[f. SPRING sb.1 2 + WELL sb.] A spring or well of water; a spring-head or fountain. Also fig.
a. 1300. in Birch, Cartul. Sax., II. 473. So bi strete on holedene; endlang denes to springwellen.
c. 1450. Myrr. Our Ladye, 280. All helthe cometh from god, that ys the sprynge welle of all goodnesse.
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah xlix. 10. He … shal lede them, and geue them drinke of the springe welles.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. ii. B iij. When these two vyces be the spryngwel and heed of al myschefe.
1601. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 391/2. The spring-well quhilk is the heid of the burne Tayok.
c. 1845. Fullarton’s Gazetteer Scot., s.v. Dornock, A spring-well on the spot … is still called Sword-well.
1893. O’Donoghue, Brendaniana, 171. I discovered these two caves and this spring-well.
