Forms: 4 sprynkil, 6 -kill, sprinkil(l; 5–6 sprenkylle (5 sprenkle), 6 spryn-, 6–7 sprinkell(e; 5 spryncle, 6–7 sprinc(k)le, 6– sprinkle. [Related to SPRINKLE v.1 Cf. MDu., MLG., obs. G. and Da. sprinkel, MDu. and Du., G. sprenkel, speckle, spot, freckle.]

1

  † 1.  A sprinkler, esp. one for sprinkling holy water. Obs.

2

  Also freq. in holy-water sprinkle, for other senses of which see HOLY WATER 2.

3

1382.  Wyclif, Exod. xii. 22. The litil sprynkil of ysop wetith in bloode.

4

c. 1475.  Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 756. Hoc aspersorium, a sprenkylle.

5

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 34/1. Four crosses … besprent with Holy Water styck or spryncle.

6

1519.  Horman, Vulg., 16 b. Geue me holy water with the sprinkell.

7

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xvi. 42 b. These men … in their Pagodes, who with a sprinkle tooke water out of a certaine fountaine.

8

1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Tropheis, 683. This black Sprinkle, tuft with Virgin’s tress, Dipt, at your Altar, in my Kinsman’s bloud.

9

1619.  Fletcher, Mons. Thomas, V. vi. Give me my holy sprinkle…. Give me my holy water-pot.

10

1647.  Hexham, I. A Sprinkle, een quispel.

11

  † 2.  A spot or speckle. Obs. rare.

12

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xxxii. (Arb.), 82. The thirde colour was grene lyke glas, But ther were somme sprynklis therin lyke purpure.

13

1577.  Frampton, Joyful News, I. (1596), 18. The blood stone is a kinde of Iasper of diuers colours … full of sprincles like to blood.

14

  3.  An (or the) act of sprinkling; a quantity that is sprinkled.

15

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., II. ii. Baptizing the Christian infant with a solemne sprinkle.

16

1665.  Locke, in Fox Bourne, Life (1876), I. iii. 114. I had a good sprinkle of holy water.

17

1818.  Art Bookbinding, 53. They throw on a finer sprinkle, and save much colour.

18

1854.  Grace Greenwood, Haps & Mishaps, 111. Where,… for baptismal and holy waters, [were] the sprinkle and gush of their blood.

19

1888.  Stevenson, Black Arrow, 172. A thin sprinkle of snow and thin flakes of foam came flying.

20

  fig.  1862.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIV. iv. (1872), V. 188. Is it in a sprinkle of disconnected factions that you will wait Prince Karl?

21

  b.  A small number or quantity; a sprinkling.

22

1768.  Ann. Reg., Projects, 109/1. We had but a small sprinkle of the common turnip cabbage among the whole.

23

1825.  E. Hewlett, Cottage Comforts, vi. 43. The only tree … that had a good sprinkle of fruit.

24

1844.  Maitland, Dark Ages, 126. A thicker and more extensive sprinkle of better-instructed persons.

25

1890.  Daily News, 2 Sept., 2/7. There has been a good sprinkle of the new growth on the market to-day.

26

  4.  techn. A color effect produced by sprinkling; a mixture for producing this.

27

1835.  Hannett, Bibliopegia, 101. On the fancy colours and sprinkles it is usual to attach lettering pieces of morocco.

28

1885.  W. J. E. Crane, Bookbinding, iii. 27. Bole Armenian, for making sprinkle for edges.

29