span-new
Definition
- Adjective:
- Completely new: "span-new" describes something that is entirely new, fresh, and unused, often implying it has never been touched or worn before. This is an archaic or dialectal term, rarely used in modern English.
Usage Examples
- (A dress that was entirely new and never worn before.)
- (The tools were freshly made and unused.)
Advanced Usage
"as span-new as a pebble": a poetic or colloquial comparison to emphasize extreme newness.
- His car was as span-new as a pebble from a stream. (The car was impeccably new and clean.)
"span-new from the shop": referring to an item just purchased, still in its original condition.
- The book was span-new from the shop, with crisp pages. (The book was brand new and unread.)
Variants and Related Words
- Spanking new (adj): a more common modern synonym meaning very new and impressive.
- She bought a spanking new laptop. (A very new and shiny laptop.)
- Brand-new (adj): the standard modern term for something completely new.
- The house is brand-new. (It was just built.)
Synonyms
- Brand-new: entirely new and unused.
- Fresh: new, not stale or worn.
- Mint: in perfect condition, like new (often used for collectibles).
Related Idioms
- New off the block: recently made or acquired.
- The car is new off the block. (It is brand new.)
- Straight out of the box: immediately available and unused.
- The toy was straight out of the box. (It was never played with.)
Etymology Note
"Span-new" originates from Old Norse spánnýr, where spánn means "chip" (of wood) and nýr means "new," literally "new as a freshly cut chip." It is a historical term, now largely replaced by "brand-new."