| 释义 |
▪ I. sprag, n.1 Now dial.
[Of obscure origin: cf. Sw. dial. sprag, spragg(e in the same sense.]
A slip; a twig or spray.
1676Newton Corr. (1850) 260 We desire graffs rather then sprags. 1895P. H. Emerson Birds Norfolk 81 He alights on the familiar old hawthorn ‘sprag’, as the fenmen call a spray.
▪ II. sprag, n.2
[Of obscure origin.]
†1. A lively young fellow. Obs.
1706E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 52 He'll often tell ye what a Sprag he was in the Days of Yore.
2. a. A young salmon.
1790Grose Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2) Suppl., Sprag, a young salmon. 1882Day Fishes Gt. Brit. II. 68 Salmon;..from one to two years old..it is known as..sprag..(Northumberland).
b. A young cod.
1875F. T. Buckland Log-Bk. 92 These sprags are a distinct species of Cod. 1886Field 23 Jan. 106/3 Sprags (half-grown cod), 2s. 6d. to 3s. each.
▪ III. sprag, n.3
[Of obscure origin.]
1. Mining. A prop used to support the coal or roof during the working of a seam.
1841Hartshorne Salop. Ant. Gloss., Sprags, ‘uprights,’ or pieces of wood placed upright against the sides of a coal pit, to support the ‘lids’. 1862Chambers's Jrnl. Apr. 216 They are particularly enjoined..to support the roof..with props or sprags of larch or other wood. 1881B'ham Daily Post 16 Feb. 7/2 The provision of the Mines Inspection Act, which requires that sprags in the workings shall be placed not farther than 5 ft. from each other.
2. a. A stout piece of wood used to check the revolution of a wheel (or roller), usually by inserting it between two of the spokes.
Also U.S., a rod or bar which can be dropped so as to prevent a vehicle from running backwards. More widely, any of several devices formerly fitted to motor vehicles to prevent them from running backwards down a hill (see quots.).
1878F. S. Williams Midl. Railw. 524 Having armed themselves with a piece of timber called a ‘sprag’ to be used if required as a brake, they set off. 1886Pall Mall G. 13 Sept., Sprags and other articles were thrown under the wheels without effect. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right iii, A ‘sprag’, being a stout piece of hard wood, was inserted between the rope and the iron roller on which the rope ran. 1902A. C. Harmsworth et al. Motor & Motor-Driving xv. 332 The Sprag..is an adjunct fitted to most cars... The sprag should be dropped before the car actually starts to run backwards. c1915Autocar Handbk. (ed. 6) xiv. 216 The sprag is normally held up clear of the ground by a cord, but when the car is likely to stop on a hill the driver should release the cord in good time, and let the ‘devil’ drag on the ground. Then directly the car stops, the pointed end of the bar digs into the ground. Ibid. 217 Another good form of sprag consists of a strong pawl, which is allowed to trip over ratchet teeth out on a revolving part of the gear... Even with good brakes the one great advantage of a sprag is that it permits the car to be restarted on the steepest hill with both brakes off. 1933Motoring Encycl. 723/2 The sprags often fitted on horse⁓drawn vehicles..have been revived in a new form on motor vehicles. Ibid., The sprag is arranged at the rear of the gear-box, and consists of a roller and wedge adapted to produce a gripping motion on a drum..which turns with the transmission shaft.
b. fig. Cf. spoke n. 4 a.
1914‘High Jinks, Jr.’ Choice Slang 21 A sprag in the wheel of progress. 1973R. Dentry Encounter at Kharmel vii. 111 If you were in the President's shoes, how would you put a sprag in Ziauddin's wheel?
▪ IV. sprag, a. rare.
[app. a mispronunciation of sprack a.]
Smart, clever.
The Shakespeare passage is the source of later instances, and has app. led to the insertion of the form in some dialect glossaries.
1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. i. 84 M. Pag. He is a better scholler then I thought he was. Eu. He is a good sprag-memory. 1810Lamb Lett. (1888) I. 263 But the epitaphs were trim, and sprag, and patent. 1830Scott Let. in Lockhart (1838) VII. 229, I had, being, as Sir Hugh Evans says, a fine sprag boy, a shrewd idea that his magnetism was all humbug.
▪ V. sprag, v.
[f. sprag n.3]
1. trans. To prop up or sustain (esp. coal in a mine) with a sprag or sprags.
1841Hartshorne Salop. Ant. Gloss., Sprag, to support or prop up any thing that inclines. 1865Even. Stand. 7 Feb., Several of the men as well as deceased neglected to sprag or spern their work. 1890Daily News 31 May 6/7 As an effect of an overhanging piece of coal not being ‘spragged’, it might have fallen upon the defendant.
absol.1894Times 1 Mar. 10/2 Joseph Critchley said that there was plenty of timber for the men to have spragged if they thought proper.
2. To check or stop (a wheel) by inserting a sprag.
1878F. S. Williams Midl. Railw. 525 Mr. Woodiwin..seized the plank..and tried to sprag the wheel with it. 1892Pall Mall G. 16 Mar. 5/2 The wheels were ‘spragged’, to prevent the men being lowered too rapidly.
fig.1887Carlisle Jrnl. 6 Dec. 3/5 The Tories..gave a Hares and Rabbits Bill, and then spragged the trap that was to catch the vermin.
3. To accost truculently. Austral. slang.
1916C. J. Dennis Songs of Sentimental Bloke 130 Sprag, to accost truculently. 1935L. Luard Conquering Seas iii. 41 'Twas only to save you from getting spragged. a1938C. J. Dennis in Penguin Bk. Austral. Ballads (1964) 236 A tug named Tyball..Sprags 'em an' makes a start to sling off dirt.
Hence ˈspragging vbl. n.; ˈspragger.
1865Pall Mall G. 26 Sept. 7/2 Nearly fifty per cent. of the lives lost..proceeded from falls of roof.., a large proportion of which might have been avoided by a more..methodical system of ‘propping’ and ‘spragging’. 1881Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 84 Ironstone Miner... Token Lad. Pick Carrier. Spragger. 1884Times 8 Jan. 2/6 A ‘spragger’ is to be found on all mineral railways and tramways, his business being to ‘sprag’ the wheels when going down an incline. |