Also 7 sprein. [Of doubtful origin. Connection with OF. espreign-, espreindre to squeeze out, is not clear.] trans. To wrench or twist (a part of the body) so as to cause pain or difficulty in moving.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 101. I was loath to kicke and fling against it, lest … I might loosen my lading,… if not spraine, and hurt my selfe.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 14 July. I, by leaping down the little bank,… did sprain my right foot, which brought me great present pain.
1673. Coles, God’s Sov., i. 24. By over-grasping we may sprain our Hands, and unfit ’em for Service otherwise within their compass.
1716. Gay, Trivia, I. 38. The sudden Turn may stretch the swelling Vein, The cracking Joint unhinge, or Ankle sprain.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 503. The Rev. Mr. Smith … sprained his ancle, and treated it as a sprain with cold applications.
1816. A. C. Hutchison, Pract. Obs. Surg. (1826), 174. In this very dock-yard … a man complained of having sprained his loins.
1861. Reade, Cloister & H., III. 134. He would see my leg. It was sprained sore, and swelled at the ankle.
fig. 1641. Milton, Reform., II. Wks. 1851, III. 51. These devout Prelates … for these many years have not ceas’t in their Pulpits wrinching, and spraining the text.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xix. 204. And would it not have wrench’d and sprain’d his soul with short turning?
Hence Sprained ppl. a.; Spraining vbl. sb.1
1606. Bp. W. Barlow, Serm., 21 Sept. B ij. To heale the infected, to splint the spreined.
1675. Hannah Woolley, Gentlew. Comp., 31. Fops will venture the spraining of their tongues.
1849. Claridge, Cold Water Cure, 132. Sprained Shoulder.—A patient fell down an ice-berg and severely bruised his shoulder.
1875. W. S. Hayward, Love agst. World, 97. Who ever heard of any one going to bed for a sprained ankle.
