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Glite Dictionary
Hotspur

Hotspur

1 9.9
A nickname for Sir Henry Percy, a famous English knight known for being brave and quick to anger
  • proper noun
: Hotspur
  • Harry Hotspur
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Hotspur manager

Examples

  • Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1;

    Academic text (2003)

  • I told Mr. Royce, the faculty advisor, I wanted to be Hotspur, a great part, this rebel who stutters when he gets excited.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Scenes in Shakespeare's Henry IV are set in Warkworth Castle, for it was here that the third Earl and his son Harry Hotspur plotted to set Henry IV on the throne of England.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Sir Henry Percy, known as Hotspur, was famous for his bravery in battle.

  • Many tales of Hotspur showcase his fiery temper and daring exploits.

  • The character Hotspur in Shakespeare's plays embodies the spirit of a bold knight.

Surface Forms

Hotspur main

Morphology

Hotspur = hot + spur (semi-transparent) = hot + spur

The nickname is built from recognizable parts, but the connection between 'hot spur' and a bold, fiery-tempered person is metaphorical rather than fully literal.

Etymology

The word Hotspur was a nickname for Sir Henry Percy and comes from hot ('eager' or 'fiery') and spur ('a metal piece used to urge a horse'). He often spurred his horse into action and fought with boldness and quick anger, so Hotspur suggests both bravery and a fiery temper.