v. Obs. Forms: 4 bispringen, 4–5 -sprynge(n, 5 be-. Pa. t. 5 bysprang. Pa. pple. 4 bispronge(n, 4–5 by-, 5 besprong. [A late ME. variant of BESPRENG, in which the strong verb spring is substituted for the causal spreng.] trans. To besprinkle; = BESPRENG. Hence Bespringing vbl. sb.
1387. Trevisa, Descr. Brit. (Caxton), 54. With mylke of a cowe that is of one yeer bespringe the welle. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., XI. iv. Ofte as a cloude byspryngeþ þe erþe with droppynge, he wasteþ him selfe in þat bispryngynge [ed. 1582 bespringing].
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 678. Barly coct and colde, and wyne besprong.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 291. Thou art al besprongen with the blood.
c. 1575. Jacob & Sonnes (Collier), 20. Their meat cloth they besprang all with gotes blood.
