spur

A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.

Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting; From helmet to the spur all blood he was.

Tvvo ſorts of ſpurs ſeem to have been in uſe about the time of the Conqueſt, one called a pryck, having only a ſingle point like the gaffle of a fighting cock; the other conſiſting of a number of points of a conſiderable length, radiating from and revolving on a center, thence named the rouelle or vvheel ſpur.

A jab given with the spurs.

I had hardly said the word, when Kit jumped into the saddle, and gave his horse a whip and a spur — and off it cantered, as if it were in as great a hurry to be married as Kit himself.

Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does a horse.

She is a theame of honour and renowne, / A ſpurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds, / Whoſe preſent courage may beate downe our foes, / And fame in time to come canonize us, [...]

An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.

Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.

To prod (especially a horse) on the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.

Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head! Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood; Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!

To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object

My desire / (More sharp than filed steel) did spur me forth...

But the latest Santa Fe development, while not spurring the Rock Island to any further acceleration, has drawn fire from a totally unexpected quarter.

To put spurs on.

to spur boots

To press forward; to travel in great haste.

To form a spur (senses 17-18 of the noun)

It spurs off the Robin Hood line, providing ten miles of single-line test track with a three-mile double section, capable of testing up to 75mph.

A tern.