Main Entry:

spay

Pronunciation:

\ˈspā, ÷ ˈspād\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

spayed \ˈspād, ÷ ˈspā-dəd\ ; spay·ing \ˈspā-iŋ, ÷ ˈspā-diŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French espeer to pierce, castrate, from espee sword, from Latin spatha sword — more at spade

Date:

15th century

: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)