SPATCH COCK. [Abbreviation of DISPATCH COCK.] A hen just killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, split, and broiled: an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion. TO SPEAK WITH. To rob. I spoke with the cull on the cherry-coloured prancer; I robbed the man on the black horse. CANT. SPEAK. Any thing stolen. He has made a good speak; he has stolen something considerable. SPECKED WHIPER. A coloured hankerchief. CANT. SPICE. To rob. Spice the swell; rob the gentleman. SPICE ISLANDS. A privy. Stink-hole bay or dilberry creek. The fundament. SPIDER-SHANKED. Thin-legged. TO SPIFLICATE. To confound, silence, or dumbfound. SPILT. A small reward or gift. SPILT. Thrown from a horse, or overturned in a carriage; pray, coachee, don't spill us. SPINDLE SHANKS. Slender legs. TO SPIRIT AWAY. To kidnap, or inveigle away. SPIRITUAL FLESH BROKER. A parson. SPIT. He is as like his father as if he was spit out of his mouth; said of a child much resembling his father. SPIT. A sword. SPIT FIRE. A violent, pettish, or passionate person. SPLICED. Married: an allusion to joining two ropes ends by splicing. SEA TERM. SPLIT CROW. The sign of the spread eagle, which being represented with two heads on one neck, gives it somewhat the appearance of being split. SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer. SPLIT FIG. A grocer. SPLIT IRON. The nick-name for a smith. SPOONEY. (WHIP) Thin, haggard, like the shank of a spoon; also delicate, craving for something, longing for sweets. Avaricious. That tit is damned spooney. She's a spooney piece of goods. He's a spooney old fellow. SPOIL PUDDING. A parson who preaches long sermons, keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are overdone. TO SPORT. To exhibit: as, Jack Jehu sported a new gig yesterday: I shall sport a new suit next week. To sport or flash one's ivory; to shew one's teeth. To sport timber; to keep one's outside door shut; this term is used in the inns of court to signify denying one's self. N.B. The word SPORT was in great vogue ann. 1783 and 1784. SPUNGE. A thirsty fellow, a great drinker. To spunge; to eat and drink at another's cost. Spunging-house: a bailiff's lock-up-house, or repository, to which persons arrested are taken, till they find bail, or have spent all their money: a house where every species of fraud and extortion is practised under the protection of the law. SPUNK. Rotten touchwood, or a kind of fungus prepared for tinder; figuratively, spirit, courage. SPOON HAND. The right hand. TO SPOUT. To rehearse theatrically. SPOUTING CLUB. A meeting of apprentices and mechanics to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming recruits for the strolling companies. SPOUTING. Theatrical declamation. SPOUTED. Pawned. SPREAD. Butter. SPREAD EAGLE. A soldier tied to the halberts in order to be whipped; his attitude bearing some likeness to that figure, as painted on signs.