a. [f. SPAN sb.1 + LONG a.] Having the length of a span; hence, brief, short.

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1593.  Nashe, Christ’s T., Wks. (Grosart), IV. 214. Though our span long youthly prime, blossomes foorth eye-banquetting flowers,… yet in the graue shall we rotte.

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1637.  B. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, II. ii. There … white faies do dwell, And span-long elves that dance about a pool.

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1790.  Burns, Tam o’ Shanter, 132. Twa span-lang, wee, unchristen’d bairns.

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1878.  Browning, Poets Croisic, 4. While—never mind who…—Sank stifled span-long brightness in the birth.

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  Comb.  1654.  R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 283. In the apprehension of us Momentanean Ephemeri, and span-long-lived Accountants.

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