Spawn \Spawn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Spawning.]

[OE. spanen, OF. espandre, properly, to shed, spread, L. expandere to spread out. See Expand.]

1. To produce or deposit (eggs), as fishes or frogs do.

2. To bring forth; to generate; -- used in contempt.

One edition [of books] spawneth another. --Fuller.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Spawn \Spawn\, v. i.

1. To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs do.

2. To issue, as offspring; -- used contemptuously.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Spawn \Spawn\, n. [[root]170. See Spawn, v. t.]

1. The ova, or eggs, of fishes, oysters, and other aquatic animals.

2. Any product or offspring; -- used contemptuously.

3. (Hort.) The buds or branches produced from underground stems.

4. (Bot.) The white fibrous matter forming the matrix from which fungi.

Spawn eater (Zo["o]l.), a small American cyprinoid fish (Notropis Hudsonius) allied to the dace.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)