spay

¹

[ spey ]

verb (used with object)

, Veterinary Medicine.

1. to remove the ovaries of (an animal).

spay

²

[ spey ]

noun

1. a three-year-old male red deer.

spay

/ speɪ /

verb

1. tr to remove the ovaries, and usually the uterus, from (a female animal)

Other Words From

• un·spayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spay¹

1375–1425; late Middle English spayen < Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword ( Old French espeer ), derivative of espee sword; épée

Origin of spay²

1375–1425; late Middle English < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of spay¹

C15: from Old French espeer to cut with the sword, from espee sword, from Latin spatha

Example Sentences

She says the Humane Society would like to enforce spay and neuter laws to the point where there would be no purebred dogs left.

From The Daily Beast

In a land where resources are scarce, and spay-neuter initiatives are only starting to make inroads, this is not surprising.

From The Daily Beast

In the course of time, they drank four-and-twenty, when Spay said to the other, "Now we'll go."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• castrate
• neuter