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spunge |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spunge \Spunge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. A sponge. [Obs.] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sponge \Sponge\, n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr ?, ?. Cf {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under {Spongi[ae]}. 2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongi[ae] (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. 3. Fig.: One who lives upon others a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger. 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 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. 6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel. {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 {tubulufera}), 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 {S. 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. [Cant or Slang] ``He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate.'' --Lowell.
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