$22 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English anguage 
from the fulfit, and I have in one or two instances heard it in cone 
versation ; but itis always remarked upon asa sincularity. This, and the 
old preterites sang, sprang, forgat, kc. (as Mr. Webster justly observes) 
“ are entirely obsolete in ordixary practice, whether popular or polite ; and 
it seems advisable not to attempt to revive them. In addition to this rea- 
son for omitting them (he adds) there is one which is not generally under- 
The sound of @ in these and all other like cases was originally the 
broad 2 or aw; which sound inthe Gothic and Saxon, as in modern Scotch, 
~ corresponded nearly with'o in sfoke, ewore. Spoke is therefore nearer to 
the original than sfiake, as we now pronounce the vowel a with its first or 
long sound as in sake,” Philosoph.and Practical Grammar, p. 117. not. 
SPAN; a pair, Used in this expression: A span of horses. Vew Eng- 
fand. 1 do not find this sense of the word in any of the English dictionaries 
nor in Ray’s or Grose’s Glossaries. The Germans say, a sfan or gesfann 
ochsen oder pferde,a team (not exclusively one pair) of oxen or horses. 
From sfian we have, in some parts of New England, the term sfan-shackle, 
or draft-iron of a cart or plough. 
SPELL. “A spell of sickness, a long sfell, 
borrowed from the sea dialect”. Withereft. Druid 
__ is speaking of the « Vulgarisms of America,” 
SPRIGH or SPRY; “nimble, brisk, quick in action.” Webst. Mr. Webster 
adopts the latter orthography, 
This word is very common in New England, in conversation, A re- 
viewer of Mr. Webster’s dictionary observes, that it “is a word which has 
neither use nor dignity.” Morith. Anthol. vol. vii. p. 264, ; 
I do not find it in any of the English dictionaries; but a friend informs 
me, that it is used “ by the common people in Somereetshire,” in England ; 
and Grose has a word which is perhaps the same, though with a dif- 
ferent orthography : “ Sfroil, lively, active. Weet (of England]” Prov, 
Gloss. Under this word he refers to the word stroil, which, he says, in the 
Lxmore dialect, means « strength and agility.” 
SPUNK, This is frequently used here by the yulgar to denote spirit or cour- 
age ; and the same class of people use it in England; but perhaps it is not 
so common there as here. Walker says, it is“ used in Scotland for anima- 
tion, quick sensibility.” 
