spânz

Alternative forms

• spînz, spânț, spînț

Etymology

From older spînz, from *spîndzu (compare Aromanian spingiu), from Latin spongia (“sponge”); metaphorically applied to horse diseases, as in Spanish espundia (“skin ulcer (in horses)”), Sardinian spòngia, ispunzòla (“wobbler syndrome”); ultimately from Ancient Greek σπογγιά (spongiá). Cf. also Albanian spëndër.

Noun

spânz m (plural spânzi)

1. purple hellebore, Christmas rose (Helleborus purpurascens)
2. horse disease with enlargement of the spleen