[f. SPRAG sb.3]
1. trans. To prop up or sustain (esp. coal in a mine) with a sprag or sprags.
1841. Hartshorne, Salop. Ant., Gloss., Sprag, to support or prop up any thing that inclines.
1865. Even. Stand., 7 Feb. Several of the men as well as deceased neglected to sprag or spern their work.
1890. Daily News, 31 May, 6/7. As an effect of an overhanging piece of coal not being ‘spragged,’ it might have fallen upon the defendant.
absol. 1894. Times, 1 March, 10/2. Joseph Critchley said that there was plenty of timber for the men to have spragged if they thought proper.
2. To check or stop (a wheel) by inserting a sprag.
1878. F. S. Williams, Midl. Railw., 525. Mr. Woodiwin … seized the plank … and tried to sprag the wheel with it.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 March, 5/2. The wheels were ‘spragged,’ to prevent the men being lowered too rapidly.
fig. 1887. Carlisle Jrnl., 6 Dec., 3/5. The Tories … gave a Hares and Rabbits Bill, and then spragged the trap that was to catch the vermin.
Hence Spragging vbl. sb.; Spragger.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 26 Sept., 7/2. Nearly fifty per cent. of the lives lost … proceeded from falls of roof…, a large proportion of which might have been avoided by a more … methodical system of ‘propping’ and ‘spragging.’
1881. Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 84. Ironstone Miner…. Token Lad, Pick Carrier. Spragger.
1884. Times, 8 Jan., 2/6. A ‘spragger’ is to be found on all mineral railways and tramways, his business being to ‘sprag’ the wheels when going down an incline.
