spay
1[ spey ]
verb (used with object)Veterinary Medicine.
to remove the ovaries of (an animal).
Origin of spay
11375–1425; late Middle English spayen<Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword (Old French espeer), derivative of espee sword; see épée
Other words from spay
- un·spayed, adjective
Words that may be confused with spay
- spade, spayed
Other definitions for spay (2 of 2)
spay2
[ spey ]
noun
a three-year-old male red deer.
Origin of spay
21375–1425; late Middle English < ?
- Also called spay·ad [spey-uhd], /ˈspeɪ əd/, spay·ard [spey-erd]. /ˈspeɪ ərd/.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for spay
spay
/ (speɪ) /
verb
(tr) to remove the ovaries, and usually the uterus, from (a female animal)
Origin of spay
1C15: from Old French espeer to cut with the sword, from espee sword, from Latin spatha
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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