Pa. t. sprang, sprung. Pa. pple. sprung. Forms: Inf. 1 springan, 3 (7) springen, 3–6 springe (3 springue, 4 sprinke, 5 sprenge), 4– spring; 4–6 sprynge (5 -yn), 4–5 spryng. Pa. t. 1– sprang (1 spranc, 5 sprank), 4–6 sprange (5 spranke); 1–7 sprong (4 spronk), 4–7 spronge (3 sprongue); 3–4 (subj.) sprunge, 6– sprung; pl. 1 sprungon, 2–4 sprungen, 3–4 sprongen. Pa. pple. 1–4 sprungen (6 Sc. sprungin); 3–5 i-sprunge (6 arch. i-sprung), 3, 6 sprunge, 6– sprung; 4 y-sprongen, sprongun, 4–6 sprongen (5–6 -yn); 3–4 i-spronge, 4 (h)y-spronge, i-sprong, 6, 8 arch. y-sprong; 3–6 spronge, 4–7 sprong, 6 Sc. sproung; 8 sprang. [Common Teutonic: OE. springan (more commonly áspringan), = OFris. springa (WFris. springe, NFris. spring), MDu. (and Du.) springen, OS. springan (MLG. springen, usually sprengen), OHG. springan (MHG. and G. springen), ON. (Icel., Norw., Sw.) springa (Da. springe). Hence OF. espringuer to dance, It. springare to wag the legs.]
* Intransitive senses.
I. 1. Of things: To change place or position by sudden and rapid movement without contact; to move with a sudden jerk or bound (in later use esp. by resilient force); to dart or fly. Freq. with advs.
Beowulf, 2582. Beorʓes weard … wearp wælfyre; wide sprungon hildeleoman.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxv. Þeah þu teo hwelcne boh ofdune to þære eorðan … swa sprincð he up & wriʓað wið his ʓecyndes.
993. Battle of Maldon, 137. He … þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang, onʓean.
c. 1205. Lay., 23924. Heo … fusden feondliche Þat fur him sprong after.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1804. Ðor wrestelede an engel wið, Senwe sprungen fro ðe lið.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 13. Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange, Ofte haf I wayted.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 989. As fire ys wont to quyk and goo From a sparke spronge amys.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., 193. A Hasel or other stick … that being stuck into the ground may spring up like unto the springs they usually set for fowl.
1680. [see SPRINGING vbl. sb.1 5 b].
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Elasticity, The component Parts … must … spring back to their former natural State.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 157. The elasticity of water is farther proved by its … springing upward … when poured upon any body.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. 20. He drew adown the wind-stirred bough, and took The apples thence; then let it spring away.
fig. 13[?]. K. Alis., 3070 (Laud MS.). Þe folkes herte so gan sprynge Aȝeins Alisaunder þe kynge.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 160. With that sprang vp hir spreit be a span hecher.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xvii. Arthur Philipson’s heart sprung high at the appearance of these strangers.
b. To be resilient or elastic; to shift or move on account of this.
1667–. [see SPRINGING ppl. a. 4].
1821. Scott, Nigel, i. A step that sprung like a buck’s in Epping Forest.
1869. Rankine, Machine & Hand-tools, Pl. M 2, It is impossible for the tables to spring in the least.
1881. A. A. Knox, New Playground, 121. We delighted in our mule-carriage; if the springs did not spring very much, at any rate the mules were never tired.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 130. A forme of type or plates is liable to ‘spring,’ or go off its feet, if not properly locked up.
c. To rise suddenly to, come suddenly into, the eyes, face, etc.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, iii. With tears springing to her eyes.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xxvi. 433. A flush of decision sprang into his face.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, iii. The quick color that sprang to her cheek at his words.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxii. An indignant refusal sprang to his lips.
† 2. Of fame, rumor, etc.: To spread, extend. Freq. with wide. Obs.
(a) Beowulf, 18. Beowulf wæs breme, blæd wide sprang, Scyldes eafera, Scedelandum in.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 127. Ðo sprong þe word of his holi liflode wide into þe londe.
c. 1205. Lay., 6302. Of hire wisdome sprong þat word wide.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 442. So wide sprong is guode los.
c. 1320. Sir Tristrem, 22. His name, it sprong wel wide.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 303. Þis word … sprang wel wyde.
1458. in Archaeol. (1842), XXIX. 327. Hys worship spryngethe wyde.
(b) c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. ix. 26. Ʒe-eade vel spranc mersung ðas … in alle eorðo. [c. 1000 Þes hlisa sprang ofer eall þæt land.]
a. 1300. K. Horn (Camb.), 211. So schal þi name springe Fram kynge to kynge.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 74. Thurgh oute the world … so gan her name spryng That her to seen had euery wight likyng.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 343. Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, Sprong out to every mannes Ere.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Irel. (1896), 40. Her-aftyr spronge tythyngges of the Erle … ynto englond.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 73. His noble fame so far It sprang & grewe.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 26. For sodainly sprange out a fame … that king Richard was yet livyng.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 357. The word sprang throw the contrie that the king of Scottland was landit.
† b. Of a scent: To be diffused. Obs.–1
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1704. The swote smelle spronge so wide, That it dide alle the place aboute [fill].
3. Of persons or animals: To bound or leap.
a. With advs. or preps.
c. 1205. Lay., 21481. Cador sprong to horse, swa spærc him doh of fure.
c. 1300. Havelok, 91. He sprong forth so sparke of glede.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12839. In to þe most pres Ider þen sprong.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1318. Alexander … Springis out with a spere.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 12527 (Trin.). A nedder sprong out of þe sond.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, I. x. [The serpent] sprange after his neck for to have strangled hym.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., March, 79. With that sprong forth a naked swayne.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 37. I sprung forward through the throng.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 339. The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upwards spurn the briny Seas.
1788. Cowper, Mrs. Montagu, 26. Like Pallas springing arm’d from Jove.
1797. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 205. [He] lightly sprung over the fence by which they were separated.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvi. III. 670. Some of the English sprang to their arms and made an attempt to resist.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xliii. His first impulse was to spring forward. Ibid., lx. His daughter sprang to his embrace.
fig. 1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. vii. 610. The whole of the district which owned the sway of the Rajah sprung to arms.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xx. Where have you sprung from?
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 220. Mago was young and adventurous and sprang at the task assigned him.
transf. a. 1822. Shelley, Triumph Life, 2. Swift as a spirit hastening to his task…, the Sun sprang forth Rejoicing in his splendour.
1871. L. Stephen, Playgr. Eur. (1894), x. 228. The mighty peaks … spring at one bound to a height of some ten thousand feet.
b. Without const. Also spec. of partridges, to rise from cover.
a. 1300. K. Horn (Camb.) 593. Þe fole bigan to springe, & horn murie to singe.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxvi. 224. Full faste schall I springe for to spede.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. ii. (1883), 33. Octauian maad his sones to be taught … to swyme, to sprynge, and lepe.
1530. Palsgr., 730. Marke hym whan he daunseth, you shall se hym springe lyke a yonckher.
1589. R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (1851), 51. The Partridge sprang, my hauke fled from my fist.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 465. The Tawnie Lion … then springs.
1709. O. Dykes, Eng. Prov. w. Mor. Refl. (ed. 2), 148. The Partridge … always springs afterwards upon the first Sight of a Setter or a Dog in the field.
1820. Shelley, Arethusa, i. Gliding and springing She went, ever singing, In murmurs as soft as sleep.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxvi. The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxiv. Nero persuaded himself that his mother was watching him like a tiger-cat in act to spring.
c. To rise quickly, or with a bound, from a sitting or recumbent posture. With advs. and preps.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. vii. (1883), 147. Ye kynge … sprang out of his chare and resseyuyd them worshipfully.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 62. The whole family … Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 259. Till rais’d By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,… and upright Stood on my feet.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, ix. 284. Springing from the ground, Both chiefs at once ascend the lofty mound.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 72. The … monster sprung up and cast himself … upon our hero.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, vi. At an early hour in the morning the guests of the castle sprung from their repose.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 104. When the Sultan heard this lamentation, he sprang upon his feet.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xx. 137. Good news caused me to spring from my bed.
d. slang. To offer a higher price.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 28. If the seller finds he can get him to ‘spring’ or advance no further.
4. To fly asunder or in pieces; to burst, break, crack or split; to give way. Also fig. of the heart.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 593. Er him ouȝte þe herte to springe, Þen he scholde him wraþþe for eny þinge.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1195. Speires vnto sprottes sprongen ouer hedes.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xiii. The grete schafte that was longe, Alle to spildurs hit spronge.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 3920. An C tymes hys herte nye sprange, By that bors had hym the tale tolde.
1623. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1908), II. 345. By reason of a plancke that spronge in hir.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 4. If one of those ends should spring, or giue way, it would be a … troublesome danger.
1820. Hennen, Princ. Milit. Surg. (ed. 2), 217. At length an artery sprung, which, in the attempt to secure it, most probably burst under the ligature.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. ix. Splicing a favourite old fives’-bat which had sprung.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. 153. At once a flood of light I’ll fling, Yet softly, lest the glass should spring.
b. In pa. pple. † (a) of horses: Foundered. Obs. (b) of planks, masts, etc.: Split, cracked, ‘shaken,’ (c) slang. Of persons: Intoxicated.
(a) a. 1400. King & Hermit, 68. The kyng had folowyd hym so long, Hys god sted was ne sprong.
1676. Lond. Gaz., No. 1120/4. The Gelding is sprang of the near leg before.
1696. Aubrey, Misc., xiii. 110. To Cure a Beast that is Sprung, that is poysoned.
(b) 1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. When a Mast is only crack’d … then they say, The Mast is Sprung.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 271. The Carpenters discovered the Fore Mast to be sprung.
1765. J. Byron, in Hawkesworth, Voy. (1773), I. 59. Captain Mouat, who commanded the Tamar, informed me that his rudder was sprung.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 128. To examine the main-topsail yard, which had been reported as sprung.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vi. 222. The dissel-boom was sprung, and the hind axle also.
1894. Times, 29 May, 11/1. It will not be possible to race this cutter … owing to her mast being sprung.
(c) 1826. Sporting Mag., XVIII. 327. Both himself and his brother dragsman—in the language of the road—were sprung.
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred, I. vi. 86. He reckoned they was a little bit sprung.
1901. G. Douglas, House w. Green Shutters, 227. [He] came staggering round the corner, ‘a little sprung.’
c. Of mines: To go off, explode.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Poor Cavalier, Wks. (1687), 328. At Langport … thy Rear miscarry’d too, And by a strong Intelligence the same time, Thy Hooks and Buttons sprung with Sherburns Mine.
1698. T. Froger, Voy., 30. On the 22nd the mines sprang, and took very good effect.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 437. The mine will spring by its gallery.
1829. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VI. 303/1. If likewise it be wished that one mine shall spring before another, it is only necessary to shorten the hose.
5. To swell with milk; to give signs of foaling or calving.
1607. Markham, Cavel., I. (1617), 5. It must be good ground, because it may make your Mares spring with milke.
1714. Lond. Gaz., No. 5233/4. A brown Mare in Foal,… Springs for Foaling, and is 5 Years old.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 281. Two understanding farmers … observed a heifer’s udder to spring much. Ibid., 317. The butcher … found their udders spring with milk.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., Spring,… to give symptoms of calving.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Spring, to relax or become flaccid in the parts about the Barren, or ‘shape’ when the time of calving is drawing close on; of a cow.
II. 6. To issue or come forth suddenly, to break out, esp. in a jet or stream. Freq. with forth or out.
Beowulf, 2966. Him for swenge swat ædrum sprong forð under fexe.
a. 900. O. E. Martyrol., 25 Aug., 152. Him sprungon spearcan of þam muðe.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2456. Þer sprong ut, mid te dunt, milc imenget wið blod.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6187. Of þe helmes þat fur sprong out, vor hii were stronge beye.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 9102 (Fairf.). His body [to] driue nakid wiþ skourges þorou þat þrange; out of his bak þe blode sprange.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvi. (Nicholas), 581. Of his body oyle cane spryng, þat helful wes til al sare thing.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 150. The bludy teres sprang out of his eyne.
1822. Shelley, Scenes fr. Faust, II. 110. And near us, see, sparks spring out of the ground.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxxiv. The perspiration which sprung from his brow.
1857. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. v. 69. From whose dissevered neck the blood sprung forth.
transf. a. 1300. Cursor M., 1600. Þis word out of his hert sprang.
c. 1425. Seven Sages (P.), 299. Yf ony word hym hadde sprong, That men myght here of his tong.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Chron. xxvi. 19. The leprosy spronge out of his foreheade in the presence of the prestes.
b. esp. Of water: To rise or flow in a stream out of the ground. Freq. with out or up.
(a) c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 141. Þe stan to-chan, and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer-of.
12[?]. Song to Virgin, 26, in O. E. Misc., 194. Þe welle springet hut of þe, uirtutis.
c. 1290. St. Brendan, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 237. Watur of þis harde stone … Þare sprong out eche daye.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 293. Every thing which he can telle, It springeth up as doth a welle.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xii. 51. It commez fra þa mount Liban of twa welles þat springes vp þare.
1611. Bible, Num. xxi. 17. Israel sang … Spring vp O well.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 168. Pipes, by which … they caused odoriferous Liquor to spring up from the bottom to the top of the Amphitheatre.
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric. (ed. 2), 138. If … the land is wet, even at some distance above the place where the water springs out.
1832. R. & J. Lander, Exped. Niger, II. xiv. 281. Our own [hut] had positively pools of water springing up out of the ground.
(b) c. 1220. Bestiary, 62, in O. E. Misc. A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai boðe bi niȝt and bi dai.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 318. For þare beoz ase it veynene weren onder eorþe…, and þarof springueth þis wellene ech-on.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 843. Þe welle springeþ of alle grace Þat fulleþ þe diches in vche a place.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 119. Beside a roche … He syh wher sprong a lusty welle.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 79. Waters þat spryngyn yn stony lond … er heuy & noyant.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xxi. 764. There he wold lye doune and see the welle sprynge and burbyl.
1530. Palsgr., 730. I have sene the place where Temmes springeth.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xi. 45. A very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 519. Of one hill spring three great Rivers.
1675. E. W[ilson], Spadacrene Dunelm., 17. Such a quantity of water … as springs daily out of the Earth.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Spring, to rise, come, or spout out, as a River or Water does.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 366. How copious and how clear Th’ o’erflowing well of Charity springs here!
1816. Byron, Stanzas Augusta, ‘Through the day,’ vi. In the desert a fountain is springing.
† c. To gush with blood. Obs.–1
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. xxii. (S.T.S.), I. 125. Þe wound þat was springand with huge stremes of blude.
7. Of morning, dawn, etc.: To come above the horizon; to begin to appear.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 60. Ðat was ðe firme morgen tid, ðat euere sprong in werlde wid. Ibid., 3264. Ðo sprong ðe daiening.
a. 1300. K. Horn (Camb.), 124. Al þe day & al þe niȝt, Til hit sprang dai liȝt.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5259. On þe morȝnyng wan þe day him sprong, Charlis ȝeode ys host among.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2044. Begynnys sone in þe gray day as any gleme springis.
c. 1440. Astron. Cal. (MS. Ashm. 391). To wete euery day what houre & what mynute the day begynneþ to sprynge.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IV. iv. 1. Furth of the see, with this, the dawing springis.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 49/2. By the light of the daie that then began to spring.
1611. Bible, Judges xix. 25. When the day began to spring.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 121. Phospher … Promis’d the Sun, ere Day began to spring.
1803. Visct. Strangford, Poems of Camoens (1810), 54. Dear is the dawn, which springs at last.
1876. Morris, Sigurd, III. 182. But meseems that the earth is lovely and each day springeth anew.
b. In fig. contexts.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah ix. 2. To the men dwellende in the regioun of the shadewe of deth, liȝt sprungen is to them.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle, I. xxii. (1859), 26. To whome is ysprunge veray sterre of trouth.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 255. Lyghte spryngeth in darkenesse, helle ys pryued of robry.
c. 1460. Wisdom, 1163, in Macro Plays. The tru son of ryghtusnes … Xall sprynge in hem þat drede hys meknes.
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah lx. 3. The Gentiles shal come to thy light, & kynges to the brightnes yt springeth forth vpon ye.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, A iv. The light of Gods truth might spryng foorth agayne.
1671. Milton, Samson A., 584. But God … can as easie Cause light again within thy eies to spring.
† c. To ascend in the sky. Obs.–1
15[?]. in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), 317. The mone sprang nevir abone his kne.
III. 8. Of vegetation: To grow; to arise or develop by growth. a. Const. from, of, out of.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 314. Swa swa of anum treowe springað maneʓa boʓas, swa gað of anre lufe maneʓa oðre mihta.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 7. [He] bad him legge þulke kurneles onder is fader toungue Ȝwane he were ded, and burien him, and lokie ȝwat þarof sprongue.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22878 (Edinb.). Þoru his wil dos þat mihti kinge Out of hard tre to spring First þe lef and þan þe flowr.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. vii. (Skeat), l. 5. Thou desyrest to knowe the maner of braunches that out of the tree shulde springe.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), ii. 6. Of þase foure graynes schuld spring trees.
1560. Bible (Geneva), 1 Kings iv. 33. From the cedar tre … euen vnto the hyssope that springeth out of the wall.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. ii. 13. Edwards seuen sonnes … Were as … seuen faire branches springing from one roote.
a. 1689. Mrs. Behn, trans. Cowley’s Plants, C.’s Wks. 1711, III. 391. The noble Flow’r that did from Ajax spring.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 661. Shoots of the same year’s growth, springing from wood of the last year’s growth.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 186. It may be regarded as an indubitable fact that all plants spring from seed.
1845. Gosse, Ocean, i. (1849), 35. From a number of little rootlets … springs a straight olive-brown stem.
fig. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 388. Than is Pride he generall rote of all harmes, for of þis rote spryngen certein braunches, as Ire, Envye [etc.].
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 272. The primitive Root out of which the vast Stock of the Catholick Church sprung.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, V. 45. Commerce! beneath whose poison-breathing shade No solitary virtue dares to spring.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, 6. Some miraculous soil from which prodigies and portents spring.
b. Without const.
c. 1055. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 312. On lengtentima springað oððe greniað wæstmas.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 437. Þe blostme gynneþ springe & sprede. Ibid., 1042. For he is wod þat soweþ his sed Þer neuer gras ne springþ ne bled.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4702. Na corn on erth, ne gress sprang.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 53. He syh upon the grene gras The faire freisshe floures springe.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 160. Basilicon … spryngith soone yf aysel on hem reyne.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 90. Lyke till a four þat plesandly will spring.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 124. Make thy settes … to stande halfe a foote and more aboue the erthe, that they may sprynge oute in many braunches.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 22. The weedes … plucked vp by the rootes before they haue seded, wyll neuer spring agayne.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 312. They begin to bud and shout forth, as the Vine, Fig-tree and others then springing.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 450. The Grass securely springs above the Ground; The tender Twig shoots upward to the Skies.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 455. It springs well, and its flax is sooner ripe than any other.
1830. Tennyson, Poems, 44. For her the green grass shall not spring,… Till Love have his full revenge.
1883. Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Rlwy., 21. In all cases where the seed does not spring, the Contractor is to re-sow the same.
fig. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5966. Here sprong lo þe uerste more [= stock] as of hom of normandye.
c. With up.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20788. In þe toumb … Mai naman find na thing bot flur Springand up of suet sauur.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xiii. 5. Anoon thei ben sprungen vp, for thei hadde nat depnesse of erthe.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, x. 41. Now spring vp flouris fra the rute.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Germinasco, to shoote or sprynge vp.
1611. Bible, Isaiah, xliv. 4. And they shall spring vp as among the grasse, as willowes by the water courses.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), I. iii. 40. Among the good seed spring up Tares.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St. Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 536. The olive-tree which Minerva had there caused to spring up.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 158. At first a tuft of fungi sprung up accidentally on some particular spot.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ix. 423. I hear that the young grass is fast springing up.
† d. In the pa. pple. used predicatively. Obs.
13[?]. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxviii. 21. Heil spice sprong, þat neuer was spent.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 249. The lilie croppes on and on, Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, He smot of.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 377. Fertile, & fressh, ek knotty, sprongen newe Thy graffes be.
1530. Palsgr., 730. This yere is farre forthe, the hawthorne buddes be spronge forthe all redy.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 50. The trompettes chapplettes were of oke serriall newly spronge, and not coome to perfectione.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 548. There stood A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change.
9. Of conditions, qualities, etc.: To take rise, to originate or proceed. a. Const. † of or out of; from or whence.
(a) a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 63. Of ðesere godes dradnesse springþ ut an oðer godes ȝiue.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4936. Forr alle mahhtess springenn ut Off soþ meocnessess rote.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27538. Vte o þir seuen [sins] all oþer springes, als of þe stouen þe branches hinges.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 194. For on Caluarye of Crystes blode, Crystenedome gan sprynge.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 283. It springeth out of compassioun, and of ruthe of an-oþeres synne.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 130. The chefe poynt that perteynyth to theyr honowre,… wych ys ryse and spronge of a long custume.
1578. in Hakluyt’s Voy. (1904), VIII. 10. I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soever it springeth.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 261. Out of which knott hath spronge the peace of this lande.
1631. Widdowes, Nat. Philos., 36. His oyle … helpeth diseases of the brest; and other springing of colde.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, I. xii. 58. New Religions may again be made to spring out of them.
1772–84. Cook’s Voy. (1790), V. 1625. Some good, however, generally springs up out of evil.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 343. Such a limitation being by way of use, springs out of the estate.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 69. Out of the union of wisdom and temperance with courage, springs justice.
(b) c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 321. It is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes that synnes spryngen, and how they encreessen.
15[?]. in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), 329. Beseiking him, fra quhome all mercy springis, Ws to ressaue.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. X. iv. From his mouth doth spring Cursing and cosening.
a. 1601. ? Marston, Pasquil & Kath. (1878), II. 374. From thee doth spring … her cause of sorrowing.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 137. From whence then springs this inequality?
1718. Free-thinker, No. 10. 68. Nothing but Confusion and Immorality can spring from Falsehood, in the End.
1790. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, April. Humour springing from mere dress, or habits,… is quickly obsolete.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 155. The coalition which had restored the king terminated with the danger from which it had sprung.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iv. § 4. 192. A yet more important result sprang from the increase of population.
b. Without const. In later use commonly with up.
(a) 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5935. After hor daye sone þe sorwes spronge bliue. Ibid., 9819. After sein tomas deþe … þer sprong contek suiþe strong.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 338. Among al blasphemes þat ever sprongen, þis is þe moost cursid.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 285. For Pelagius his heresye, þat gan among hem to springe.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 73. Hete sprynges þanne yn alle kyngdomes.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 889, in Macro Plays. Sum Pryde I wolde spronge hyȝe in þi hert.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 158. Curage in thame was noucht begonne to spring.
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., I. 1. The utilitie springinge by the right vse of these [medicines] is great.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xiv. New pleasures will be springing forth unto us.
1669. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 292. We have other great matters spring daily upon us.
1711. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 163. I ask … whether such an intent ever sprung in the brains of the Irish Commissioners.
1783. Johnson, Lett. (1788), II. 302. I read your last kind letter with great delight; but when I came to love and honour, what sprung in my mind?
1902. Violet Jacob, Sheep-Stealers, xiv. A little rift had sprung between the two brothers.
(b) 1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 328 b. There sprang up many adversaries.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 180. There have sprung up also in these later times, two other Courts.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, I. ii. 99. Sense upon which holy Intelligence And heavenly Reason … Do springen up.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxv. The delight which he perceived began to spring up in him.
1822. Lamb, Elia, I. Old Actors. Thought springing up after thought, I would almost say, as they were watered by her tears.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 342. In a market town which had sprung up near the castle of the proprietor.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 4. 128. The scholastic philosophy sprung up in the schools of Paris.
† c. In pa. pple. used predicatively. Also with up. Obs.
(a) c. 1327. in Wright, Pol. Songs (Camden), 339. Falsnesse is so fer forth over al the londe i-sprunge.
1389. Wyclif, Exod. xii. 30. Ther was sprongun a greet crye in Egipte.
1452. in Catal. Anc. Deeds (1906), V. 350. The cause also of such dyvorce had and movet sprongen or comyn opon the party of the said Margarete.
c. 1460. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1913), 93. A thyng i-sprunge late, bitwene religiouse men … of the oone partie, and a worthy man … of þe oþer.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 138. Syth dyuers opynions and dyuers streyues hade ben sprongen betwene th’ Aldermen and the Commounalte.
1545. Act 37 Hen. VIII., c. 17. Preamb., Heresies,… idolatrie, ipocrisies, and supersticions sprongen and growing within the same [church].
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 312. If Natures concord broke, Among the Constellations warr were sprung.
(b) 1529. Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.), 44. Enormytyes and abuses sprongen vp in the Christen religion.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 14. The gospell, which was than but grene, & newly sprongen up.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., John i. 1. Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the person … of Christ.
10. Of persons (or animals): To originate by birth or generation; to issue or descend. Usu. const. from, of, or out of. a. In pa. pple.
c. 1175. Moral Ode, 175 (Lamb. MS.). Alle þo þat isprunge beð of adam and of eue.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 4023. Ðis folc, sprungen of israel, Is vnder god timed wel.
c. 1275. Lay., 25082. Alle þeos weren min eldre, of wan we beoþ i-spronge.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8024 (Kölbing). Þis deuelen felle Þat ben ysprongen out of helle.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 196. God … Sent forth his sone … To occupien hym here til issue were spronge.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxv. 4. Forsothe of Madian was sprongun Epha.
a. 1440. Found. St. Bartholomew’s (1895), 2. Thys manne, sprongyng or boryne of lowe lynage,… beganne to haunte the housholdys of noble men.
c. 1450. M. E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 214. Item drynk aissches mad of ey schelles, þat bryddes were sprong, in whyt wyn.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. viii. 41. The Mahomies … were the first gentlemen sprung out of the ancient stocke of Iustinian.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., III. iii. Their lims more large … Than all the brats ysprong from Typhon’s loins.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., VII. xxxi. Sprung of Thyself, or rather no way sprung! Chief Good!
a. 1764. Lloyd, Progr. Envy, Poet. Wks. 1774, I. 135. Fancy, her name, ysprong of race divine.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XVI. 542. Under yon great city fight no few Sprung from Immortals whom thou shall provoke.
1835. T. Mitchell, Aristophanes, Acharn., 558, note. Alcibiades, who, on the mother’s side, was sprung from Cœsyra.
1865. Swinburne, Atalanta, 36. Thou, sprung of the seed of the seas As an ear from a seed or corn.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 229. Adeliza of Löwen, sprung from those lands kindred in blood and speech with England.
transf. a. 1300. K. Horn, 548 (Camb.). We beþ kniȝtes ȝonge Of o dai al isprunge [Harl. alle to day yspronge].
b. In other uses.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 337. Þer ssolle kinges come and springe of þi blod.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5599. Þe kinges kin i sal vn-do, O quam sprang of þe sauueur.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 761. Of soch seed as cherles spryngen, of soch seed spryngen lordes.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cii. 83. Moche peple sprong and come of hem.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxvi. 22. Our wicht invinsable Sampson sprang the fra.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 8. But whence they sprong, or how they were begot, Vneath is to assure.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, I. xxv. 80. From him sprang two families or linages.
1665. Dryden & Howard, Ind. Queen, II. i. You grieve to see Your young Prince glorious, ’cause he sprang from me.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., I. I. 3. He consecrated it to the God of War, from whom he would have it thought he sprung.
1752. Young, Brothers, I. i. From this Philip’s bed Two Alexanders spring.
1779. Mirror, No. 32. His father having sprung nobody knows whence.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 138. Enlarged vesicles that have sprung from a primitive molecule. Ibid., 225. Ovid replenishes his post-diluvian world with animals that sprang up out of the earth.
1850. W. Irving, Goldsmith, i. 18. He sprang from a respectable, but by no means a thrifty stock.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, ii. His face was stamped with all the nobility of the Domitian race from which he sprang.
c. To come into being. Also with additions as forth, to life.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 334. Mean while The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring New Heav’n and Earth.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 769. Springs a palace in its stead, But in a distant spot.
1813. T. Busby, Lucretius, I. I. 1055. Nought that beneath the etherial concave grows, Had sprang to life, or to perfection rose.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, X. xviii. The winds…, as before Those winged things sprang forth, were void of shade.
1820. Byron, Juan, III. lxxxvi. i. The isles of Greece!… Where Delos rose, and Phœbus sprung!
d. To arise as an offshoot from a society.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 114. The Monophysites [were] a sect which sprung from the Eutychians.
1847. Prandi, trans. Cesare Cantù, Reform. in Europe, I. 214. From the Order of the Benedictines there sprang the Maurines, who devoted themselves to study and teaching.
11. To grow (up); to increase or extend in height or length; to grow out from some thing or part.
1382. Wyclif, Dan. vii. 20. Of ten hornes whiche it hadde in the hed, and of the tother that was sprungen vp.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3265. The spekes … The space of a spere lenghe springande fulle faire.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 572. Ley vnder laure, and flakis vp let springe [glossed exurgere].
1485. Bk. St. Albans, Hawking, c ij. Yet have I sene sum fowkys take hem owte of mewe when the sarcell were bot halfe i-spronge.
1674. Ray, Coll. Words, 115. The cake of Silver after it grows cold springs or rises up into branches.
1882. Vines, trans. Sachs’ Bot., 544. Three or five large broad protuberances … spring from the periphery of the floral axis.
b. To attain to a certain height or point by growth. Also fig.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6954. Therof alle perseners be we, And tellen folk where so we go, That man thurgh us is sprongen so.
1530. Palsgr., 730. Howe you be spronge sythe I sawe you.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 51. According to the height that I would haue the Hedge to spring.
1627. May, Lucan, VI. 118. Corne as yet not sprong To the full height.
1661. J. Davies, Civ. Warres, 365. They could not digest to see a young sprig … sprung up to be a commander.
a. 1861. T. Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, Day Dream, 13. Beboldest thou Thy babe, now sprung a man?
c. Of arches, etc.: To take a curving or slanting upward course from some point of support. Also without const.
(a) 1739. C. Labelye, Piers Westm. Bridge, 8. Semi-circular Arches, springing from about 1 Foot higher than Low-water Mark.
1814. Scott, Diary, 12 Aug., in Lockhart. Doubtless an arched roof sprung from the side walls.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 573. The inclined ridges, springing from the angles of the walls, are called hips.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, v. 54. A fine massive round tower with a turret springing from it about halfway up its height.
1881. Young, Ev. Man his own Mechanic, § 962. 458. A wall plate is nailed to receive the rafters, one of which springs from each of the front posts.
(b) 1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 14. The Arch … springs at high Water Mark.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, xi. 308. The piers rise until the arch begins to spring.
d. In pa. pple.: Set out, extended.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 351/1. The ribs must be well ‘sprung’ from the spine.
12. With up. Of a breeze: To begin to blow.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 479. A Breeze of Wind springing up the same Evening, we weighed and set Sail for the Brasils.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. (ed. 4), 349. When a gale sprung up, it constantly blew off the land.
1805. Nelson, 25 Sept., in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. 50. As the breeze is now springing up from the NW.
1877. Miss A. B. Edwards, Up Nile, v. 111. By and by a little breeze springs up.
** Transitive senses.
IV. 13. † a. To sprinkle (a liquid, etc.); = SPRENGE v. 1. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 23. Reyn is y-seie arered vppon þe hilles and anon i-spronge aboute in þe feeldes. Ibid., V. 7. He ordeyned holy water … to be spronge in Cristen mennis hous.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 170. Whanne þou hast sewid þe wounde bineþe … þanne springe þeron poudre consolidatif.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 907. Also the fleen wol sleen, on thy pament oildreggis ofte yspronge.
c. 1485. E. E. Misc. (1855), 78. Sprynge of that water alle abowte.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 416. Spryng holy water, sing Masses for the quicke and the dead.
b. To sprinkle (a person or thing); = SPRENGE v. 2. Usu. const. with. Obs. exc. dial.
WFlem. springen is similarly employed in place of sprengen. See also BESPRING v.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah lii. 15. He shal springe manye Jentiles.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 331. Israel toke wiþ hem mele and floure i-spronge wiþ oyle.
1392. in Warner, Antiq. Culin. (1791), 17. Set hem adoun and spryng hem with vynegar.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 7. Bray hit a lytelle, with water hit spryng.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 569. Olyues that me fyndeth lying crispe, With rugis drawe, in salt it is to sprynge.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 178 b. Take a lytell pece of erthe and spryng it with water.
1576. G. Baker, trans. Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 239. A certaine vessell … both sproungen rounde about, and covered with Chimney soote.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., To spring clothes is to moisten them a little previous to ironing.
† 14. a. To grow (a beard). Obs.–1
a. 1330. Otuel, 1445. A yong knight, that sprong furst berd, Of no man he nas aferd.
† b. To produce, bring forth. Obs.
1525. Fitzherb., Husb., § 130. There be trees wil … growe well, and sprynge rotes of them-selfe.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 545. The same fig trees when they begin to spring leaf and look green.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 84. A seed which will spring any thing in corrupt minds.
1692. Dryden, Cleomenes, III. ii. If, as we dream, Egyptian earth, impregnated with flame, Sprung the first man.
† c. In fig. use. Also with up. Obs.
(a) 1475. Paston Lett., III. 130. Iff Sporle woode sprynge any sylver or golde, it is my wyll that fyrst of alle ye [etc.].
1593. Lodge, Phœnix Nest, Misc. Pieces A ij b. Striue no more, Forspoken ioyes to spring.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. i. Their indulgence must not spring in me A fond opinion, that he cannot erre.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIV. 494. Thy tears can spring no deeds To help thee, nor recall thy son.
1649. Lovelace, Poems, 67. When Joy wip’t it [sc. the tear] off, Laughter straight sprung ’t agen.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 72. He that has Such a burning Zeal, and springs such mighty Discoveries, must needs be an admirable Patriot.
(b) 1624. Massinger, Parl. Love, V. i. The too much praise … Could not but spring up blushes in my cheeks. Ibid. (1639), Unnat. Combat, III. iii. Nor shall the raine of your good counsell fall Upon the barren sands, but spring up fruit.
† 15. To cast out or in; to drain off. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. x. (Bodl. MS.). [The adder] biteþ and springeþ oute venym.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 248. Þat castyth out synne & springeth in vertewe.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health, 667. Steepe the leaues in cold water, & at night spring off the water.
† 16. To cause to well up or flow out of the ground. Obs.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 2. Þanne þi welle is depe ynow … for to springe watyr of grace. Ibid., 275. Þis grace in þe ground of equyte, þat spryngeth vp þise vij. stremys of vertuys.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 112. A well whiche … sholde sprynge fayre water & swete.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 485. Lakes, some changing Copper into Iron, and causing storms, when any thing is cast into them; and others, sprung up by Earth-quakes.
† 17. To cause to appear or rise to view. Obs.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 50. This day the sonne of riȝtwisnesse … sprang openly his bemes of mercy.
c. 1646. Crashaw, Poems (1904), 254. Thine was the Rosy Dawn that sprung the Day Which renders all the starres she stole away.
18. To cause (a bird, esp. a partridge) to rise from cover.
1531. Elyot, Gov. (1580), 61. The men sprange the Birdes out of the bushes.
1575. Painter, Pal. Pleas., ii. (1890), 4. His spaniells sprong a Partrich.
1592. Lyly, Midas, IV. iii. Thou shouldest say, start a hare, rowse the deer, spring the partridge.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (1651), 240. A Hawk,… when the game is sprung, comes down amain, and stoopes upon a sudden.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, VI. 260. We sprang Ducks and Snipes.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 108, ¶ 4. Honest Will began to tell me of a large Cock-Pheasant that he had sprung in one of the neighbouring Woods.
a. 1793. G. White, Observ. Birds, in Selborne (1833), 293. [The] land-rail … flies in a very … embarrassed manner…, and can hardly be sprung a second time.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rural Sports, 33/1. Before the birds are sprung, he should pat and encourage the dog.
1883. A. M. Mayer, in Century Mag., 487/2. In October and November, the sportsman often ‘springs’ coveys containing birds too small to be shot.
b. In fig. contexts.
1589. [? Lyly], Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 39. That there is not a better Spanniell in England to spring a couie of queanes than Martin.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon (1630), 16. Here’s good game for the hawke,… a couie of Cockscombes, one wise man I think would spring you all.
1614. B. Jonson, Barth. Fair, V. iv. (1904), 130. I may perhaps spring a wife for you, anone.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 1203. Your greedy slav’ring to devour … sprung the Game … Before y’ had time to draw the Net.
a. 1721. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 162. Which can hardly fail of springing some game in such an ample field of fame and glory.
1774. Foote, Cozeners, I. Wks. 1799, II. 148. What new game have you sprung?
1812. [see PLANT sb.1 7].
c. To make (a horse) gallop.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 165. A Horse happens to be sprung out at his full Speed.
1837. Apperley, Chase, Turf, Road (1843), 62. We always spring ’em over this stage.
1874. Reynardson, Down the Road (1887), 160. By Jove, I must spring them a bit,… or we shall never get up the Lodge Hill.
fig. 1849. De Quincey, Eng. Mail Coach, i. Misc. (1854), 302. He unloosed, or, to speak by a stronger word, he sprang, his known resources: he slipped our royal horses like cheetahs.
19. Naut. Of a vessel, or those on board: To have (a mast, yard, etc.) split, cracked or started. † Also of the wind: To cause to split.
For the phrases to spring a butt, one’s luff, see BUTT sb.7 and LUFF sb.1 3.
1595. Drake’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 11. The Exchange, a small shippe, spronge her mast, and was sunke.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 20. A boisterous wind … Springs the … mast.
1669. Lond. Gaz., No. 421/1. Off the Lizard she sprang her main Mast by the board.
1671. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XIV. § 71. The Ship in which himself was, that sprung a plank in the Indies.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 23. We sprung the Main-top-sail Yard.
1799. Edinburgh Advertiser, 9 July, 5/1. San Joaquim … sprung her foremast…. St. Paulo, Sprung her tiller.
1820. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., I. 106. The ice which fell, struck the ship so high and so forcibly, that it … sprung the bowsprit.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. We snapped off three flying-jib booms…; sprung the spritsail yard.
b. To have or make (a leak) open or start.
1611. [see below.]
1624. [see LEAK sb. 1].
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 17. In an hours time, we were got off, without springing the least leak.
a. 1721. Prior, Vicar of Bray & Sir J. More, Wks. 1907, II. 252. You would not have stopped that part of the Ship where the Leak was sprung.
1782. [see LEAK sb. 1].
1851. Dixon, W. Penn, xviii. (1872), 159. The vessel sprang a leak.
1894. Times (weekly ed.), 2 Feb., 91/3. After she left Swansea she sprang a leak.
fig. 1611. Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, IV. i. (1620), 40. The wench has shot him betweene wind and water, and I hope sprung a lake.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, III. ii. He hath sprung a leak too, Or I am cozened.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 206. His Talent has but sprung the greater Leak.
20. a. Mil. To explode (a mine).
1637. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 112. As thay had sprung there mine.
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1244/2. This morning we Sprung a Mine under a Ravelin…, which did considerable execution.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 108. They … blow them up, by placing … Barrels of Powder at the Foot of them, to which they give Fire,… and this they call Springing a Mine.
1744. M. Bishop, Life & Adv., 187. They sprung several Mines and blew up a great Number of our Men.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1836), VI. 463. To be prepared to spring the mines in these bridges if the enemy should advance.
1894. Ld. Wolseley, Life Marlborough, I. 121. The enemy sprang two mines.
fig. 1679. Alsop, Melius Inq., II. vii. 346. When we are mounted he springs his Mine, and blows us all up with his Retractation.
1792. S. Rogers, Pleas. Mem., II. 119. Go, spring the mine of elevating thought.
1816. Wordsw., Sonn. Liberty, II. xlv. 93. He springs the hushed Volcano’s mines.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxiv. I only grieve that I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all!
b. To sound (a rattle).
Also in pres. pple. springing = being sprung.
1812. Ann. Reg., Chron., 26. Mr. Johnston sprung a rattle.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xix. We made him [sc. the rattlesnake] spring his rattle again, and began another attack.
1842. C. Whitehead, R. Savage (1845), III. 335. Men calling, rattles springing … doors unlocking and unbolting in every court.
1887. Stevenson, Misadv. J. Nicholson, ii. 4. At last he heard the alarm spring its rattle in the lower story.
21. † a. To start (something); to set going. Obs.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xvi. 50. The Yorkists … thought it now a fit season to spring their practice.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 10 Nov. To spring nothing in the House, nor offer anything but just what is drawn out of a man.
1700. Dryden, Ovid’s Met., Cinyras & Myrrha, 153. Surpriz’d with Fright, She starts, and leaves her Bed, and springs a Light.
† b. To utter or pass (bad coin); to let off (a joke). Obs.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Lond. Lady, 80. Down Fleet-street next she rowls … To spring clip’d-half-crowns in the Cuckow’s Nest.
1686. F. Spence, trans. Varillas’ Ho. Medicis, 234. They saw him … not valuing to lose a Friend, rather than not have the Pleasure of springing a Witticism.
c. colloq. To give, pay or disburse (a sum of money); to buy (a certain amount).
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 53. It’s a feast at a poor country labourer’s place, when he springs six-penn’orth of fresh herrings.
1883. J. Greenwood, Odd People in Odd Places, 244. In hope that he might spring a few shillings more than he had promised.
1904. Max Pemberton, Red Morn, xi. I’ll spring one hundred pounds, sir, if you will tot it up.
d. To bring (an announcement, etc.) suddenly upon a person or persons.
1884. Manch. Exam., 20 June, 5/4. The hole-and-corner arrangement by which Sir Henry Peek’s resignation was sprung upon the constituency.
1891. H. Herman, His Angel, 167. A convenient screw of torture could be formed by the threat of springing the naked facts upon the young lady.
1895. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Sowers, xxvii. 235. She was one of those mothers who rule their daughters by springing surprises upon them in a carefully selected company where the daughter is not free to reply.
e. To cast or throw suddenly.
1884. E. Jenkins, Week of Passion, I. iv. 110. He must expect to be countermined, to have a thousand ingenious obstacles sprung in his way.
22. To cause (a thing) to spring, move suddenly, fly with a jerk, etc.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 210. These six leggs he [a flea] clitches up altogether, and when he leaps, he springs them all out.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 102. If but the breezy wind their floats should spring.
1828. Examiner, 436/1. The Page’s cloak had ‘sprung’ its shoulder-button. Ibid. (1831), 675/2. It blows a gale enough … to spring the teeth from out your jaws.
1878. E. B. Tuttle, Border Tales, 73. He mounts up on the platform, and begins to spring it up and down and sing.
fig. 1865. G. Meredith, R. Fleming, xlvi. He uttered a threat that sprang an answer from her bosom in shrieks. Ibid. (1880), Trag. Com., v. It sprang Clotilde a stride nearer to reality.
b. Mil. To shift (a weapon, etc.) smartly from one position to another.
1780. Encycl. Brit., VI. 4438. Make ready: i.e. Spring the firelock briskly to the recover.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 232. Carbines sprung, and unstrapped.
1833. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, I. 29. Each man springs his ramrod as the officer passes him, and then returns it. Ibid., 98. The carbine is ‘sprung’ by the right hand seizing the swivel, and securing it through the ring.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man. (1862), 46. Spring arms—Two. Load.
c. To cause (some mechanism, etc.) to work with a sudden movement; to force open by pressure.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, III. xix. Until I had hit upon the method of springing the latch, and so winning my escape from the house.
1894. Cornh. Mag., March, 292–3. The inquiring bee, on his collecting rounds, can thus see at a glance whether any particular flower has been ‘sprung’ or not, as we technically call it.
1897. Ld. H. Tennyson, Mem. Tennyson, I. 19. He would spring all their traps.
d. To apply or adjust by force applied to some elastic or resilient body.
1842. Browning, Gismond, xi. What says the body when they spring Some monstrous torture-engine’s whole Strength on it?
1872. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., April, 307/1. Pieces of brass tube, on which are ‘sprung’ lengths of flexible gas tubing.
e. To bend or deflect from a straight line.
1873. Routledge’s Yng. Gentl. Mag., July, 503/2. Don’t drive it in too hard, as it will ‘spring’ the plane-iron, and make it concave.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 May, 8/1. It is so stiff that the utmost power of a man is required to spring it even very slightly.
23. techn. a. Arch. To commence the curve of (an arch).
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 273. The level of the place, whence you begin to spring the Arch.
1807. Sir R. C. Hoare, Tour Irel., 198. The arches which were sprung to support it.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 339. Impost or Springing—The upper part … of a wall employed for springing an arch.
b. Shipbuilding. (See quot.)
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 151. To Spring, is to quicken or raise the sheer.
V. † 24. a. = LEAP v. 9. Obs.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xxxi. 154. [They] sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares.
b. To leap over; to cover with a spring.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxvi. He that would climb so lofty a tree, Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee.
1854. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Org. Nat., I. 96. The grasshoppers … being capable, with ease, of springing some hundred times their own length.
1907. J. H. Patterson, Man-Eaters of Tsavo, viii. 89. If the lion could spring the twelve feet which separated me from the ground.
