different between outspan vs outspin

English

Etymology

out +? span. Compare Afrikaans uitspan.

Verb

outspan (third-person singular simple present outspans, present participle outspanning, simple past and past participle outspanned)

1. (South Africa) To release oxen from harness.
   • 1976, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, Jock of the Bushveld, Longman, ISBN 058261231, page 126:

     “We had outspanned on in a flat covered with close grass about two feet high…The wagons, four in number, were drawn up off the road two abreast.”

Noun

outspan (plural outspans)

1. (South Africa) The place where one outspans.
   • 1976, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, Jock of the Bushveld, Longman, ISBN 058261231, page 202:

     “At the outspan or on the road or footpath he shouldered them aside as one walks through standing corn, not aggressively, but with the superb indifference of right and habit unquestioned.”

2. An area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh their animals

Related terms

• inspan: To yoke oxen.

Anagrams

• soapnut

English

Etymology

From out- +? spin.

Verb

outspin (third-person singular simple present outspins, present participle outspinning, simple past and past participle outspun)

1. (transitive) To spin out; finish; exhaust.
   • 1999, Jean Fritz, Margot Tomes, Homesick, my own story:

     […] again and again as if she could not tear herself away, yet each time dancing farther forward, swaying to and fro. Finally, her arms raised, she began twirling around, faster and faster, as if she were trying to outspin time itself.

   • 2006, Karen DeYoung, Soldier: the life of Colin Powell:

     His protective senior staff decided the secretary was being outspun.

2. (transitive) To exceed in spinning; exceed in spinning thread.
   • 1851, Edward Young, Night thoughts on life, death and immortality:

     As if we could outspin the Fatal Sisters.

   • 2007, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Lady of Avalon:

     Old Cigfolla, who despite stiff joints could outspin any of them, drew out a fine thread of flax.

Anagrams

• Toupins, nip-outs, pinouts, sit upon, sit-upon, spin out, spinout, spoutin', unipots