a U -shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward.

anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed, or achievement.

climbing iron.

Ornithology . a stiff, usually sharp, horny process on the leg of various birds, esp. the domestic rooster, or on the bend of the wing, as in jacanas and screamers.

Pathology . a bony projection or exostosis.

a sharp piercing or cutting instrument fastened to the leg of a gamecock in cockfighting; gaff.

Physical Geography . a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to the main body of a mountain or mountain range.

something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection.

a short or stunted branch or shoot, as of a tree.

Typography . a short, seriflike projection from the bottom of the short vertical stroke in the capital G in some fonts.

wing dam.

Botany .

a slender, usually hollow, projection from some part of a flower, as from the calyx of the larkspur or the corolla of the violet.

Also called spur shoot. a short shoot bearing flowers, as in fruit trees.

Architecture .

a short wooden brace, usually temporary, for strengthening a post or some other part.

any offset from a wall, as a buttress.

griffe 2 .

Ceramics . a triangular support of refractory clay for an object being fired.

Railroads . spur track.

to prick with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or urge on

The rider spurred his mount ruthlessly. Appreciation spurs ambition.

to strike or wound with the spur, as a gamecock.

to furnish with spurs or a spur.

to goad or urge one's horse with spurs or a spur; ride quickly.

to proceed hurriedly; press forward

We spurred onward through the night.

on the spur of the moment

without deliberation; impulsively; suddenly

We headed for the beach on the spur of the moment.

win one's spurs

to achieve distinction or success for the first time; prove one's ability or worth

Our team hasn't won its spurs yet.

noun

curb , hindrance

verb

disapprove , discourage , dissuade

noun

activation , actuation , catalyst , excitant , goad , goose * , impetus , impulse , incentive , incitation , inducement , motivation , motive , needle * , prick , stimulant , trigger , turn-on , urge , encouragement , fillip , prod , push , stimulation , stimulator , calcar , incitement , instigation , projection , provocation , rowel , snag , spine (on a cock\'sleg) , stimulus

verb

animate , arouse , awaken , countenance , drive , egg on * , exhort , favor , fire up , goad , goose * , impel , instigate , key up , press , prick , prod , propel , push , put up to , rally , rouse , sic , spark , stimulate , stir , trigger , turn on , urge , work up , egg on , excite , foment , galvanize , incite , inflame , inspire , motivate , move , pique , prompt , set off , touch off , catalyst , cause , encourage , impetus , incentive , needle , provoke , ridge , spike , startle , stimulus