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spur·ry also spur·rey

(spûrē, spŭrē)

n. pl. spur·ries also spur·reys

Any of several weedy, low-growing herbs of the genera Spergula and Spergularia of the pink family, especially Spergula arvensis native to Europe, having linear whorled leaves and small white flowers.

[Dutch spurrie, from Middle Dutch speurie, probably from Medieval Latin spergula, probably from Latin spargere, to scatter.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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