Etymology: < Middle Dutch spranke (Dutch sprank ), probably related to sparke spark n.¹ (probably showing metathesis and an epenthetic nasal consonant).Compare Middle Low German spranken to sparkle.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps < prank v.⁴ With the apparent development of initial s perhaps compare sprunk n. and sprunking n., and perhaps also sprink adj. Alternatively, perhaps < Middle Low German spranken to sparkle (see sprank n.¹).It is uncertain whether the same (or a related) word is shown by English regional (south-western) sprank (occasionally also sprenk) (noun) a sprinkling (in figurative use sometimes ‘a sprinkling of something’, ‘a fair quantity’), (verb) to sprinkle, to water with a watering can, which is recorded from the 19th cent.