spring-stud 
spring in place. The upper end works in a 
guide. See cut under oiler. 
springtail (spring'tal), H. 1. A collembolous 
thysanurous insect which leaps or skips about 
by means of abdominal hairs 
acting like a spring, as any po- 
duran. In these creatures the anal 
bristles are united and bent under 
the body, forming a spring by the aid 
of which they leap to a great height. 
They are found in 
gardens, in hotbeds, 
on manure-heaps in 
winter, and on snow, 
and may also be seen 
on the surface of 
water in quiet pools. 
See Collembola, '.>, 
Podura, and Thysa- 
nura. 
2. A thysanu- 
rous insect of the 
suborder fin urn, 
oftener called 
bristletail. See 
Cinura, Lepisma, 
and cut under 
Springtails. 
I, Dtgeerta nfvatit ; a, a poduran ; buth 
greatly enlarged. 
silverfish. 3. One of certain minute neurop- 
terous insects of the panorpid genus Boreus, 
found in moss and on the surface of snow; a 
snow- fly. This insect springs, but not by means 
of anal appendages. 
spring-tailed (spring'tald), a. Springing by 
means of the tail, or having a spring on the 
tail, as a collembolous insect; thysanurous; 
podurous. 
spring-tide (spring'tid), . [= D. spring-tij, 
spring-tide, = G. spring-zeit, high tide, = 8w. 
Dan. spring-till, spring-tide; as spring, r., rise, 
+ tide.] I. The tide which occurs at or soon 
after the new and full moon, and rises higher 
than common tides, the ebb sinking corre- 
spondingly lower. At these times the sun and moon 
are in a straight line with the earth, and their combined 
influence in raising the waters of the ocean is the greatest, 
consequently the tides thus produced are the highest. See 
tide. 
Hence 2. Figuratively, any great flood or in- 
flux. 
Yet are they doubly replenished by the first and latter 
spring-tides of devotion. Sandys, Travailes, p. 160. 
springtide (spring'tid), n. [< spring, ., 3, + 
tide.] Springtime. 
Sounds as of the springtide they, . . . 
While the chill months long for May. 
D. 0. Jlossetti, Love's Nocturn. 
springtime (spring'tim), n. Spring. 
Primrose, first-born child of Ver, 
Merry spring-time's harbinger. 
Fletcher (and another), Two Noble Kinsmen, i. 1. 
spring-tool (spring'tol), n. A light tongs clos- 
ing by a spring, used by glass-blowers. 
spring-trap (spring'trap), . 1. A trap work- 
ing by a spring, which may cause a door or bar 
to fall when the detent is released by the mov- 
ing of the bait, or may throttle the "victim, as 
in an ordinary form of mouse-trap, etc. 2. A 
form of steam-trap. E. H. Knight. 
spring-valve (spring' valv), . 1. A valve fitted 
with a spring, which holds it to its seat except 
when it is opened by extraneous force. 2. A 
safety-valve with which is connected a spring- 
balance, graduated to any required number of 
pounds, and acting as a check on the valve un- 
til the determined pressure is attained. See 
cut under safety-vah-e. 
spring-wagon (spring'wag'on), n. A wagon 
the bed of which rests on springs. 
spring-water (spring'wa'ter), n. Water issu- 
ing from a spring: in contradistinction to river- 
water, rain-water, etc. 
Spare Diet, and Spring-water clear, 
Physicians hold are good. 
Prior, Wandering Pilgrim. 
spring-weir (spring'wer), n. A kind of weir 
arranged to drop to the bottom at low water, 
and allow the fish to pass over it with the in- 
coming tide, while at high water it is lifted up. 
It is worked from the shore by means of capstans and 
ropes so that It forms an impassable barrier to the nsh 
which are retained as the tide passes out, and are thus 
taken in large numbers. [Maine.] 
spring-worm (spring'werm), . A pin-worm, 
as Osyurit vermicular is ; a small threadworm 
bee cut under Oxyitris. 
springwort (spring'wert), n. [< ME. spryng- 
wurt, sprungwurt; < spring + icorfl.] In Euro- 
pean folk-lore, a plant to which various magical 
virtues were attributed, among them that of 
drawing down the lightning and dividing the 
storm: identified by Grimm with the caper- 
5866 
spurge, Euphorbia Ltitlii/ri*. Dyer. Folk-lore of 
Plants. 
springy (spriug'i),ff. [< spring + -i/ 1 .] 1. Hav- 
ing elasticity like that of a spring; elastic; 
light: as. njiriiif/y steel; a x/nini/i/ step. 
Which vast contraction and expansion seems unintelli- 
gible by feigning the particles of air to be springy and 
ramous. Xttrton, Opticks, iii. query SI. 
2. Abounding with springs or fountains; wet; 
spongy : as, springy land. 
sprink (springk), v. t. [A dial. var. of spring : 
<sl. sprinkle.] To sprinkle ; splash. HattiveU. 
[Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 
sprink (springk), H. [< yprii,!;, ,:] If. A sprin- 
kle; a drop, as of water. Hotccll, Arbor of Ami- 
tie ( 1568). (Xares. ) 2. A crack or flaw. Hal- 
liirrll. [Prov. Eng.] 
spriuk-buck (springk'buk), . Same as spring- 
bok. 
sprinkle (spring'kl),^. ; pret. and pp. sprinkled, 
ppr. sprinkling. [Early mod. E. sprenkle, spren- 
kyll, < ME. sprenkelen, sprynklen, springgolen 
(= MD. sprinckelcn, sprenckclen, D. sprenkelen = 
G. sprenkeln'), sprinkle; freq. of ME. gprengen, 
< AS. sprcngan, causal of springan, sprincan, 
spring: see spreng and spring. Ct. sprink.] I. 
trans. 1. To scatter in drops or particles; let 
fall in minute quantities here and there ; strew. 
To sprenkyUe ; spergere, fundere. Cath. Any., p. 356. 
Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let 
Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of 
Pharaoh. Ex7 ix. 8. 
2. To besprinkle ; bespatter or bestrew; over- 
spread with drops or particles, as of a powder, 
liquid, coloring matter, etc. 
Valerianus ... at last was flayed aliue, and sprinkled 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 357. 
3. To cleanse with drops, as of water; wash; 
purify. 
Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. 
Heb. x. 22. 
4. To distribute here and there ; diffuse. 
sprite 
(a*) A spherical or barrel shaped vase having a small 
spout. Such vases were grasped in tbo hand, and the li- 
quid contents tin-own out wiih a jerking motion, (b) A 
brush for sprinkling holy water. Compare a*i>ersorium, 
1. (c) A device for spraying water over plants, or over a 
lawn, etc. 
2. Milit., same as morning-star, 2 Holy-water 
sprinkler. See holy. 
sprinkling (spring'kling), . [Verbal n. of 
sprinkle, r.] 1. The act of one who sprinkles, 
in any sense of the word; aspersion. 
Your uncleanly unctions, your crossings, creepings cens- 
ings, sprinklings. Bp. Hall, Epistles, i. 1. 
2. A small quantity falling in distinct drops or 
parts, or coming moderately : as, a sprinktiiiuoi 
rainorsnow. Hence 3. A small amount scat- 
tered here and there, as if sprinkled. 
We have a sprinMiny of our gentry, here and there one, 
excellently well learned. Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 197. 
Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper 
SpriiMe cool patience. Shak., Hamlet, iii. 4. 124. 
These and such other reflections are sprinkled up and 
down the writings of all ages. Steele, Spectator, No. 11. 
5. To diversify by objects placed here and 
there over the surface ; dot. 
Spacious meads, with cattle sprinkled o'er. 
Cowper, Task, I. 164. 
H. iii traits. 1. To issue in fine drops or par- 
ticles; be sprinkled. 
It will make the water sprinkle up In a flue dew. Bacon. 
2f. To send out sparks ; scintillate; sparkle. 
Toward the lady they come fast rennyng, 
And sette this whele uppon her hede, 
As eny hote yren yt was sprynygolyng rede. 
MS. Laud. 416, f. 70. (Uallimlt.) 
3. To rain slightly: used impersonally: as, does 
it sprinklef 4. To scatter a liquid or any fine 
substance so that it may fall in small particles. 
The priest . . . shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger. 
Lev. xiv. 16. 
Of. To dart hither and thither. 
The siluer scalit fyschis on the grete, 
Ouer thowrt clere stremes sprinkOland for the hete, 
With fynnys schiuand broun as synopare. 
Gavin Douglas, tr. of Virgil, p. 400. 
sprinkle (spring'kl), . [< ME. sprynkil, spren- 
kill, sprenkylle (cf. MHG. G. sprengel); from 
the verb.] If. A utensil for sprinkling ; a sprin- 
kler; specifically, a brush for sprinkling holy 
water; an aspersorium. 
And the litil sprynkil of ysop wetith in bloode, that is 
in the nethirthreswold, and sprengith of it the ouerthres- 
wold, and either post. Wyclif, Ex. xii. 2i. 
She alway smyld, and in her hand did hold 
An holy-water-spriiicMe, dipt in deowe. 
Spenser, V. Q., III. xii. 13. 
2. A sprinkling, or falling in drops; specifically, 
a light rain. 
He meets the first cold sprinkle of the world 
And shudders to the marrow. 
Bromiing, Ring and Book, II. 213. 
3. That which is sprinkled about; hence, a 
scattering or slight amount; a sprinkling. 4. 
A light tinkling sound ; a tinkle. [Bare.] 
At Sorrento you hear nothing but the light surges of 
the sea, and the sweet sprinkles of the guitar. 
Landor, imag. Conv., Tasso and Cornelia. 
5. Milit., same as morning-star, 2. 
sprinkled (spring'kld), a. [< sprinkle + -erP.] 
Marked bysmall spots; appearing asif sprinkled 
from a wet brush : specifically noting a kind of 
decoration of pottery, the edges of cheaply 
bound books, etc. 
sprinkler (spring'kler), . [< sprinkle + -er 1 .] 
1. One who or that which sprinkles. Especially 
., . . 
4. In bookbinding, the operation of scattering 
a shower of fine drops of color on the trimmed 
edges of the leaves to produce a mottled effect. 
It is done by striking a brush charged with color against 
a rod held above the edges of the book to be sprinkled 
sprint (sprint), c. . [Also dial, snrunt; a later 
form of sprenft, q. v. Cf. spwft, spirt*.] To 
run at full speed, as in a short-distance foot- 
race. Nineteenth Century, XXI. 520. 
sprint (sprint), n. [< sprint, r.] A run at full 
speed, as in a short-distance foot-race. 
sprinter (sprin'ter), . A contestant in a sprint- 
race; a short-distance runner. Eneyc. Brit. 
XXI. 61. 
sprinting (springing), n. [Verbal n. of sprint, 
v.] The act or the sport of running at full 
speed, as in a short-distance foot-race. 
sprint-race (sprint'ras), n. A short-distance 
loot-race. 
sprint-runner (sprint'run"er), n. Same as 
sprinter. Hie Century, XL. 206. 
SpritH (sprit), r. [< ME. sprutten, < AS. sprit- 
tan, spryttan (= LG. sprutten = G. spritzen, 
spriitzen), sprout, a secondary form of spreotan, 
sprout: see sprout. Cf. spirt*, spurti.] I. in- 
trans. To sprout ; bud ; germinate, as barley 
steeped for malt. 
The withi thet sprutteth ut. Ancnn Riwlc, p. 86. 
II. trans. To throw out with force from a 
narrow orifice ; eject ; spurt. Sir T. Browne. 
sprit 1 (sprit), n. [Early mod. E. also spret ; < 
ME. spret, sprete, spreot, a pole, < AS. sprcdt, a 
pole, orig. a sprout, shoot, branch of a tree (= 
D. spriet, > G. spriet, a sprit), < spre6tan, sprout : 
see sprifl, i\, and sprout. Cf. bowsprit.] If. A 
sprout; a shoot. 
The barley, after it has been couched four days, will 
sweat a little, and shew the chit or sprit at the root-end 
of the corn. Mortimer, Husbandry. 
2f. A stick; a pole; especially, a boatman's 
pole. 
Hastili hent eche man a spret or an ore. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), L 2754. 
3. 2fattt. : (a) A small pole, spar, or boom which 
crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the 
mast to the upper aftmost corner, which it is 
used to extend and elevate. The lower end of the 
sprit rests in a becket, called the matter, which en- 
circles the mast at that place. See cuts under snotterZ 
and spritsail. (b) The bowsprit. 
sprit 2 (sprit), n. [Appar. a particular use of 
sprifl, a sprout. Cf. sproft, sprati.] 1. A rush : 
same as spraft, 1. 2. See the quotation. 
The object of the rubbing [in the modern Irish process 
of bleaching linen], which is so essential for many quali- 
ties of goods, is to remove small specks of brownish mat- 
ter called sprite, which may appear here and there through- 
out the piece. Spans' ncyc. Manuf., I. 518. 
sprit 3 (sprit), r. '. [A corruption of split, simu- 
lating sprifl.] To split, ffalliicell. [Prov. Eng.] 
sprite 1 (sprit), 11. [Early mod. E. also sprighl 
(erroneously conformed to the spelling of light, 
night, etc.); < ME. sprite, spryte, sprit, spreit, < 
OF. esprit, espirit, F. esprit = Sp. espiritu = Pg. 
espirito = It. spirito, spirto, spirit, < L. spiritus, 
spirit : see spirit. Doublet of spirit.'] If. The 
breath ; the vital principle ; the spirit. 
I thus beheld the king of equal age 
Yield up the sprite with wounds so cruelly. 
Surrey, JEneid, 11. 
2. A disembodied soul ; a ghost ; a shade. 
Thy haire vpon thy head doth stand vpright, 
As if thou hadst been haunted with a sfriyht. 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 102. 
3. An elf ; a fairy; a goblin. 
Of these am I, who thy protection claim, 
A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name. 
Pope, R, of the L., i. 108. 
4f. The faculty of thought and feeling ; the wit ; 
the mind. 
