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spay

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spay

1[spey] ,
–verb (used with object) Veterinary Medicine.
to remove the ovaries of (an animal).

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME spayen < AF espeïer to cut with a sword (OF espeer), deriv. of espee sword; see épée

spay

2[spey] ,
–noun
a three-year-old male red deer.
Also called spay⋅ad [spey-uhd] , spay⋅ard [spey-erd] .


Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spay   (spā)   
tr.v.   spayed, spay·ing, spays
To remove surgically the ovaries of (an animal).

[Middle English spaien, from Anglo-Norman espeier, to cut with a sword, from espee, sword, from Latin spatha; see spathe.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

spay 
c.1410, "stab with a sword, kill," also "remove the ovaries of," from Anglo-Fr. espeier "cut with a sword," from M.Fr. espeer, from O.Fr. espee "sword" (Fr. épée), from L. spatha "broad, flat weapon or tool," from Gk. spathe "broad blade" (see spade (1)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spay
Pronunciation: 'spA
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: spayed; spay·ing
: to remove the ovaries of (afemale animal)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

spay (spā)
v. spayed, spay·ing, spays
To surgically remove the ovaries of an animal.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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