Etymology From Middle English spayen, spaien, from the Anglo-Norman espeier, equivalent to the Old French espeer (“to cut with a sword”), from espee (“sword”), whence the Modern French épée.
1
To destroy or remove the ovaries or uterus (of a female animal) to prevent pregnancy.
We’re having our cat spayed as we don’t want her having kittens.
With their eye on non-island countries, namely America, the authors of Cat Wars argue for a combination of spay/neuter programs, enclosed sanctuaries, and euthanasia.2016 November 13, Britt Peterson, “The Case Against Cats”, in The Atlantic:
Etymology From Middle English spayen, spaien, from the Anglo-Norman espeier, equivalent to the Old French espeer (“to cut with a sword”), from espee (“sword”), whence the Modern French épée.
1
The act of spaying an animal.
I was queasy about my first spay of a far-gone feral and left it up to my vet.1997 July 28, Sharon Talbert, “spay/abortion of pregnant cats”, in rec.pets.cat.rescue (Usenet):