty, bitter" (cf. O.C.S. syru, Rus. syroi "moist, raw;" Lith. suras "salty," suris "cheese"). Fr. sur "sour, tart" (12c.) is a Gmc. loan-word. The verb is attested from c.1300. Sense in whisky sour is from 1885. Sourpuss first attested 1937. Sourball is from 1900 as "constantly grumbling person," 1933 as a type of candy. Sour cream is attested from 1855.

source --- 1346, from O.Fr. sourse "a rising, beginning, fountainhead of a river or stream," fem. noun taken from pp. of sourdre "to rise, spring up," from L. surgere "to rise" (see surge). Meaning "written work (later also a person) supplying information or evidence" is from 1788.

sourdough --- 1303, "fermented dough," from sour + dough. The meaning "Arctic prospector or pioneer" is from 1898 Yukon gold rush, from the practice of saving a lump of fermented dough as leaven for raising bread baked during the winter.

sousaphone --- 1925, named for U.S. bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa (1854-1932).

souse --- 1387, "to pickle, steep in vinegar," from O.Fr. sous (adj.) "preserved in salt and vinegar," from Frank. *sultja (related to O.Saxon sultia "salt water"), from P.Gmc. *salt-, *sult- (see salt). The noun meaning "pig parts preserved and pickled" is recorded from 1391. The adj. soused "drunk" is first recorded 1613, on notion of one "pickled" in liquor.

souteneur --- man who lives on the earnings of one or more prostitutes under his protection, 1906, from Fr., lit. "protector," from soutenir "to sustain" (see sustain).

souter --- maker or mender of shoes, O.E. sutere, from L. sutor "shoemaker," from suere "to sew, stitch."

south --- O.E. suð "southward, in the south," from P.Gmc. *sunthaz (cf. O.S., O.Fris. suth "southward, in the south," M.Du. suut), perhaps related to base of *sunnon "sun," with sense of "the region of the sun." Ger. Süd, Süden are from a Du. pronunciation. O.Fr. sur, sud (Fr. sud), Sp. sur, sud are loan-words from Gmc., perhaps from O.N. suðr. The Southern states of the U.S. have been collectively called The South since 1779. South country in Britain means the part below the Tweed, in England the part below the Wash, and in Scotland the part below the Forth. The nautical coat called a sou'wester (1836) protects the wearer against severe weather, such as a gale out of the southwest. South Sea meant "the Mediterranean" (1398) and "the English Channel" (1432) before it came to mean (in pl.) "the South Pacific Ocean" (c.1528).

southern --- O.E. suðerne, from suð "south" (see south) + -erne, suffix denoting direction.

southpaw --- lefthander, 1885, originally baseball slang, of pitchers, often said to have been coined by Finley Peter Dunne ("Mr. Dooley"), Chicago sports journalist and humorist, in the days when baseball diamonds were regularly oriented with home plate to the west. But south paw "a person's left hand" is attested from 1848 in the slang of pugilism.

Southron --- c.1470, variant (originally Scottish and northern English) of southren (c.1386), on analogy of Briton, Saxon, from O.E. suðerne or O.N. suðrænn "southern" (see south). Popularized in Eng. by Jane Porter's "Scottish Chiefs" (1810), and adopted in U.S. by many in the Southern states.

souvenir --- 1775, "a remembrance or memory," from Fr. souvenir, from O.Fr., noun use of souvenir (v.) "to remember, come to mind," from L. subvenire "come to mind," from sub- "up" + venire "to come" (see venue). Meaning "token of remembrance, memento" is first recorded 1782.

sovereign --- c.1280, from O.Fr. soverain, from V.L. *superanus "chief, principal," from L. super "over" (see super-). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Milton spelled it sovran, as though from It. sovrano. Meaning "gold coin worth 22s 6d" first recorded 1490s; value changed 1817 to 1 pound. As an adj., attested from 1330; of remedies or medicines, "potent in a high degree," from 1377.

sovereignty --- c.1340, "pre-eminence," from Anglo-Fr. sovereynete, from O.Fr. souverainete, from soverain (see sovereign). Meaning "authority, rule" is recorded from c.1374; sense of "existence as an independent state" is from 1715.

soviet --- 1917, from Rus. sovet "governing council," lit. "council," from O.Rus. suvetu, from su "with" + vetu "counsel;" loan-translation of Gk. symboulion "council of advisors."

sow (n.) --- O.E. sugu, su "female of the swine," from P.Gmc. *sugo (cf. O.S., O.H.G. su, Ger. Sau, Du. zeug, O.N. syr), from PIE base *su- (cf. Skt. sukarah "wild boar, swine;" Avestan hu "wild boar;" Gk. hys "swine;" L. sus "swine," swinus "pertaining to swine;" O.C.S. svinija "swine;" Lett. sivens "young pig;" Welsh hucc, Ir. suig "swine; O.Ir. socc "snout, plowshare"), possibly imitative of pig noise, a notion reinforced by the fact that Skt. sukharah means "maker of (the sound) 'su.' " Related to swine. As a term of abuse for a woman, attested from 1508.

sow (v.) --- O.E. sawan "to scatter seed upon the ground or plant it in the earth" (class VII strong verb; past tense seow, pp. sawen), from P.Gmc. *sæjanan (cf. O.N. sa, O.S. saian, M.Du. sayen, Du. zaaien, O.H.G. sawen, Ger. säen, Goth. saian), from PIE base *se- (cf. L. sero, pt. sevi, pp. satum "to sow;" O.C.S. sejo, sejati; Lith. seju, seti "to sow"), source of semen, season (n.), seed, etc. Fig. sense was in O.E.

Soweto --- black African community outside Johannesburg, South Africa, formed from first letters of South Western Townships.

soy --- 1679, saio "sauce for fish, made from soybeans," from Du. soya, from Japanese soyu, variant of shoyu "soy," from Chinese shi-yu, from shi "fermented soy beans" + yu "oil." Etymology reflects Dutch presence in Japan long before English merchants began to trade there. Soybean is attested from 1795. Soyaburger is attested from 1953.

sozzled --- drunk, 1886, from sozzle "to mix or mingle sloppily" (1836).

spa --- medicinal or mineral spring, 1626, from name of health resort in eastern Belgium, known since 14c., that featured mineral springs believed to have curative properties. The place name is from Walloon espa "spring, fountain."

space (n.) --- c.1300, "an area, extent, expanse, lapse of time," aphetic of O.Fr. espace, from L. spatium "room, area, distance, stretch of time," of unknown origin. Astronomical sense of "stellar depths" is first recorded 1667 in "Paradise Lost."

space (v.) --- 1703, "to arrange at set intervals," from space (n.). Meaning "to be in a state of drug-induced euphoria" is recorded from 1968. Space cadet "eccentric person disconnected with reality" (often implying an intimacy with hallucinogenic drugs) is a 1960s phrase, probably traceable to 1950s U.S. sci-fi television program "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," which was watched by many children who dreamed of growing up to be one and succeeded.

Spackle --- proprietary name for a surfacing compound, 1927, probably based on Ger. spachtel "putty knife, mastic, filler." The verb is attested from 1940.

spacy --- 1885, "large, roomy, spacious," from space (n.). Meaning "felt as characteristic of outer space" (esp. with ref. to electronic music) is attested from 1971, probably infl. by spaced-out (1965, Amer.Eng. slang), an allusion to the behavior of people using hallucinogenic drugs (see space (v.)).

Spad --- Fr. biplane fighter of WWI, 1917, from Fr., from acronym of Societé pour Aviation et ses Dérivés.

spade (1) --- tool for digging, O.E. spadu, from P.Gmc. *spadon (cf. O.Fris. spada, M.Du. spade, O.S. spado, M.L.G. spade, Ger. Spaten), from PIE *spe- "long, flat piece of wood" (cf. Gk. spathe "wooden blade, paddle," O.E. spon "chip of wood, splinter," O.N. spann "shingle, chip"). To call a spade a spade "use blunt language" (1542) translates a Gk. proverb (known to the Romans), but Erasmus mistook Gk. skaphe "trough, bowl" for a derivative of the stem of skaptein "to dig," and the mistake has stuck. The original, then, is "to call a bowl a bowl."

spade (2) --- figure on playing cards, 1598, probably from It. spade, pl. of spada "sword, spade," from L. spatha "broad, flat weapon or tool," from Gk. spathe "broad blade" (see spade (1)). Phrase in spades "in abundance" first recorded 1929 (Damon Runyon), probably from bridge, where spades are the highest-ranking suit.

spaghetti --- 1849 (as sparghetti, in Eliza Acton's "Modern Cookery"), from It. spaghetti, pl. of spaghetto "string, twine," dim. of spago "cord," of uncertain origin. Spaghetti Western (one filmed in Italy) first attested 1969. Spaghetti strap is from 1972.

Spain --- c.1205, from Anglo-Fr. Espayne, from L.L. Spania, from L. Hispania (see Spaniard). The usual O.E. form was Ispania.

spall --- chip of stone, 1440, from M.E. verb spald "to split" (c.1400), from M.L.G. spalden, cognate with O.H.G. spaltan "to split" (see spill).

spam --- proprietary name registered by Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in U.S., 1937; probably a conflation of spiced ham. Soon extended to other kinds of canned meat. In the sense of "Internet junk mail" it was coined by Usenet users after March 31, 1993, when Usenet administrator Richard Depew inadvertently posted the same message 200 times to a discussion group. The term had been used in online text games, and it was from the comedy routine in British TV show "Monty Python's Flying Circus" where a restaurant's menu items all devolve into spam.

span (n.1) --- distance between two objects, O.E. span "distance between the thumb and little finger of an extended hand," probably related to M.Du. spannen "to join, fasten" (see span (n.2)). The Gmc. word was borrowed into M.L. as spannus, hence It. spanna, O.Fr. espanne, Fr. empan. As a measure of length, roughly nine inches. Meaning "length of time" first attested 1599; that of "space between abutments of an arch, etc." is from 1725. Meaning "maximum lateral dimension of an aircraft" is first recorded 1909. Attention span is recorded from 1922.

span (n.2) --- two animals driven together, 1769, from Du. span, from spannen "to stretch or yoke," from M.Du. spannen, cognate with O.E. spannen "to join" (see span (v.)).

span (v.) --- O.E. spannen "to clasp, fasten, stretch, span," from P.Gmc. *spanwanan (cf. O.N. spenna, O.Fris. spanna, M.Du. spannen, O.H.G. spannan, Ger. spannen), from PIE base *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin" (cf. L. pendere "to hang, to cause to hang," pondus "weight" (the weight of a thing measured by how much it stretches a cord), pensare "to weigh, consider;" Gk. ponein "to toil;" Lith. spendziu "lay a snare;" O.C.S. peti "stretch, strain," pato "fetter," pina "I span;" O.E. spinnan "to spin;" for other cognates, see spin). The meaning "to encircle with the hand(s)" is from 1781; in the sense of "to form an arch over (something)" it is first recorded 1633. Spanner (1639), the British name for the wrench, is from Ger., originally a tool for winding the spring of a wheel-lock firearm.

Spandex --- synthetic fiber, 1959, Amer.Eng., proprietary name, an arbitrary formation from expand.

spandrel --- 1477, "triangular space between the outer curves of an arch," apparently a diminutive of Anglo-Fr. spaundre (1395), perhaps aphetic of espandre "to expand, extend," from L. expandre (see expand).

spangle --- c.1420, dim. of spang "glittering ornament, spangle," probably from M.Du. spange "brooch, clasp," cognate with O.E. spang "buckle, clasp," from P.Gmc. *spango, from an extended form of the root of span (2). The verb is attested from 1548.

Spaniard --- c.1400, from O.Fr. Espaignart, from Espaigne "Spain," from L. Hispania, from Gk. Hispania "Spain," Hispanos "Spanish, a Spaniard," probably from Celt-Iberian, in which (H)i- represents a definite article. The earlier Eng. noun was Spaynol (c.1350), from O.Fr. Espaignol.

spaniel --- 13c., as a surname meaning "Spaniard;" as a name for a breed of dog of Sp. origin, c.1386, from O.Fr. espagneul, lit. "Spanish (dog)," from V.L. *Hispaniolus "of Spain," dim. of L. Hispanus "Spanish, Hispanic" (see Spaniard).

Spanish --- c.1205, from Spaine "Spain," from O.Fr. Espaigne (see Spaniard). Replaced O.E. Speonisc. For Spanish Main see main. Spanish moss is attested from 1823. Spanglish as a form of Spanish deformed by English words and idioms is attested from 1967, from Sp. Espanglish (1954). Spanish fly, the fabled aphrodisiac (ground-up cantharis blister-beetles), is attested from c.1600.

spank (v.) --- 1727, possibly imitative of the sound of spanking. The noun is from 1785.

spanking (adj.) --- 1666, "very big or fine," later (especially of horses) "moving at a lively pace" (1738), perhaps from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. spanke "to strut").

spar (n.1) --- stout pole, c.1300, "rafter," from M.L.G. or M.Du. sparre, from P.Gmc. *sparron (cf. O.E. *spere "spear, lance," O.N. sperra "rafter, beam"), from PIE base *sper- "spear, pole" (see spear). Nautical use dates from 1640. Also borrowed in O.Fr. as esparre, which may have been the direct source of the Eng. word.

spar (n.2) --- shiny mineral that splits easily, 1581, from Low Ger. Spar, from M.L.G. *spar, sper, cognate with O.E. spær- in spærstan "gypsum."

spar (v) --- to box, c.1400, "to strike or thrust," perhaps from M.Fr. esparer "to kick," from It. sparare "to fling," from L. ex- + parare "to ward off, parry" (see pare). Used in 17c. in ref. to preliminary actions in a cock fight; fig. sense of "to dispute, bandy with words" is from 1698. Extension to humans, with meaning "to engage in or practice boxing" is attested from 1755.

sparagmos --- ritual death of a hero in tragedy or myth, 1949, from Gk. sparagmos, lit. "tearing, rending."

spare (v.) --- O.E. sparian "to refrain from harming, to allow to go free," from the source of O.E. spær "sparing, frugal," from P.Gmc. *sparaz (cf. O.Fris. sparia, O.N. spara, O.H.G. sparon "to spare"). Meaning "to dispense from one's own stock" is recorded from c.1225. The adj. meaning "additional, extra" is attested from c.1300. In ref. to time, from 1610; sense of "flimsy, thin" is recorded from c.1548. Spare part is attested from 1888. The noun meaning "extra thing or part" is from 1642. Bowling sense of "a knocking down of all pins in two bowls" is attested from 1849, Amer.Eng.

spare ribs --- 1596, from meaning "absence of fat" (see spare), or perhaps from M.L.G. ribbesper "spare ribs," from sper "spit," from P.Gmc. *speru, from PIE *sper- "pole, spear," related to spar (n.1).

spark --- O.E. spearca, from P.Gmc. *spark- (cf. M.L.G. sparke, M.Du. spranke, not found in other Gmc. languages). Electrical sense dates from 1748. Slang sense of "a gallant, a beau, a lover" (c.1600) is perhaps a fig. use, but also perhaps from cognate O.N. sparkr "lively." The verb is attested from c.1300; the slang meaning "stimulate, to trigger" first attested 1912. Spark plug first recorded 1903 (sparking plug is from 1902); fig. sense of "one who initiates or is a driving force in some activity" is from 1941.

sparkle --- c.1200, frequentative verb form of M.E. sparke (see spark). Of wines, from 1422. The noun is first attested c.1330. Sparkler in the fireworks sense is from 1879.

sparrow --- small brownish-gray bird, O.E. spearwa, from P.Gmc. *sparwan (cf. O.N. spörr, O.H.G. sparo, Ger. Sperling, Goth. sparwa), from PIE *sper- (cf. Cornish frau "crow;" O.Prus. spurglis "sparrow;" Gk. spergoulos "small field bird," psar "starling"). Sparrowhawk is attested from c.1400. Sparrowfarts (1886) was Cheshire slang for "very early morning."

sparse --- 1727, from L. sparsus "scattered," pp. of spargere "to scatter, spread," from PIE base *(s)pregh- "to jerk, scatter" (cf. Skt. parjanya- "rain, rain god," Avestan fra-sparega "branch, twig," lit. "that which is jerked off a tree," O.N. freknur "freckles," Swed. dial. sprygg "brisk, active," Lith. sprogti "shoot, bud," O.Ir. arg "a drop").

Spartacist --- Ger. Bolshevik of November 1918 uprising, 1919, from Ger. Spartakist, from Spartacus (d.71 B.C.E.), Thracian leader of Roman Servile War (73-71 B.C.E.), the name adopted 1916 as a pseudonym by Karl Liebknecht in his political tracts, and extended to the socialist revolutionary group he founded with Rosa Luxemburg and Franz Mehring.

Spartan --- c.1425, "of or pertaining to the classical Gk. city of Sparta," from Sparta capital of Laconia, famed for severity of its social order, the frugality of its people, the valor of its army, and the brevity of its speech. Meaning "characterized by frugality or courage" is from 1644.

spasm --- c.1400, from O.Fr. spasme, from L. spasmus "a spasm," from Gk. spasmos "a spasm, convulsion," from span "draw up, tear away, contract violently, pull," from PIE *spe- "stretch." Fig. sense of "a sudden convulsion" (of emotion, politics, etc.) is attested from 1817. The verb is recorded from 1900.

spasmodic --- 1681, from M.L. spasmodicus, from Gk. spasmodes "of the nature of a spasm," from spasmos (see spasm) + -odes "like."

spastic (adj.) --- 1753, from L. spasticus, from Gk. spastikos "afflicted with spasms," lit. "drawing, pulling," from span "draw up" (see spasm). The noun meaning "a person affected with spastic paralysis" is attested from 1896; derogatory slang shortening spaz first recorded 1965.

spat (1) --- petty quarrel, 1804, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin; perhaps somehow imitative (cf. spat "smack, slap," attested from 1823).

spat (2) --- short gaiter covering the ankle, 1779, shortening of spatterdash "long gaiter to keep trousers or stockings from being spattered with mud" (1687), from spatter and dash (v.).

spate --- c.1425, originally Scottish and northern Eng., "a sudden flood, especially one caused by heavy rains or a snowmelt," of unknown origin. Perhaps from O.Fr. espoit "flood," from Du. spuiten "to flow, spout;" related to spout. Fig. sense of "unusual quantity" is attested from c.1614.

spatial --- 1847, from L. spatium + adj. suffix -al; formed in Eng. as an adjective to space, to go with temporal.

spatter --- 1576 (implied in spattering), possibly a frequentative verb from the stem of Du. or Low Ger. spatten "to spout, burst," of imitative origin.

spatula --- 1525, from L. spatula "broad piece, spatula," dim. of spatha "broad, flat tool or weapon," from Gk. spathe "broad blade" (see spade (1)). Erroneous form spattular is attested from 1607.

spavin --- disease of the hock joint of a horse, 1426, from M.Fr. espavain, probably from Frank. *sparwan "sparrow" (see sparrow), so called perhaps from comparison of the bird's awkward gait to that of a horse affected with spavin.