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.
Spawning actually begins when females join the males in very shallow water, usually between midnight and dawn, and the males prod the females into dropping her eggs.