springn.¹

Brit.

/sprɪŋ/, U.S.

/sprɪŋ/

Forms: Old English sprinc (rare), Old English sprync, Old English–early Middle English sprincg, Old English–1500s spreng, Old English–1500s spryng, Old English– spring, early Middle English spirngas (plural, probably transmission error), Middle English sprenge, Middle English sprung, Middle English–1500s sprynge, Middle English–1600s springe, 1500s spreing (Scottish), 1500s spryngges (plural), 1600s sprink (Scottish), 1900s sprang (U.S. regional (north midlands)).

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Perhaps also partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring v.¹

Etymology: A merger of two words of distinct but closely related origin. Partly (i) (as Old English spring , spreng ) cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian -spring (in spēdelspring salivation), Old Dutch spring (as a place name; Middle Dutch sprinc , Dutch spring ), Old Saxon -spring (in e.g. gispring source of water) (Middle Low German sprinc ), Middle High German spring (German Spring , now chiefly regional), all chiefly in sense ‘source of water’ (compare branch I.), and also Old Icelandic -springr (in afspringr progeny: see offspring n.), Old Swedish, Swedish spring , Old Danish, Danish spring , both chiefly in sense ‘act of leaping’ (compare branch II.; probably formed independently of the West Germanic forms) < an ablaut variant (e -grade) of the Germanic base of spring v.¹, apparently originally as the second element of compounds (see note). Partly (ii) (as Old English spryng ) cognate with Old Frisian -sprong (in ōrsprong origin; West Frisian sprong ), Old Dutch sprong (Middle Dutch spronc , Dutch sprong ), Middle Low German sprunc , Old High German sprung (Middle High German sprunc , German Sprung ), and ( < Middle Low German) Old Swedish, Swedish sprung (now rare), Old Danish -sprung (in afsprung origin; Danish sprung , now rare), all chiefly in sense ‘act of leaping’ (compare branch II.) < a different ablaut variant (zero-grade) of the same Germanic base, with the stem-forming suffix causing i-mutation in Old English. The reflexes of the two form types become indistinguishable in most varieties early in the Middle English period. Some uses may also show conversion directly < spring v.¹ Compare also spring n.²Further Germanic parallels. Compare German regional (Low German) Sprang act of leaping, Old Swedish sprang act of leaping (Swedish språng ) < another ablaut variant (o -grade) of the same Germanic base. Uses in Old English. In Old English the word is attested only with reference to sources of water and derived senses (see branch I.) and in medical uses (not exemplified here) which do not survive beyond Old English, such as ‘sprinkling (as treatment)’ and ‘flux’, or which do not survive beyond early Middle English, such as ‘ulcer’ (also in compounds, e.g. dēadspring malignant ulcer; compare Old High German gispring ulcer, pustule). The simplex is comparatively rare even with reference to sources of water, but compare more common use as the second element of compounds, as wellspring n. and water spring n. Compare also related formations with the same sense, as the prefixed -gespring in wiell-gespring (compare y- prefix and wellspring n., and also Old Saxon gispring ) and Old English ǣ-spring , ēa-spring (probably of more than one origin; compare both e- prefix¹ and ea n., and with the latter form compare also the Old Saxon parallel formation ahaspring ). Old English ǣ-spring , ēa-spring , and wiell-gespring are attested earlier in some senses in branch I. (compare quots. OE at sense 2b and eOE, OE at sense 1c). Compare further formations with prefixes in which the second element is more clearly of verbal origin (compare spring v.¹ and its prefixed forms), and which are not restricted to senses relating to water, such as offspring n., upspring n., and also Old English ǣ-spring in sense ‘dimming or setting of the sun’. The reflexes of the two ablaut grades cannot always be distinguished with certainty even in Old English. Specific senses. (a) Branch II.: With use denoting a spring tide (see sense 6) compare spring-flood n. 1 and later spring tide n. 2. Compare also Dutch spring (1627 in this sense). With use in architecture (see sense 9) compare Middle Low German spreng arch, vault. Compare earlier springer n.¹ 2. With nautical use denoting a split or crack (see sense 11, especially 11b) compare German Sprung , which has a general sense of ‘split, crack’ (1702). Perhaps compare also Old Icelandic sprunga crack, fissure (e.g. in a glacier). Compare earlier springing n.¹ 4. In use denoting a ship's sheer (see sense 15b) perhaps an extension of the specific architectural use denoting the curvature of an arch (see sense 9b). Compare Dutch sprong , German Spring , Sprung a ship's sheer (all 19th cent. or earlier). (b) Branch III.: With use denoting daybreak (see sense 16) compare earlier upspring n., day-spring n., and springing n.¹ 1a. With use denoting the season (see sense 17) compare earlier Lenten n. 1 and Lent n.¹ 1, which it supersedes in this sense, probably as a concomitant to the shift to a specialized religious sense in these words. Compare also springing n.¹ 1b and the loanwords prime temps n., ver n.¹, and vere n. (c) Branch IV.: Earlier currency denoting a copse of young trees (see sense 22) is probably implied by the place name Heselspring , Cumberland (1272, now Hazelspring) and also by the following:1299 in P. H. Reaney Place-names Essex (1935) 83 Bosci dict. Spryng..venella voc. Sprynges lane. Even earlier currency may be implied by the place name Worsprinc , Somerset (1086, now Woodspring), if the suggested explanation of the name as ‘copse where wood grouse are found’ is correct. (d) Branch V.: With use denoting a rope stabilizing an anchored or moored vessel (see sense 28) compare Dutch spring (1671).

I. A flow of water and related senses.

a. A place where water emerges naturally from the ground; the source or head of a stream or river; the supply of water forming such a source. Now rare.In later use frequently difficult to distinguish from sense 1c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > head or source

headeOE

wellspringOE

springOE

uptaking1241

head wella1325

wellheadc1330

sourcec1386

headspringa1398

headstreama1398

risinga1398

surge1523

springhead?a1560

head fountain1563

water head1567

fountainhead1585

headwater1612

fill1622

water source1651

urn1726

vomica1838

sponge-swamp1901

OE Bounds (Sawyer 179) in W. de G. Birch Cartularium Saxonicum (1885) I. 495 Æt þæs bernes ende æt ðæs wæteres sprynge.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 6239 (MED) With the Nimphes..Upon the spring of freisshe welles Sche schop to duelle.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1314 In middes þe land he sagh a spring Of a well.

a1450 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xiv. xxxi In þeese hiȝe mounteyns is snowe alwey,..and heedes and springes of welles and of greete ryuers.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras xiii. E Y^e Hyest shall holde styll the sprynges of the streame agayne.

1555 R. Eden tr. P. Giovio Libellus de legatione Basilii in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 287 The Rhetians which inhabite the laundes abowte the sprynges of the ryuer Abdua.

1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill i. 4 Great riuers, whose mouthes are knowne, but not their springs.

1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis ii. 293 The Springs of the Well [might] be stopped, or at least intercepted.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Tides The Sea gradually swells; so that entering the Mouths of Rivers, it drives back the River-waters towards their Heads or Springs.

1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. vii. 228 The first spring of this water is..in the middle of a thick-set of shrubs.

1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 33 The sound Of the sweet brook that from the secret springs Of that dark fountain rose.

2015 H. A. Frambach in J. Backhaus Great Nations at Peril iii. 21 Prussia expanded its southern territories almost to the springs of the rivers Oder and Vistula.

b. Something resembling a flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground, esp. in being refreshing or revitalizing.

ΚΠ

lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 138 Innen hire wæs se rihte spryng þære lifes welle, þær of flowð eall seo fullfremednysse þære twegre lifen.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 2 Þanne delve doun,..tyl þou fynde vij. sprynges of watyr of grace.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. vii He was a continual wellyng fountayne of eloquence,..a botomlesse spring of largesse and benignitie.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. ii. sig. B5^v Streames of bloud did rayle Adowne, as if their springs of life were spent.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. i. 72 Kennell,..whose filth and dirt Troubles the siluer Spring, where England drinkes.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 134 An ancient Legend I prepare to sing, And upward follow Fame's immortal Spring .

1751 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) ii. 7 Drink as deep as you can of these divine springs [sc. Homer and Virgil].

?1768–9 Encycl. Brit. (1771) I. 644 When old age approaches,..the springs of life dry up.

1818 J. Keats Endymion ii. 88 And then there ran Two bubbling springs of talk from their sweet lips.

1851 F. D. Maurice Old Test.: Nineteen Serm. vii. 130 That he should open springs in hearts hitherto ice-bound!

a1938 T. Wolfe You can't go Home Again (1940) i. vii. 127 He has returned to the springs of innocence and health from whence he came.

1975 R. P. Jhabvala Heat & Dust 118 It was as if there were a little spring welling up inside her that kept her fresh and gay.

2006 O. Moilanen Truth is in Dreams 97 Thus, the spring is a spring of sacrifice welling forth the water of life.

c. A flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground; (also) a similar flow obtained by boring or other artificial means.In quots. eOE and OE showing Old English ǣ-spring and wiell-gespring in similar use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > spring > [noun]

welleOE

walma897

spring?1316

spring wellc1340

water springc1450

source1477

fountain1490

quick-spring1530

eye1535

fountainhead1585

fount1594

springlet1661

keld1697

urn1726

spout head1733

spout1778

seep1824

eOE Metres of Boethius (partly from transcript of damaged MS) (2009) v. 12 Swa oft æspringe ut awealleð of clife harum col and hlutor.

OE Phoenix 109 Of þam wilsuman wyllgespryngum brimcald beorgeð æt baða gehwylcum.]

?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) (2002) l. 195 Þe tuo sprunges vrneþ yfere.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 581 Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11699 Vnder þi rote þar es a spring, I wil þat vte þe water wring.

1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 356 A Sprynge of water, scatebra, scatirigo.

1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) iv. 20 A fountauyne..A noble sprynge a ryall conduyte hede.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxi. 58 A faire fountain..either of a natural spring or artificial.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 497 There are two little springs, the one fresh, the other somewhat brackish.

1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 386 It has also some Springs of good Water.

1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 142 For me, Health gushes from a thousand springs.

1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. xx. 136 If there are springs in all places,..it will be necessary to make drains at the sides.

1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 200 At Vaucluse, there is a spring of water yielding from thirteen to forty thousand cubic feet..per minute.

1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 25 Springs of this simple character, which issue at the junction of permeable and impermeable strata, are extremely common.

1912 H. Belloc This & That 139 There is no good drinking water in that land, save here and there at a rare spring, unless you dig a well.

1981 C. Priest Affirmation ix. 77 There was a spring in the rock, flowing across a flat surface, and trickling out over the edge were a number of tiny waterfalls.

2003 R. MacFarlane Mountains of Mind (2004) ii. 39 They pitch camp beside a spring.

†d. to take one's spring from (also out of) and variants: to have one's origin in; to emerge or arise from. Obsolete.In early use only with reference to the emergence of rivers; in later use also figurative, and perhaps sometimes understood as showing sense 5a or sense 26a(a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate or be a source of [verb (transitive)] > derive, come from, or originate in

fet1393

to take one's spring from (also out of)c1440

to come out of ——1481

extract1490

deduct1530

fetch1552

desume1564

deduce1565

father1577

derive1600

traduce1615

raisea1631

originate1653

to be sourced in1941

c1440 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Rosenbach 1084/1) (1940) Prol. l. 49 Spryng [1542 Mount Vesulus..where as the Poo, out of a wel smal Taketh hys fyrst spring and hys sours; c1470 Coll. Phys. spryng, c1405 Hengwrt spryngyng].

1568 T. Hacket tr. A. Thevet New Found Worlde ii. f. 3 Diuerse nauigable Riuers that bringeth greate riches, as one named Malue..another yet named Sala, taking his spring in Mountayne Dure.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xv. 129 The riuer of Salef, which takes her spring from [Fr. prend sa source du] the mount of Taur.

1608 B. Jonson Masque of Blacknesse in Characters Two Royall Masques A3^v This riuer taketh spring out of a certain Lake, east-ward.

1657 J. Tombes Anti-pædobaptism: 3rd Pt. lxxxvii. 752 Our present distractions cannot with any shew of truth be said to take their spring from Anabaptism.

1729 Thoughts True Brit. conc. Gibraltar 54 Within 15 Miles of the Place where the River Duero takes its Spring.

1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XV. xvi. iv. i. 36 Both these sides are bounded by the Nile, which, taking its spring at near the middle distance between them,..surrounds, and as it were intrenches it every way.

1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism v. 222 The spiritual power..taking its spring from Christianity.

1845 New Monthly Mag. & Humorist Apr. 574 These early volumes..taking their spring out of the reeking fires of the revolution.

a. A person or personification regarded as a source, beginning, or origin. Chiefly with of. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun] > person as source of something

wellOE

springc1225

seedsman1587

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun]

ordeOE

thresholdeOE

frumthc950

anginOE

frumeOE

worthOE

beginninga1225

springc1225

commencementc1250

ginninga1300

comsingc1325

entryc1330

aginning1340

alphac1384

incomea1400

formec1400

ingressc1420

birtha1425

principlea1449

comsementa1450

resultancec1450

inition1463

inceptiona1483

entering1526

originala1529

inchoation1530

opening1531

starting1541

principium1550

entrance1553

onset1561

rise1589

begin1590

ingate1591

overture1595

budding1601

initiationa1607

starting off1616

dawninga1631

dawn1633

impriminga1639

start1644

fall1647

initial1656

outset1664

outsettinga1698

going off1714

offsetting1782

offset1791

commence1794

aurora1806

incipiency1817

set-out1821

set-in1826

throw-off1828

go-off1830

outstart1844

start1857

incipience1864

oncome1865

kick-off1875

off-go1886

off1896

get-go1960

lift-off1967

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun]

welleOE

mothereOE

ordeOE

wellspringeOE

fathereOE

headeOE

oreOE

wellspringOE

rootc1175

morea1200

beginningc1200

head wella1325

sourcec1374

principlea1382

risinga1382

springinga1382

fountain14..

springerc1410

nativity?a1425

racinea1425

spring1435

headspring?a1439

seminaryc1440

originationc1443

spring wellc1450

sourdre1477

primordialc1487

naissance1490

wellhead?1492

offspringa1500

conduit-head1517

damc1540

springhead1547

principium1550

mint1555

principal1555

centre1557

head fountain1563

parentage1581

rise1589

spawna1591

fount1594

parent1597

taproot1601

origin1604

fountainhead1606

radix1607

springa1616

abundary1622

rist1622

primitive1628

primary1632

land-spring1642

extraction1655

upstart1669

progenerator1692

fontala1711

well-eye1826

first birth1838

ancestry1880

Quelle1893

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 474 Of al þet uuel iþe world..ich am of þe sprunges þe an þet hit meast of springeð.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 1710 Þouȝ he [sc. Ovid] of poetis was þe spring & welle.

?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 88 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 55 Of al vertu, thow art the spryng & welle!

1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xliii. 214 And thus I fame am euer magnyfyed..The sprynge of honoure, and of famous clerkes.

?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. E Eacus..Of whome this sayd Pyrrus, had his byrth and spryng.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. iii. 98 Macb. The Spring, the Head, the Fountaine of your Blood Is stopt... Macd. Your Royall Father's murther'd.

1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. John i. 9 As the Lord and Spring of Nature, he giveth all men their Intellectual Natural Light.

1707 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs ii. 127 My God, the Spring of all my Joys, The Life of my Delights.

1795 J. J. C. Timaeus tr. F. Schiller Cabal & Love v. i. 94 To whom should it [sc. a letter] be but to Ferdinand, the spring of my every thought.

1830 J. Galt Southennan lix. 205 He considered him as the spring of all his domestic misfortunes.

1876 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids xii. 352 Father Æneas, spring of the Roman weal.

1958 N. Abercrombie tr. J. Daniélou Lord of Hist. v. 82 There is no superseding Christ, he is..the last end of the world as he is the spring of its eternal youth.

1983 F. Warner Moving Refl. I. vii. 20 There will rise up, beyond our Jewish race.., A new humanity beloved of Christ. We are its birth, its spring.

b. Something regarded as a source, beginning, or origin. Chiefly with of. Cf. wellspring n. 2.In quot. OE showing Old English ǣ-spring in similar use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun]

welleOE

mothereOE

ordeOE

wellspringeOE

fathereOE

headeOE

oreOE

wellspringOE

rootc1175

morea1200

beginningc1200

head wella1325

sourcec1374

principlea1382

risinga1382

springinga1382

fountain14..

springerc1410

nativity?a1425

racinea1425

spring1435

headspring?a1439

seminaryc1440

originationc1443

spring wellc1450

sourdre1477

primordialc1487

naissance1490

wellhead?1492

offspringa1500

conduit-head1517

damc1540

springhead1547

principium1550

mint1555

principal1555

centre1557

head fountain1563

parentage1581

rise1589

spawna1591

fount1594

parent1597

taproot1601

origin1604

fountainhead1606

radix1607

springa1616

abundary1622

rist1622

primitive1628

primary1632

land-spring1642

extraction1655

upstart1669

progenerator1692

fontala1711

well-eye1826

first birth1838

ancestry1880

Quelle1893

OE Blickling Homilies 29 Ealle þas god cumaþ of þæm æsprenge Godes mildheortnesse, & beoð atogen of þæm mægene þære Halgan þrynesse.]

R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 97 Not to heuy bot to Ioy he is takyn &, teris as wer wyp away, in þe spryngis of endles & tru Ioy is myrthyd.

c1450 ( H. Daniel Liber Uricrisiarum (Gloucester Cathedral 19) No. 1 f. 3^v, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Wel(le He [sc. the heart] is ground & welle & spryng of kynde hete in..the body.

1523 T. Cromwell Speech to Parl. in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) I. 30 Suche yerely reuenues and wellyng spryngges as [read of] treasure as shuld..be browght into this Realme.

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 48 Theare mount Ide resteth, thee springe of progenye Troian.

1612 J. Sylvester tr. Tropheis sig. Eee4, in E. Grimeston tr. P. Matthieu Heroyk Life Henry IV This noble Spirit doth to his Spring re-mount, This Bounties Flood retireth to his Fount.

1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. ii. 29 The true Spring and Source of the lively Idea of Pantheology.

1718 W. Wood Surv. Trade 193 I have discoursed on the African Trade, by reason it is the Spring and Parent whence the others flow.

1790 Monthly Rev. Apr. 362 That principle, which is the first spring of all useful exertions in education, viz. parental love.

1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 516 It was not one spring alone of dissension which distracted the government of Madras.

1892 B. F. Westcott Gospel of Life 106 Language reveals the deepest springs of thought.

1954 H. M. Kallen Secularism is Will of God iii. 30 The origin and spring of religious liberty.

2001 C. K. Bellinger Geneal. of Violence viii. 130 The ultimate springs of evil will always remain a mystery.

a. A flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground and possessing special properties, esp. of a medicinal or healing nature. Usually with a modifying adjective, as healing, mineral, thermal, etc.See also hot spring n. at hot adj. and n.¹ Compounds 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > spring > [noun] > miraculous or healing

spring1567

chalybeate1667

the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments using water > [noun] > taking medicinal waters > a medicinal spring

bath864

baina1552

spring1567

spa1626

well1632

onsen1896

1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. f. 114^v A christall Well there is than shining Glasse more sheere, A holy spring [L. fons sacer], some demen that some sacred Saint is there.

1580 Breif Descr. Well of Woman Hil sig. A.4 The qualiteis of the maist ancient Bathis and springis of Medicinall watteris.

1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion iii. 44 That Bathonian Spring, Which from the Sulphury Mines her med'cinall force doth bring.

1663 J. Beale Let. 2 Nov. in R. Boyle Corr. (2001) II. 156 My second remarke is of a healing Spring... This Water I tryed often.

1748 G. Washington Diary 18 Mar. (1976) 12 We this day call'd to see the Fam'd Warm Springs.

1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 187 About two leagues to the east of this mass I discovered a brackish mineral spring.

1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall xv. 517 Chalybeate springs are very common.

1855 H. Miller First Impr. Eng. (rev. ed.) xi. 232 The underground history of the mineral springs of Great Britain.

1917 Rep. 14th Ann. Meeting S. Afr. Assoc. for Advancement Sci. 1916 532 All these are practically unknown as medicinal springs.

1988 J. H. Bain Spas iii. 11 Bad Mittemdorf spa offers Acratic thermal springs, curative mud, and pure Alpine climate.

2012 B. Campbell Rivers & Power Anc. Rome ix. 356 Existing roads..helped in the expansion of the site of some curative springs.

b. In plural. With the. A place or locality which has springs of this kind.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > place to which invalids resort > spa

bath1562

balneary1646

wells1673

spa1781

springs1849

Kurort1868

society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > [noun] > health resort > with curative springs

springs1849

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 347 In his younger days the gentlemen who visited the springs slept in rooms hardly as good as the garrets which he lived to see occupied by footmen.

1861 J. G. Saxe Money-king & Other Poems in Poems Compl. in One Volume 286 Pray, what do they do at the Springs?

1878 I. L. Bird Let. 28 Oct. in Lady's Life Rocky Mts. (1879) x. 180 Many go to the Springs in the last stage of consumption, thinking that the Colorado climate will cure them.

1937 Charleston (W. Virginia) Daily Mail 4 July 2/3 When a president of the United States paid a visit to the Springs there was invariably such a party at which he was guest of honor.

1989 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 5 Nov. 1 f Perhaps the nicest time to visit the springs is after supper.

2016 Sarasota (Florida) Herald-Tribune (Nexis) 27 May b 5 A new pass—which will allow residents to visit the springs 30 times in a year—will be sold to Sarasota County adults for $150.

†4. A jet or spray of water. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > fountain > [noun] > jet or spout

waterspout1607

jettoa1660

girandolac1660

jet d'eau1669

gerbe1699

jetteau1710

grille1712

spirt1716

water jet1727

spurt1775

girandole1813

spring1818

water-bow1855

sea-spout1867

1818 Lady Morgan in Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 111 All appeared silence and desolation; neither the grands nor petits eaux threw up their diamond springs in the sunshine.

II. An energetic upward or forward movement, and related senses.

†5.

a. The first appearance or beginning of something; the moment at which something emerges or arises. Obsolete.Cf. senses 1d, 2b, and 26a, from which uses are sometimes difficult to distinguish.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun]

ordeOE

thresholdeOE

frumthc950

anginOE

frumeOE

worthOE

beginninga1225

springc1225

commencementc1250

ginninga1300

comsingc1325

entryc1330

aginning1340

alphac1384

incomea1400

formec1400

ingressc1420

birtha1425

principlea1449

comsementa1450

resultancec1450

inition1463

inceptiona1483

entering1526

originala1529

inchoation1530

opening1531

starting1541

principium1550

entrance1553

onset1561

rise1589

begin1590

ingate1591

overture1595

budding1601

initiationa1607

starting off1616

dawninga1631

dawn1633

impriminga1639

start1644

fall1647

initial1656

outset1664

outsettinga1698

going off1714

offsetting1782

offset1791

commence1794

aurora1806

incipiency1817

set-out1821

set-in1826

throw-off1828

go-off1830

outstart1844

start1857

incipience1864

oncome1865

kick-off1875

off-go1886

off1896

get-go1960

lift-off1967

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) 146 Ah witen wel þeture lahen, ure bileaue, & ure ley, hefde lahe [perhaps read lahet] sprung [L. primordiis].

1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 1st Pt. f. 14 The verye sprynge or fyrst goynge forth of the Gospell.

a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 58^v The Latin tong,..from the spring, to the decay of the same.

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. vi. 58 Men if wee view them in their spring, are at the first without vnderstanding or knowledge at all.

1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy 262 Ever since the first spring of the Arian heresy, the Church had then suffered so much by the preaching of Arius the Presbyter, that they made a Law not to suffer any Presbyter to preach at all.

1682 N. Grew Idea Philos. Hist. Plants 3 in Anat. Plants Plants have their set and peculiar Seasons for their Spring or Birth.

1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. Introd. 67 Nothing being more difficult than to ascertain the precise beginning and first spring of an antient and long established custom.

b. Perhaps: a yolk. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > eggs > [noun] > egg-yolk

yelloweOE

yolkeOE

spring1600

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [noun] > ovum or ootid > yolk

yolkeOE

spring1600

vitellary1650

vitellus1728

food-yolk1850

vitellin1857

trophoblast1886

vitelline1891

ovovitellin1906

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xii. 54 Stampe them all togither with the spring [Fr. germe] of an egge.

a. Originally: (the rising of the sea at) a high tide. In later use spec.: a tide, esp. a high tide, occurring shortly after the full or new moon and having a greater height, range, or extent than at other times; = spring tide n. 2. Frequently in plural. Often contrasted with neap.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > motive

achesounc1230

encheason1297

quarrel1340

occasionc1384

springa1398

motive?a1439

motionc1475

springa1500

respect1528

regard1579

moment1611

movent1651

umbrage1664

what makes (someone) tick1931

the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > spring

springa1398

spring-floodc1405

spring tide1548

high tide1609

sea-spring1627

overloup1710

stream-tide1789

overleap1795

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xiii. xxi. 668 When þe mone is fourtene daies olde and atte þe ful, þan efte is þe see ful in his hiest springe [L. augmento].

1470 W. Worcester in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 585 At hye spryngys the see brekyth yn to the pasturs and destroyeth the pasture.

?a1500 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Ld. Montagu of Beaulieu (1900) 2 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 283) XLV. 685 Wytheinne haven. Wher so evere hit be one the prym eve, the spryng ys at the hyest.

1584 in J. J. Cartwright Chapter Hist. Yorks. (1872) 268 We say that there ryseth at the sprynge 18 foott water, and at the nepe eleaven foot water.

1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea lii. 123 It seemeth an Iland, and in high springes, I judge, that the sea goeth round about it.

1641 J. Taylor Last Voy. B 6 b The trade..is at the least two hundred Tunnes of all commodities, every spring, which is every fortnight or lesse.

1751 Anc. & Present State Navigation Lyn, Wisbeach 25 The tides then generally run high, by Reason of the Springs putting in.

1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 15 The tide rises six feet on the springs.

1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 147 The rise of tide may be stated at about six feet during the springs.

1858 Mercantile Marine Mag. 5 366 The stream runs 5 knots at springs, and 3 knots at neaps.

1892 G. R. Lowndes Camping Sketches 211 Only the highest ‘springs’ could touch us.

1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 111 It had twelve feet of water or more when the tides were at full springs.

2000 C. Little Biol. Soft Shores & Estuaries (2009) ii. 32 When springs change to neap tides (those of low amplitude), current velocities fall.

†b. spring of the sea: the rising of the sea at high tide; an instance of this, a high tide. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > change in level of water > [noun] > rise in level of water > of sea

spring of the seaa1398

storm surge1929

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xvii. 490 Alwey in þe newe mone þe spring of þe see is hiest [L. est mare plenissimum], and also in þe fulle mone.

1539 Act 31 Henry VIII c. 4 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 720 Overflowinge..of..groundes lienge by the saide river, with the high springes of the Sea.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxiv. 65 All the whole length of the Citie is washed with the springs of the Sea.

c. at spring: at a spring tide, when the water level at high tide is highest (opposed to at neap).

ΚΠ

1850 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 140 227 Half the difference of the height at spring and neaps.

1883 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 353 The difference between the intervals is greater at spring than at neap.

1891 Proc. Royal Soc. 1890–91 49 130 The tidal information supplied by the Admiralty for such places consists of rough means of the rise and interval at spring and neap, modified by the important warning that the tide is affected by diurnal inequality.

2012 D. Fan in R. A. Davis & R. W. Dalrymple Princ. Tidal Sedimentol. 204/2 The semidiurnal tidal range varies from 2.3 m at neap to 5.5 m at spring.

7. A flock of teal.The term may derive from the springing motion with which a flock of teal rise into air when disturbed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > member of genus Anas (miscellaneous) > anas crecca (teal) > collective or group of

springa1450

a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 603 (MED) A Sprynge of teles.

?1477 in Lydgate’s Horse, Ghoos, & Sheep (Caxton) A Spryng of teeles.

1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 78 The following Terms are in Use among Wildfowl-shooters:—A flock..of teal, ‘a spring’.

1892 Cornhill Mag. Aug. 152 Further out we notice a ‘spring’ of nine teal.

1935 Irish Naturalists' Jrnl. 5 219 In olden days there were nouns of multitude used for the various kinds of birds. Such were 'a herd of Swan,' 'a gaggle of Geese,' 'a pack of Grouse,' 'a wisp of Snipe,' 'a spring of Teal'.

1964 Times 15 Oct. 14/7 Eagles circled overhead while now and again a spring of teal flashed low across the lake.

2016 Sunday Times (Nexis) 8 May 7 The bubbling trill of whimbrel, an egret fishing, shelduck, a spring of teal.

a. An energetic or lively movement, esp. in a forward direction; a bound, a jump, a leap. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > a leap, spring, or jump

leapOE

startc1330

saulta1350

lope14..

launchc1440

sprenting?a1475

loup1487

springa1500

stenda1500

benda1522

sprenta1522

bounce1523

jump1552

sally1589

rise1600

bound1667

vault1728

sprinta1800

spang1817

spend1825

upleap1876

sprit1880

bunny hop1950

bunny-hop1969

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 15 As she sodenly made a sprynge, the childe fill oute of hir arme.

a1500 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 309 Thy spryngys, thy quarters, thy rabetis also.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Fvi An holy monke, whiche in the point of his dethe, sodaynly gaue a great spryng vp warde.

1674 tr. P. M. de la Martinière New Voy. Northern Countries 40 Upon which they [sc. reindeer] gave such a spring, we thought we had so many Divels in our Sledges.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 111 They carry the Leopards on Hackeries..to give them the advantage of their Spring.

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 167 Altho' his Adversary's Horse make a Spring, and run past him.

1764 J. Wesley Jrnl. 16 Jan. (1914) V. 44 My mare lost both her fore feet, but she gave a spring, and recovered the causeway.

1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 294 I made a spring towards a boat..and caught hold of the gunwale.

1875 B. Stewart & P. G. Tait Unseen Universe (ed. 2) i. 38 When Science was pausing for the spring she has since made.

1934 P. Lynch Turf-cutter's Donkey xiv. 124 The squirrel..gave a spring, and landed on Eileen's knee.

1964 L. B. Honwana in R. Rive Mod. Afr. Prose 112 The mamba abandoned him immediately, and with a spring disappeared between the pipes.

2003 Re: Joyful Quadrille Here! in alt.drwho.creative (Usenet newsgroup) 25 Aug. As she hit the fifth flight..she made a great spring down onto the very steps in front of them.

†b. The greatest distance a person or thing can cover by a bound or leap. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > [noun] > limit of distance or reach > which can be covered by a leap

spring1817

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna ii. xxix. 46 Her spirit..far wandering, on the wing Of visions that were mine, beyond its utmost spring.

1875 C. H. Eden Twin Brothers Elfvedale iii. 100 An enormous lynx..was within spring of the unconscious Eric.

1912 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 605/1 Having fought his way over broken ground.., till seemingly within spring of the castle.

c. slang (originally U.S.). An escape or rescue from prison. Cf. spring v.¹ 26. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > [noun] > from prison

spring1900

the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > from restraint or confinement > from prison

prison breach1657

spring1900

bust-out1930

1900 ‘J. Flynt’ & ‘F. Walton’ Powers that Prey 64 We only had to make one spring, an' that didn't cost us over six hundred.

1923 A. Stringer Diamond Thieves xx. 385 I did wait. But his swell friends didn't come across wit' any spring.

1968 ‘B. Mather’ Springers xv. 161 We just..waited for what we knew would eventually come. A spring.

1977 F. Ross Dead Runner i. 41 You can't pull a spring like that without help on the inside.

9. Architecture.

a. The point at which an arch or vault rises from a support or impost (impost n.² 1); the commencement of curvature in an arch. Also attributive, esp. in spring stone. Cf. springer n.¹ 2, spring v.¹ 17b.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of

coin1350

pendant1359

voussoir1359

springer1435

spandrel1477

spring?1553

pitch1615

kneeler1617

gimmalsa1652

face1664

of the third point1672

turn1677

sweep1685

hance1700

skew-back1700

summering1700

springing1703

tympan1704

hip1726

reins1726

rib1726

third point1728

quoin1730

archivolt1731

opening1739

soffit1739

shoulder1744

extrados1772

intrados1772

haunch1793

arch-stone1828

twist1840

coign1843

architrave1849

escoinçon1867

pulvino1907

pin1928

?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) 92 in Shorter Poems (1967) l. 1437 Suttyl muldry wrocht..On buttres, Ialmys, pilleris, and plesand spryngis.

1723 E. Chambers tr. S. Le Clerc Treat. Archit. I. 102 Coach-Gates..have a Dormant (i.e. the upper part of the Gate that does not open), which Dormant, where the Gate is arch'd, commences from the Spring of the Arch.

1735 J. Price Some Considerations Stone-bridge Thames 4 The Piers,..under the Chaptrel, or Spring Stones, have a Square Course.

1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 63 When the arch stones only are laid, and the pier built no higher than the spring.

1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 539 The supports of an arch are called the spring walls.

1871 Brit. Q. Rev. Jan. 46/1 The spring stones of an arch discovered by Robinson in the western wall.

1875 C. Merivale Gen. Hist. Rome lxxix. 670 There remain on the face of the Palatine some indications of what may have been the spring of the first arch.

1917 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1916–7 C. 33 128 The wrong spring-stone was put into the inner order of the doorway on the south side.

2000 N.Y. Times 19 Mar. (Real Estate section) 7/1 An unnamed critic..didn't like the placement of the mezzanine floor at the midpoint of the columns rather than at the spring of the arches.

†b. The curvature or rise of an arch; the ascent or slope of a bridge. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > manner of construction

summering1700

spring1726

surbasement1833

encorbellment1886

the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > a sloping object, surface, etc. > of a bridge

spring1886

society > travel > means of travel > route or way > other means of passage or access > [noun] > bridge > parts of > the rise of an arch

bridge arch1677

versed sine1838

spring1886

1726 E. Chambers tr. J. Dubreuil Pract. of Perspective 64 Then taking in your Compasses the Breadth of the Spring of the Arch, as PO, set it off on the little Parallels Q.

1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 422/1 The arch..was fifty-five feet wide, and had but eight feet of spring.

1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxvi. 262 An old, hobbling woman..set forth again up the steep spring of the bridge.

10. A cut or joint of pork from the belly, lower forequarter, or foreleg.The term may derive from the fact that this cut is taken from a part of the pig used for springing upwards.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > cuts or parts

pig's footc1475

hog's foot1561

hog's cheek1573

bald-rib1598

spring1598

list1623

griskin1699

chine1712

pork griskin1725

rearing1736

pork chop?1752

hand1794

faggot1815

hog round1819

sweet-bone1826

butt1845

pig trotter1851

pork belly1863

Hodge1879

fore-end1906

fore-hock1923

1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Bambetti, that ioynt of meate we call a spring or pestle of porke.

a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse i. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Dddd^v/2 Can you be such an asse..to think these Springs of Pork will shoot up Cæsars?

1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. iv. 96 Pray hand the Spring of Porke to me.

1708 J. Wilson et al. tr. Petronius Satyrical Wks. 97 He shall, if you please, make you..a Turtle of a Spring of Pork.

a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 20 The fore-quarter contains the spring and the fore-loin.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 240 The belly or spring [of pork], also fit for pickling, or for rolling up,..for brawn.

1881 Mid-Surrey Times 17 Dec. Henry and George Webb..were charged on remand with having in their possession a hand and spring of pork.., supposed to have been stolen from High-street, Kingston.

1978 D. Smith Cookery Course I. 133 Ask the butcher—giving him a bit of notice—to bone out a hand and spring of pork for this recipe.

2012 Times (Nexis) 16 Feb. t2 7 Tim Sheehan..slow roasts hand and spring of pork for 7 hours with cider and fennel heads.

†11. Nautical.

a. A breach or opening in a vessel caused by the splitting or buckling of a plank or seam. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > opening caused by splitting seam or plank

spring1611

1611 B. Jonson Catiline iii. sig. E4^v Each pettie hand Can steere a ship becalm'd; but he that will Gouerne, and carry her to her endes, must know..Where her springs are, her leaks; & how to stop 'hem.

b. A crack or split in a mast or spar, esp. one which makes it unsafe to carry the usual amount of sail. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > split in mast or spar

spring1744

1744 J. Philips Authentic Jrnl. Exped. Anson 157 We..discover'd a great Spring in the Foremast.

1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 212 An accident by a shot, a spring, a rottenness.

1846 A. Young Naut. Dict. 292 A spar is said to be sprung, when it is cracked or split,..and the crack is called a spring.

12.

(a) Elasticity or energy shown by a person, or by a person's limb, muscles, etc.; vigour or liveliness of movement.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > loose or stiff condition > [noun]

starknessOE

lithenessa1464

mobility1528

leathwakeness1548

stiffness1552

supplement1583

suppleness1603

spring1641

limber1786

lubricity1809

limberness1835

lissomness1857

the world > movement > bodily movement > [noun] > qualities of bodily movement > elasticity

spring1641

springiness1735

1641 W. Stokes Vaulting Master sig. C2 Being thus elevated, let goe your right hand, which you may safely doe, for the spring of your arme in the going off, will send you with much ease to the ground.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 551 Heav'ns what a spring was in his Arm, to throw.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 85. ⁋5 They have always a peculiar Spring in their Arms, a Riggle in their Bodies.

1785 W. Cowper Task i. 8 Th' elastic spring of an unwearied foot That mounts the stile with ease.

1825 W. Hazlitt Table-talk (new ed.) II. 271 Do nothing to take away..the spring and elasticity of your muscles.

1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 678 At first the patient finds that he is losing his spring in walking.

1956 G. C. Kunzle & B. W. Thomas Freestanding i. 25 Spring is nearly always associated with the legs.

2010 Guardian (Nexis) 29 Jan. 2 As the match unfolded you could see the Croat's long legs were losing their spring.

(b) a spring in one's step: a vigour or liveliness in the way one moves (esp. in the way one walks), suggestive of confidence or happiness.

ΚΠ

1722 R. Steele Conscious Lovers iii. 48 What a Spring in her Step!

1748 P. Hiffernan Refl. Struct. & Passions Man ii. 64 In one it is the smart Cock of his Hat. In another an alert Spring in his Step.

1844 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 2 May There is a good spring in their step..that reminds one of sailors on shore upon a frolic.

1887 H. R. Haggard She xxvi. 293 It seemed to me that there was no spring in her step.

1923 A. Rogers & C. L. Roberts Go-Go Bug (song) Keeps that spring in your step Puts that ping in your pep.

1981 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 18 Apr. (Late City Final ed.) a18/2 A warm wind swept across the rolling hills and rich bottomlands here in eastern Iowa.., and farmers walked with a renewed spring in their steps.

2006 Metro (Toronto) 13 Apr. 42/3 This season's trendiest shoe shapes are sure to put a little spring in your step.

†b. Energy, vigour, liveliness of mind, temperament, etc. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > mental or moral vigour

spirita1382

spritec1540

fire edgea1572

mettle1581

vigour1587

springa1682

peppiness1921

Schwung1930

a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) iii. 109 Persons vitiously inclined..having the Elater and Spring of their own Natures to facilitate their Iniquities.

1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 116 If the mind be too long bent upon one thing, twill lose its spring and activity.

1742 D. Hume Ess. Moral & Polit. II. ix. 172 A selfish Villain may possess a Spring and Alacrity of Temper.

1831 W. Scott Count Robert iii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 63 Ere he has..recovered, in some degree, the spring of his mind, and the powers of his body.

1886 J. Ruskin Præterita II. ii. 41 Happy journey by the Eastern Riviera began to restore my spring of heart.

13. The power to spring back into shape or position after compression, bending, etc.; the quality of having this power; elasticity.

a. With reference to the resistance to compression exhibited by air and its tendency to expand back forcefully to its original volume.rare after the late 18th cent. and chiefly in accounts of the work of Robert Boyle (1627–91) and Robert Hooke (1635–1703).In quot. 1674 applied to the earth, by analogy with the resistance of the air to compression.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > [noun] > elasticity of air

air spring1660

spring1660

compressibilitya1691

1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall i. 24 There is yet another way to explicate the Spring of the Air.

1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 72 The spring of the earth over-ballancing the weight of it as to power.

1687 D. Abercromby Academia Scientiarum App. iv. 4 By the help whereof [sc. the air-pump] he proves the Elastic Power and Spring of the Air.

1719 J. Quincy Lexicon Physico-medicum (1722) 9 The Air..hath been found..by the Force of its own Spring, to possess 13000 times the space it does when pressed by the incumbent Atmosphere.

a1774 O. Goldsmith Surv. Exper. Philos. (1776) II. 84 This pressure is increased by another cause, I mean the air's spring or elasticity.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 6 The operation is continued till the spring of the air in the receiver is no longer sufficient to lift the valves a b.

1918 Math. Gaz. 9 286 Boyle's experiments in confirmation of Pascal; leading to notion of the ‘spring’ of the air and to Boyle's Law.

2009 A. C. Chalmers Scientist's Atom vii. 127 Newton..appealed to gravity without being able to explain it in much the same way that Boyle appealed to the spring of the air without being able to justify an explanation of it by appeal to experiment.

b. With reference to the elasticity of an object or solid substance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [noun] > elasticity

restitution1656

tensility1659

springiness1662

spring power1662

elasticity1664

bearing1674

spring1683

resiliency1712

resilience1807

1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 282 Pieces of Felt..will Squeeze and retain their Spring for a considerable time.

1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. x. 219 There is in all Animal Fibres..an original Mechanism of Elasticity or Spring.

1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty x. 60 A small wire that has lost its spring, and so will retain every shape it is twisted into.

1789 Trans. Soc. Arts 7 159 There is a spring in the whalebone, which prevents it turning steady.

1857 Ulster Jrnl. Archæol. 5 248 It is retained in its place by the spring of the metal.

1874 A. L. F. Pitt-Rivers Evol. Culture, Princ. Classif. (1906) 16 Yielding few..woods that have sufficient spring for the construction of the bow.

1911 Amer. Co-operative Jrnl. Aug. 1005/2 He is getting each year more like an old rubber band that has lost its spring.

1955 Pop. Mech. Oct. 232/2 If the metal of the contact point has lost its spring, place a small amount of cement behind the metal to stiffen it.

2006 Prevention Apr. 172 Don't skimp on your feet. Once the interior padding has lost its spring, it's time for a new pair.

14.

a. An instance of rebounding or recoiling; a release of tension resulting in motion.

ΚΠ

1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 184 Unless with every Spring of the Pole, they should lift their Treading Leg so high as [etc.].

1738 tr. D. Vairasse d'Allais Hist. Sevarambians ii. 83 They [sc. the Fish] continued struggling and beating themselves under Water for some time; but, as soon as they were tir'd, the Spring of the Rod drew them out.

1782 W. Cowper Human Frailty in Poems 312 The bow well bent, and smart the spring, Vice seems already slain.

1854 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xxiv. 196 A startling sensation, resembling the spring of a well-drawn bow.

1899 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 51 112 When I cut the string with the point of a scissors, the branch flew upwards with a sudden spring.

1965 Amer. Midland Naturalist 73 350 The tension is released with a sudden spring when an insect strikes the web.

2007 Star (Shelby, N. Carolina) (Nexis) 5 July The spring of the diving board and splash of bodies hitting the water could be heard.

†b. A sudden flexible motion made by a part of a plant or animal, esp. as a result of a release of tension. Obsolete.Cf. sense 27.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > [noun] > spasmodic movement or twitching > by plant or animal depositing seed or eggs

spring1707

1707 H. Sloane Voy. Islands I. 150 When any wet touches the end of the Seed Vessel, with a smart noise, and sudden leap it opens its self, and with a spring scatters its Seed to a pretty distance round it.

1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 162 When the germen becomes stronger, and the carina more open, it obtains its liberty by a sudden spring, in consequence of which the pollen is plentifully scattered about the stigma.

1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 451 I took some of the flies,..and pressing them a little, they quitted several eggs, which they quit one by one, with a sudden spring.

1816 P. Keith Syst. Physiol. Bot. II. iv. vii. 351 The elastic spring with which the anther flies open will generally be sufficient to disperse the pollen.

1842 B. F. Taylor Attractions Lang. ii. i. 69 No sooner than he alights, it closes with a spring, and the hapless fly becomes a prisoner for life.

1881 P. Henderson Henderson's Handbk. Plants 71/1 When the hairs are touched by a fly or other insect, the sides of the leaf are brought together with a sudden spring, imprisoning the intruder.

1911 B. Miall tr. J. H. Fabre Social Life in Insect World (1914) vi. 81 Then one of the grappling-hooks with a sudden spring flies out and strikes the rival.

15.

†a. The angle by which a bevelled edge of a plank, rail, etc., deviates from a right angle. More fully spring bevel. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > an inclination

bevel1678

skew1688

sklent1768

spring1793

snape1794

cant1881

1793 P. Nicholson Carpenter's New Guide 14 The bevel at No. 1, figure 4, represents the spring of the plank.

1845 S. De Graff Mod. Geom. Stair-builder's Guide 15 Fig. 5 shows the manner of forming the face mould to the spring of the plank, when the upper side and edge of the plank form an obtuse angle, as at fig. 8.

1913 Building Age May 220/2 The edge of the plank requires bevelling to the spring bevel, shown in plan.

†b. Nautical. The curvature or rise of the deck or bulwarks at the fore and aft of a vessel; the sheer (sheer n.² 1). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > upwards curvature

hance1637

sheer1691

sny1711

spring1799

1799 Vocab. Sea Phrases II. 219 Relèvement du pont. The sheer of a ship's deck, or the gradual spring of the deck afore and abaft.

1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 353/1 The reason why she has such an extraordinary sheer or spring in the fore part of her upper deck.

1881 Standard 9 Aug. 6/3 The boat is high at the bow and stern, being built with what is known as a good spring.

c. Shoemaking. Curvature or rise in the toe of a last (last n.¹ 2a) which creates elevation of the toe of a shoe or boot; a steel support within the sole of a shoe or boot which creates this curvature (now rare). Formerly also: †arch or curvature of the instep (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > instep > arch or curvature in

spring1885

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > other

speckc1440

under-leather1569

rand1598

tongue1598

ruffle1600

underlay1612

tap1688

jump1712

bottom1768

boot-garter1824

yarking1825

range1840

counter1841

insole1851

sock1851

galosh1853

heel plate1862

lift1862

foxing1865

spring1885

saddle1930

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > [noun] > equipment or materials for > equipment > last > rise of toe above ground line

spring1885

1885 J. B. Leno Art of Boot- & Shoe-making xix. 145 The spring is attached to the inner sole... Instances have occurred in which the spring, through being inadequately shielded, has pierced through the inner sole to the foot.

1902 F. Y. Golding Manuf. Boots & Shoes 107 If the substance of the sole be light very little spring is required.

1902 F. Y. Golding Manuf. Boots & Shoes 107 Sometimes the term ‘spring’ is used to describe the hollowness or arch of the waist.

1916 F. Plucknett Introd. Boot & Shoe Manuf. ii. 17 It is advisable to put spring into the forepart of the last, equal to the amount which the boot would probably acquire in wear.

1935 J. Ball in F. Y. Golding Boots & Shoes VI. xi. vi. 39 The stouter and stiffer the sole the greater the amount of spring.

III. The season and related senses.

16.

a. The appearance or first sign of morning, day, daylight, etc.; dawn. Also: the beginning of a season. Chiefly poetic from the 18th cent. (now rare). Cf. day-spring n., upspring n. 1.Frequently in (the) spring of (the) day.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > dawn > [noun]

aristc825

dawingc900

dayeOE

day-rimOE

day-redOE

mornOE

lightOE

lightingOE

dawning1297

day-rowa1300

grekinga1300

uprista1300

dayninga1325

uprisingc1330

sun arisingc1350

springc1380

springingc1380

day-springa1382

morrowingc1384

dayingc1400

daylighta1425

upspring1471

aurora1483

sky1515

orienta1522

breaking of the day1523

daybreak1530

day-peep1530

morrow dayc1530

peep of the morning1530

prick of the day?1533

morning1535

day-breaking1565

creek1567

sunup1572

breach of the day1579

break of day or morn1584

peep of day1587

uprise1594

dawna1616

day-dawn1616

peep of dawn1751

strike of day1790

skreigh1802

sunbreak1822

day-daw1823

screech1829

dayclean1835

sun dawn1835

first light1838

morning-red1843

piccaninny sun1846

piccaninny daylightc1860

gloaming1873

glooming1877

sparrow-fart1886

crack1887

sun-spring1900

piccaninny dawn1936

the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > coming or beginning of a season

spring1600

coming1651

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 3513 To-morȝe on þe spryng of þe day..to þe pauyllouns take þe way.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Judith x. 11 She cam doun þe hil aboute spring [L.V. a1425 Royal the risynge, a1450 Corpus Cambr. 147 spryngyng; L. ortum] of þe day.

c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §6. 20 To knowe the spring of the dawyng & the ende of the euenyng.

1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cv. 141 At the sprynge of the daye they were at the monument.

?1531 W. Tyndale tr. Prophet Ionas Jonah iv. sig. C viij The lorde ordeyned a worme agenst the springe of y^e morow morninge.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxii To the intent at the springe of the daye..they might inuade the City.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 82 Neuer, since the middle Sommers spring, Met we.

1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric Saxon Treat. Old & New Test. sig. ¶3^v Extend thy fame from Set to Spring of day.

1729 B. Lacy Misc. Poems compos'd at Newfoundland 45 I rise by spring of Day, and on my Knee, With humble Soul adore the Deity.

1770 Coll. Poems Several Hands (ed. 2) III. 200 Wait, at spring of fragrant morn, The opening hound, and cheering horn.

1842 Ld. Tennyson St. Simeon Stylites in Poems (new ed.) II. 58 I, 'tween the spring and downfall of the light, Bow down one thousand and two hundred times.

1890 R. H. Stoddard Lion's Cub 73 By the Morning's bow of fire, I cleave my way To the spring of Day.

1916 K. Tynan Holy War 30 His youth unwithered, smiling all the way, Into the land of youth, the Spring of Day.

1961 D. Levertov Jacob's Ladder 29 Breathe deep of the freshly gray morning air, mild spring of the day.

b. (the) spring of the leaf: the time when trees begin to burst into leaf; springtime. Now rare and archaic. Cf. (the) fall of the leaf at fall n.² Phrases 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring

LenteneOE

LentlOE

warea1300

verec1325

vera1382

vere-time1382

springing timea1387

springinga1398

springa1400

prime tempsa1425

the spring of the year1481

grass1485

springtime1495

prime time1503

sap-time?1523

spring tide1530

(the) spring of the leaf1538

prime1541

prime tide1549

voar1629

vernal season1644

vernal1654

outcome1672

Lent term1691

blossom-time1713

open water1759

rabi1783

budding-timea1807

ware-time1820

growing season1845

1538 R. Warner Let. 21 Nov. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 98 Whiche I thynke shalbe about the spryng of the lefe.

1587 T. Dawson Good Huswifes Iewell (new ed.) sig. E8^v When they feele themselues troubled with the Rewme, at the fall and spring of the leafe is best taking therof, and by the grace of God they shall finde ease.

1613 G. Markham Eng. Husbandman: 1st Pt. ii. vii. 63 You shall also euery spring and fall of the leafe clense your fruit trees from mosse.

1684 R. Johnson Enchiridion Medicum iii. xxvi. 282 The Cure is easiest effected in the Spring, or Fall of the Leaf.

1978 R. Kelly Convections 72 He very rarely went to bed till two or three of the clock..especially at spring and fall of the leaf.

†c. An outburst or fresh development. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] > a fresh or new beginning

rebeginning1598

spring1605

new departure1839

restart1858

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. H4 At one and the same time, it [sc. the Reformation] was ordayned by the diuine prouidence, that there should attend withall a renouation, and new spring of all other knowledges.

17.

a. The season between winter and summer (now generally regarded as lasting from March to May in the northern hemisphere and from September to November in the southern hemisphere), during which leaves come out on deciduous trees, many flowers are in bloom, the days lengthen, and the weather typically becomes warmer.Cf. earlier Lent n.¹ 1, Lenten n. 1. There has been some variation in the months regarded as comprising spring; in early use summer sometimes denoted all of the warm half of the year, including much or all of the period now called spring (see discussion at summer n.¹). In astronomy, spring is the period from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice.There has long been considerable variation between use with and without definite article, especially after prepositions; use with definite article sometimes distinguishes reference to the spring of a particular year (see sense 17c).

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring

LenteneOE

LentlOE

warea1300

verec1325

vera1382

vere-time1382

springing timea1387

springinga1398

springa1400

prime tempsa1425

the spring of the year1481

grass1485

springtime1495

prime time1503

sap-time?1523

spring tide1530

(the) spring of the leaf1538

prime1541

prime tide1549

voar1629

vernal season1644

vernal1654

outcome1672

Lent term1691

blossom-time1713

open water1759

rabi1783

budding-timea1807

ware-time1820

growing season1845

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 9927 (MED) Þe thrid colour..As Rose rede es in spring, And semes als a brinand thing.

1527 Prymer of Salysbury Use f. iij^v The other .vj. yeres is lyke February In the ende ther of begynneth the sprynge.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 43^v At spring (for the sommer) sowe garden ye shal.

1609 T. Dekker Rauens Almanacke sig. C1^v Let vs now trye if the spring will proue any more cheerefull.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 Alone he tempts..Th' unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known.

1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 59 The Wheat will have the Benefit of them earlier in the Spring.

1779 Mirror No. 16 The effects of the return of Spring have been frequently remarked.

1820 P. B. Shelley Ode to West Wind v, in Prometheus Unbound 192 O, wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

1854 H. D. Thoreau Walden 96 There are probably words addressed to our condition exactly, which..would be more salutary than the morning or the spring to our lives.

1901 Times 30 Dec. 12/6 Pelts of bears caught in the spring..are worth more than those secured later in the year.

1957 F. H. Forrester 1001 Questions answered about Weather (1964) iii. 140 From early spring till the end of summer, these gale-force winds form each day in the Gobi desert.

2014 J. Al-Khalili & J. McFadden Life on Edge vi. 173 The monarchs undertake the reverse journey in the spring to return to their summer feeding grounds.

b. the spring of the year: the first season of the year; springtime.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring

LenteneOE

LentlOE

warea1300

verec1325

vera1382

vere-time1382

springing timea1387

springinga1398

springa1400

prime tempsa1425

the spring of the year1481

grass1485

springtime1495

prime time1503

sap-time?1523

spring tide1530

(the) spring of the leaf1538

prime1541

prime tide1549

voar1629

vernal season1644

vernal1654

outcome1672

Lent term1691

blossom-time1713

open water1759

rabi1783

budding-timea1807

ware-time1820

growing season1845

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) xxxviii. 76 I myself, yf it please god, assone as the sprynge of the yere [Fr. li soues tens] cometh, shal come and hast to meue.

1506 tr. Kalender of Shepherdes sig. A. iii^v These be the foure seasons in the yere. as Prymetyme is the sprynge of the yere.

1548 W. Turner Names of Herbes sig. G.viij In the sprynge of the yere, it hath yealowe floures.

1637 T. Morton New Eng. Canaan ii. 89 There is a Fish (by some called shadds, by some allizes) that in the spring of the yeare..spaune in the ponds.

1665 R. Boyle Disc. iv. iii, in Occas. Refl. sig. E7 If then, in the Spring of the Year, our Reflector see the Gardener pruning a Fruit-tree.

1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Brassica In the Spring of the Year these Cabbages will shoot out strongly.

1794 B. Rush Med. Inq. & Observ.: Acct. of Bilious Remitting Yellow Fever III. 277 In pneumonies which affect whole neighbourhoods in the spring of the year, bleeding is the universal remedy.

1815 Lit. Panorama Mar. 827/1 A nobleman in the spring of the year has not thought it worth his while to re-stack his corn.

1866 Rural Amer. (Utica, N.Y.) 1 Jan. 2/2 One has, for instance, 10 to 20 hives in the spring of the year, all in good condition, strong in numbers and not short of honey.

1931 G. A. Garratt Mech. Properties Wood ii. 115 That [wood] originally nearest the pith, which was formed in the spring of the year..is consequently known as springwood or early wood.

1975 F. Mowat Snow Walker 132 My father followed him in the spring of the year.

2013 Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 22 Mar. a 5 In the spring of the year..the water is quite high.

c. The season between winter and summer in a particular year; an instance of spring. Also (with modifier, as delightful, chilly, mild, etc.): a particular spring characterized by the weather, conditions, etc., prevailing or experienced during that time.

ΚΠ

1537 Sir T. Wyatt Let. in Eng. Stud. 58 (1977) 407 The kyng shold take no preiudice as his faythfull frend the proroging theroff to the spryng.

1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1865/1 The wynde contynued North, and East, till after the Ascention day,..whereby followed a late spring.

1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies ii. xiii. 111 Those which inhabite there, take it for a delightfull spring.

1677 H. Prideaux Let. 2 Feb. (1875) 59 We shall goe on buildeing to, as soon as spring begins.

1711 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 24 Mar. (1965) I. 96 I am going to the same place I went last Spring.

1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 465 There can be no scarcity of that grain before the Spring.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 659 (note) Ferguson..was excluded by name from the general pardon published in the following spring.

1871 M. E. Braddon Fenton's Quest II. xix. 260 He didn't want to be ruined by his coal-merchant's bill if it was a chilly spring.

1954 Dalgety's Ann. Wool Rev. for Austral. & N.Z. 31 Over practically all of this extensive and important district a good spring was followed by a dry summer.

1970 ‘A. Cross’ Poetic Justice vii. 106 He had, since the spring, acquired a reputation for devoted radicalism.

2015 Irish Times 15 Aug. 9/1 The mild spring and summer had boosted the grouse numbers.

d. figurative. A period or state of newness, boundless energy, or innocence; spec. the period of life when a person is young. Usually with of. Cf. summer n.¹ 5, autumn n. 3, winter n.¹ 1d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > youth > [noun]

youthc897

youngheada1300

youngthc1330

juvent1377

juventy1377

first youtha1387

youthheada1400

joyfnesc1400

junessec1430

young daysa1464

juventudec1470

younga1475

youngness?1505

flower?1507

juventute1541

prime tide1549

spring1553

April1583

springtime1583

nonage1584

prime1584

flowering youth1586

primrose1590

greenc1595

dancing-days1599

primrose-time1606

leaping timea1616

salad daysa1616

minority1632

juvenency1656

coltagec1720

youdith1723

veal-bones1785

whelphood1847

colthood1865

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique i. f. 8^v Beyng in their primetide, & spryng of their age.

1590 R. Greene Mourning Garment 2 Sophonos..carryed graue thoughts, and in the spring of his youth such ripe fruites, as are found in the Autum of age.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 84 Oh, how this spring of loue resembleth The vncertaine glory of an Aprill day.

a1661 R. Bargrave Trav. Diary (1999) 210 Whiles I was yet..in the Spring Of Youth, my Primavera blossoming.

1748 T. Gray Ode in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems II. 267 On hasty wings thy youth is flown; Thy sun is set, thy spring is gone.

1781 E. Burke Corr. (1963) IV. 373 A storm came upon us in the early spring of our toleration.

1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last Days of Pompeii I. i. vi. 101 Apæcides was in the spring of his years.

1861 Sat. Rev. 14 Dec. 612 There is a large mass who..boat, and ride, and enjoy the sweet spring of their life.

a1908 L. C. Moulton Poems & Sonnets (1909) 176 Defying wintry weather, We, too, will wait our spring.

2002 Tel. Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) (Nexis) 22 Apr. a 4 In the spring of my life I was capable of such a graceful act.

e. The season of spring personified, esp. as a woman.

ΚΠ

1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. K4^v And whatso other hearb of louely hew The ioyous Spring out of the ground brings forth, To cloath her selfe in colours fresh and new.

a1629 T. Wilson tr. J. de Montemayor Diana in Revue Hispanique (1920) 50 375 Att the tyme when the springe with his chearefull dewes of the New yeare spredd it self ouer all.

1658 H. Crompton Pierides 25 When the spring Her plant-reviving bell shall ring.

a1737 E. Rowe Misc. Wks. (1739) I. 219 In vain to me the beauteous spring Her blooming sweets diffuses thro' the air.

1786 H. More Florio 24 When blushing Spring leads on the hours, And May is prodigal of flow'rs.

1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xvi. 12 The young Spring..threw down Her kindling buds, as if she Autumn were, Or they dead leaves.

1848 L. Hunt Jar of Honey vii. 84 Thou still..art the same blithe, sweet thing Thou ever wast, O Spring.

1928 I. Gershwin Chirp-Chirp in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 123/3 When Spring puts on her gay apparel What is it the songbirds carol Neatly, So sweetly, Tweet-tweetly?

1969 A. Cordell Song of Earth (1972) iii. 20 I do love the spring and her bright colours.

2010 R. E. Ondov Horse Tales Heaven i. 9 Spring was unfolding her leaves.

f. In plural. With a numeral or other quantifier, as four springs, sixteen springs, etc.: used to measure a duration or lapse of time containing the specified number of springs; esp. used to denote a (young) person's age. Now chiefly literary and rhetorical.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [noun]

eldOE

yearsOE

oldc1175

statea1350

agea1387

springs1597

seniority1776

standing1789

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. iii. 207 Foure lagging winters and foure wanton springes, End in a word.

1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. M6^v Ere I had twice foure Springs, renewed seene, The force of Beautie I began to proue.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 105 When to four full Springs his years advance.

1745 T. Gibbons Britannia's Alarm 26 Time roll'd his Hours serene, and gay For almost twenty Springs.

1815 W. Gillespie Consolation & Other Poems 17 Twice fifteen springs Have greened the dewy fields, and oped the flower.

1869 New Monthly Mag. Apr. 367 She who could now count nineteen springs arose betimes on that bright auspicious morn.

1928 Asia Apr. 312/1 One would get the impression that she had seen more than merely twenty springs.

2003 L. N. Glenn All Perfect Disguises 19 Turning cartwheels through the town.., sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone.

†18. The increase or waxing of the moon. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > moon > phase > [noun] > crescent moon > waxing

springc1440

springing?1440

increase1555

increment1610

c1440 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Thornton) (1965) l. 1176 (MED) Ane ouirsyb maryage hafe we made In þe sprynge of þis mone.

1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 116 Gather the Plantes..in faire weather, in the spring of the mone [L. Luna crescente & iam fere plena].

1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft ix. iii. 170 Also they have noted, that one borne in the spring of the moone, shalbe healthie.

19. Spring wheat (see spring wheat n. at Compounds 3e(b)); a variety of this.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > wheat > types of wheat grain or plant

spelta1000

farc1420

ador?1440

flaxen wheat?1523

Peak-wheat?1523

red wheat?1523

white wheat?1523

duck-bill wheat1553

zea1562

alica1565

buck1577

amelcorn1578

horse-flower1578

tiphe1578

pollard1580

rivet1580

Saracen's corn1585

French wheat1593

Lammas-wheat1594

starch corn1597

St. Peter's corn1597

frumenty1600

secourgeon1600

polwheat1601

duck-wheat1611

kidneys of wheat1611

ograve wheat1616

soft wheat1640

cone-wheat1677

Lammas1677

Poland wheat1686

Saracen corn1687

pole rivet1707

Smyrna wheat1735

hard wheat1757

hen corn1765

velvet wheat1771

white straw1771

nonpareil1805

thick-set wheat1808

cone1826

farro1828

Polish wheat1832

velvet-ear wheat1837

sarrasin1840

mummy wheat1842

snowdrop1844

Red Fife1857

flint-wheat1859

dinkel1866

thick-set1875

spring1884

macaroni wheat1901

einkorn1904

marquis1906

durum1908

emmer1908

hedgehog wheat1909

speltoid1939

1884 Bradstreet's 6 Dec. 362/1 There was more demand for foreign wheat, and American springs and red winters felt the influence.

1896 Daily News 30 Nov. 2/7 Wheat to-day is very firmly held... English reds, 36s.; American springs, 37s.

1948 H. K. Wilson Grain Crops ix. 180 The suture is more open, resembling that of the hard red springs except that the cheeks are rounded in the soft red winters.

1977 V. A. Johnson & H. L. Beemer Wheat in People's Republic China ix. 118 Springs and strong winters also are grown in the northwestern region.

2002 Canad. Geographic Jan. 76/1 Stangl has dedicated 570 hectares to wheat this year—red spring mostly, the hardy kind that ends up in export shipments and in the bread on the table of Canadian consumers.

20. A spring salmon (see spring salmon n. at Compounds 3e(c)(ii)).

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Salmoniformes (salmon or trout) > family Salmonidae (salmon) > [noun] > member of genus Oncorhyncus (chinook)

red fish1763

spring salmon1776

gorbuscha1784

keta1824

quinnat1829

Chinook salmon1851

coho1869

king salmon1871

silver trout1873

kokanee1875

salmon1884

sockeye1888

chisel-mouth1889

pink salmon1899

spring1900

tyee1902

pink1905

blackmouth1906

chum1908

greenback cut-throat1989

1900 Diplomatic & Consular Rep.: U.S. 1899: Trade & Agric. Oregon 46 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 352-6) XCVII. 461 Red springs or tyees, 1 lb. talls, 4s. 5d.

1913 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 729/2 Next in value comes the ‘spring’, the largest fish often weighing sixty-five pounds.

1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 222/1 Some men hand trolled springs during the winter.

2006 Human Ecol. 34 508 Any of the salmon can be caught in the reefnet device, but sockeye and springs are the two most generally sought.

21. The initial stages of a period of political liberalization; the first steps in a programme of political and economic reform. Usually with modifying word.In the second half of the 20th cent. the term was typically applied to Communist states, especially (after the events of 1968) in Prague Spring (see Prague Spring n. at Prague n. 3). More recently it has been used (especially in Arab spring) with reference to a series of popular revolutionary movements and uprisings in the Middle East which began in 2010 (see Arab spring n. 2).In quots. 1905, 1917¹, and 1917² referring to events in Russia in 1904 that preceded the revolution of 1905. [Perhaps originally after similar political uses of German Frühling, lit. ‘season of spring’ (1798 or earlier with reference to political liberation in the wake of the French Revolution), and Völkerfrühling, lit. ‘spring of the peoples, springtime of nations’ (1818, originally with reference to early movements towards the formation of democratic nation states, subsequently often used specifically with reference to the revolutions of 1848).]

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > [noun] > a time of

jubileec1584

spring1917

1905 G. Gapon Story of my Life x. 133 That temporary change in the attitude of the Government and the educated class toward each other which has been called the political spring-time of Russia, and which began [in 1904].]

1917 M. J. Olgin Soul Russ. Revol. ix. 98 The second half of 1904, known as ‘Spring’, was..marked by a strong Liberal movement.

1917 M. J. Olgin Soul Russ. Revol. ix. 101 December 12th..was the end of the ‘Spring’... The semi-official Moscow Courier hailed the end of the ‘notorious Spring’.

1956 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 2: Eastern Europe (B.B.C.) 25 Oct. a. 15 The great rehabilitation of truth, the break with political lies—this is the first essential characteristic of the Polish spring in October.

1968 Probl. of Communism Nov. 1 Czechoslovakia. The brief spring of 1968.

1982 Time 11 Jan. 25/2 The church has no illusions about restoring the ‘Polish Spring’ of Solidarity, but it is seeking to make life under martial law as bearable as possible for the Polish people.

1988 Lit. Rev. Aug. 61/3 In 1979, President Chung-hee was assassinated and the short-lived ‘Seoul Spring’ erupted.

2015 Post (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 16 Dec. 17 Many of these movements describe their goal as revolution, inviting grand comparisons with another Spring witnessed in Prague, Tunisia and Egypt.

IV. A young growth on a plant, and related senses.

22.

(a) A copse, grove, or wood consisting of young trees growing naturally from the stumps of old ones; (also) a plantation of young trees, esp. one enclosed and used for rearing game; a spinney. Also figurative. Now rare (chiefly English regional in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > planted, cultivated, or valued > coppice or grove

hurst822

grove889

wood bough?c1225

wood lay?c1225

wood lind?c1225

wood rise?c1225

spring1396

firth?a1400

berwec1440

spring?c1475

grovet1504

coppice1538

copsewood1543

sherwood1562

hewt1575

copse1578

grove-crop1582

berrie1591

low wood1591

spinney1597

spinet1604

spring wood1607

roughet1616

oart1690

toft1706

under-grove1731

bosket1737

busket1803

1396–7 Account Rolls Great Totham (Essex) in Middle Eng. Dict. (at cited word) [Farmer of manor has destroyed] la spryng ejusdem subbosci.

1399 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 132 Pro xxj rodis de hegyng circa le spring in Langwath.

1468–9 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 155 Pro factura 53 rod. fossat. circa unam parcellam terre juxta parcum de Shynkcley pro salvacione de le Spryng ibidem..13s. 9d.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xliiii So is a spring best kept where ther is nother man nor fourfoted beestes within the hedge.

1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xxi. 81 In small groues or hewts,..priuily enclosed within the greater springs in the Forests and strong couerts.

1591 J. Lyly Endimion v. ii. sig. H4 Tophas Howe shall I bee troubled, when this younge springe shall growe to a great wood? Epi. O sir your chinne is but a quyller yet.

1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver xxii. 129 Although much dry,..hungry Land doth not many times afford a thick Coppice, or good Spring.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew at Ring-walks They go drawing in their Springs at Hart-Hunting.

1736 Compl. Family-piece ii. i. 209 The Huntsman..must..beat the Outside of the Springs or Thickets.

1773 G. Fitzgerald Acad. Sportsman 15 Be mine the Care, to range this ample Field, Try what its Springs, and what its Thickets yield.

1839 Sporting Rev. Oct. 262 The outline of a practical system for drawing springs and coppices, will not be an unprofitable study for an autumn evening.

1948 M. Carbery & E. Grey Herts. Heritage 137 Spring, also Coupiss, coppice. Hertfordshire was at one time noted for its ‘coupisses’.

1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Spring, a wood ‘raised from the stools’ of felled trees.

†(b) With of. A copse or grove of young trees or plants. Chiefly in spring of wood (cf. wood n.¹ 2a). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > planted, cultivated, or valued > coppice or grove

hurst822

grove889

wood bough?c1225

wood lay?c1225

wood lind?c1225

wood rise?c1225

spring1396

firth?a1400

berwec1440

spring?c1475

grovet1504

coppice1538

copsewood1543

sherwood1562

hewt1575

copse1578

grove-crop1582

berrie1591

low wood1591

spinney1597

spinet1604

spring wood1607

roughet1616

oart1690

toft1706

under-grove1731

bosket1737

busket1803

?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 119 A Sprynge of wode, virgultum.

1614 Minutes Archdeaconry Essex (MS.) He had cattle broke into a yonge springe of wood.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 218 I In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon.

1690 in E. Bateson Hist. Northumberland (1895) II. 259 A parcell of ground, whereon there is a new spring of oakes growne 3 and 4 yards high.

1745 W. Ellis Agric. Improv'd II. July iv. 18 A Spinny, or Spring of Underwood.

1780 Newcastle Courant 8 July 3/3 Two fine Springs of Wood..are growing on the..Estate.

b. Young growth, shoots, or sprouts, esp. the lower growth of shrubs or trees; undergrowth.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > [noun] > that which has grown

springc1450

growth1580

flush1773

c1450 (?a1370) Wynnere & Wastoure (1990) l. 398 Ȝe sellyn wodd aftir wodde..Bothe þe oke and þe assche and alle þat þer growes. Þe spyres and þe ȝonge sprynge ȝe spare to ȝour children.

1483 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1483 §31. m. 1 The same spryng hath be in tyme passed, and daily ys distroyed.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxix^v Ley thy small trouse or thornes..ouer thy quyckesettes that shepe do nat eate the spring nor buddes of thy settes.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June f. 23^v The byrds, which in the lower spring Did shroude in shady leaues.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xvii. xii. 514 The Pine tree also with her shaddow nippeth and killeth the yong spring of all plants within the reach thereof.

1670 J. Evelyn Sylva (ed. 2) xxxiv. 220 When the Spring is of two years growth, draw part of it for Quicksets.

1767 Compl. Grazier xii. 75 If the cattle were left long enough to nip or bite the young spring of the grass, it would weaken and spoil the summer crop.

1796 R. Burroughes Farming Jrnl. 12 Jan. (1995) 74 Money paid for hedging & ditching exclusive of spring with which it was all new filled.

1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words 388 Spring, young white-thorn quick—called spring, perhaps, from the usual season for planting.

1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 281 Spring, the first and second year's growth of underwood in a coppice after it has been cut.

1985 Birds Summer 47/3 In coppices..the ‘spring’ which sprouted abundantly from the stumps was harvested every 20 years or so.

1991 J. S. Rodwell et al. Brit. Plant Communities I. 128/1 Beneath the young spring, there often develops a thick underscrub of Rubus fruticosus agg.

23.

†a. A young growth on a tree, plant, or root; a shoot, sprout, or sucker; a small branch, sprig, or twig; the rudimentary shoot from a seed. Obsolete.In frequent use c1560–1650.In quot. a1400 figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > shoot, sprout, or branch > [noun]

sproteeOE

wiseOE

spronkOE

wrideOE

brodc1175

wanda1300

breerc1320

scion?c1335

spraya1387

spriga1398

springa1400

sprouta1400

spiringc1400

shoota1450

youngling1559

forth-growing1562

spirk1565

sprouting1578

surcle1578

chive1583

chit1601

spurt1601

sprit1622

germen1628

spurge1630

spirt1634

brairding1637

springet1640

set1658

shrubble1674

underling1688

sobolesa1722

branchlet1731

springlet1749

sproutling1749

sprang1847

shootlet1889

the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > [noun] > parts of > plumule or rudimentary shoot

spirec1374

springa1400

sprout?1548

plume1578

spear1647

germen1651

acrospire1675

sprit1682

mistressa1722

plumula1727

plumule1727

plumelet1783

gemmule1844

stem-bud1877

epicotyl1880

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27737 Vnheind talking,..Hurtes grett, and sclander and tene; Þir ar þe springes o wreth fythtene.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 470 Sprynge, of a tre or plante [1499 Pynson springe or yonge tre], planta, plantula.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. lxij^v/2 Yf thou wylt plante an Almaunde tree..putte many kyrnels togyder in the erth or seuerelly and..whan the sprynge is growen oute [etc.].

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 4 The roote..putting foorth on every side much encrease of new springs.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 369 Thymelæa hath many smal springs or branches, of the length of a cubite.

1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 117 A spring of scarce discernable growth may serve as a foundation to the pedal of the blossom.

1890 Ann. Rep. State Board Hort. Calif. 1890 460 The [olive] plant must be cut off near the ground so that new springs will grow therefrom, some of which will take the place of the dead plant.

b. A piece cut or taken from a plant, esp. for planting or for culinary use; a rod, a switch; a cutting, a set, a slip. Also figurative.rare after 17th cent., and in later instances possibly an error for sprig n.² (Variation between the two words is shown already by manuscripts of Piers Plowman: see quot. c1400.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by cuttings > cutting or slip

planteOE

plantingeOE

quickwoodc1383

graffa1393

sarmenta1398

slivingc1400

springc1400

clavec1420

sleavingc1440

talionc1440

quick1456

quicking1469

graft1483

quickset1484

slip1495

setlingc1503

set1513

pitchset1519

slaving?1523

truncheon1572

stallon1587

crosset1600

marquot1600

sliver1604

secta1616

offset1629

slipping1638

side-slip1651

slift1657

cutting1691

pitcher1707

mallet-shoot1745

root cutting1784

stowing1788

stool1789

pitch1808

heel1822

cutling1834

piping1851

cutback1897

stump plant1953

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. l. 41 (MED) Who-so spareth þe sprynge [c1400 Huntington HM 143 spryg, a1450 Bodl. ȝerde] spilleth his children.

a1475 N. Bollard Bk. Planting & Grafting (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 67 There is moste connabylle tyme for sedys, graynys, and pepyns, and Autumpe for spryngys, and plantys.

1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclx The first thing thou muste set thy werke on grounde syker and good, accordaunt to thy springes.

1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 304 Wet the end of a fether or other lyke thing, as some yong and tender spring of a trie.

1563 T. Hill Arte Gardening (1593) 85 Between the old plants set yong springs, slipped off from the old.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 196 The same yong springs eaten alone by themselues in a salad, in maner of the tender crops and spurts of the Colewort,..do fasten the teeth.

1657 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees (ed. 2) 60 After a yeare, or two, divers young springs may be drawne from the Roots.

1872 R. K. Philp Take my Advice ii. 87/2 To one gallon of water put two ounces of salt, one spring of lemon thyme, one of mint, and a bayleaf.

2014 D. Wallace French House xiv. 178 Barbecued baby lamb chops with springs of fresh rosemary, garden potatoes and carrots.

†c. A young tree, esp. one growing from a set or slip; a sapling. Obsolete.In quot. ?1532 figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > characterized by age or life cycle > [noun] > young tree or sapling

spire1392

sapling1415

springa1450

sipling1513

spear1543

gelding1562

saple1589

tiller1664

treeling1847

timberline1867

treelet1874

pole1882

a1450 (c1400) in D. M. Grisdale 3 Middle Eng. Serm. (1939) 36 (MED) Þer stonde a litil spryng in a place, whoyþer it be of an ok [or] of ani oþer tre.

1499 Promptorium Parvulorum (Pynson) sig. piv/2 Springe or younge tre [1440 Harl. 221 sprynge, of a tre or plant].

?1532 T. Elyot tr. Plutarch Educ. Children (new ed.) iiii. sig. Biiii Good aduertisementes, and preceptes, wherby the yonge spryng of vertuous maners shall growe streyghte.

1545 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Court of Requests (1898) 85 To fell & cutt down viij yong Sprynges abowte Allhaloutyd.

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Arboure or place made with quicke springes.

1563 T. Hill Arte Gardening (1593) 6 That ground..which naturally bringeth forth of his own accord, both elms and wilde young springs.

1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 21 Their houses are built like our Arbors of small young springs bowed and tyed.

†d. figurative. A young man, a youth; (also) an offspring or descendent (cf. offspring n. 1b). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > young person > youth or young man > [noun]

frumberdlingc1000

young manOE

childc1225

hind1297

pagec1300

youtha1325

fawnc1369

swainc1386

stripling1398

boy1440

springaldc1450

jovencel1490

younkera1522

speara1529

gorrel1530

lad1535

hobbledehoy1540

cockerel1547

waga1556

spring1559

loonc1560

hensure1568

youngster1577

imp1578

pigsney1581

cocklinga1586

demy1589

muchacho1591

shaver1592

snipper-snappera1593

callant1597

spaught1598

stubble boy1598

ghillie1603

codling1612

cuba1616

skippera1616

man-boy1637

sprig1646

callow1651

halflang1660

stubbed boy1683

gossoon1684

gilpie1718

stirraha1722

young lion1792

halfling1794

pubescent1795

young man1810

sixteener1824

señorito1843

tad1845

boysie1846

shaveling1854

ephebe1880

boychick1921

lightie1946

young blood1967

studmuffin1986

1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Northumberland f. xxv^v I had a son..That being yong, and but a very spring Syr Henry Hotspur they gave him to name.

1591 E. Spenser Muiopotmos in Complaints sig. V3^v Winged Loue, With his yong brother Sport;..The one his bowe and shafts, the other Spring A burning Teade about his head did moue.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cv. 73 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 165 Their eldest-borne, that Countries hopefull spring.

1612 R. Johnson Remembrance Robert Earle of Salisbury sig. B1^v William Lord Burleigh..was the first spring of this house graced.

†24. A growing or bursting forth of plants, vegetation, etc.; a growth or crop. Also (in early use): a race, the descendants of a common ancestor (cf. stock n.¹ 3c). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > ethnicities > race > [noun]

strindc900

bloodOE

gest13..

strainc1330

nationa1382

kindc1390

markc1395

prosapy?a1475

stock1549

stem?c1550

caste1555

spring1597

race1612

issue1620

nationality1832

the world > plants > by growth or development > [noun] > sprouting or germination

shutea1300

springinga1387

bearinga1398

germination?1440

springing1531

sprouting1547

blading1548

shoot1572

sprout1586

spring1597

putting1623

eruption1626

spindling1626

germinating1644

spearing1707

spiring1733

flushing1810

plantulation1819

germing1832

germinance1841

stooling1854

coming up1908

1597 J. Gerard Herball Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v A goodly spring of flowers, when abroad a leafe is not to be seene.

?1624 G. Chapman tr. Hymn to Apollo in tr. Crowne Homers Wks. 39 A most dreadfull, and pernicious thing, Call'd Typhon; who on all the humane Spring Confer'd confusion.

a1652 R. Brome Love-sick Court iv. ii. 141 in Five New Playes (1659) By a perpetual spring of more procere And bigger bladed grass.

1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep ii. i. 126 Having no Turnips nor Rapes to feed his Sheep with, they were forced to live, almost wholly on Straw, and before the Spring of Grass came on, many of them pined and died.

1761 J. Mordant Compl. Steward I. 53 Cut two or three notches in it [sc. a branch] to make it yield the better spring of shoots.

1800 London Packet 16 June The spring of grass is great in every part of the Empire, beyond all precedent.

1822 W. J. Napier Pract. Store-farming 58 Upon the part particularly alluded to, there appears to have arisen a great spring of natural fiorin.

V. A mechanical device and related senses.

25. A device consisting of a largely rigid material (typically metal) bent or moulded into a form (esp. that of a coil) that can return into shape after being compressed or extended.Springs are typically used to exert constant tension (as in a spring release mechanism), to communicate motion (as in a clockwork mechanism), or to absorb movement (as in sprung furniture or in the suspension of vehicles).Frequently with distinguishing word, as leaf spring, coil spring, etc.: see first element.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [noun] > elasticity > a spring

spring1428

sprint1645

steel spring1680

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [noun] > part of > spring

spring1428

sprent1511

gin1591

resort1598

worm1724

worm-spring1730

scape-spring1825

leaf spring1855

blade-spring1863

nest spring1866

tension spring1877

coil spring1890

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > steering, suspension, or wheels > springs, etc., supporting chassis

spring1665

suspension1912

1428 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1834) III. 289 Item for amendyng of the spryng of the barell [of a clock] vj^s viij^d.

1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. diiij^v Clockes with spryng.

1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Molla, a wheele of a clocke that mooueth all the rest called the spring.

1665 S. Pepys Diary 5 Sept. (1972) VI. 213 After dinner comes Collonell Blunt in his new Charriott made with Springs.

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ii. 28 The spring h forces the Bolt forwards when it is shot back with the key.

1713 London Gaz. No. 5155/4 A Gold Watch,..going with a Spring, Without Fusey, Chain or String.

1771 Encycl. Brit. III. 936 The quickness or slowness of the vibrations of the balance depend not solely upon the action of the great spring, but chiefly upon the action of the springa, b, c, called the spiral spring.

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 117 What is technically understood in carriages by the term ‘spring’ is a plate or plates of tempered steel properly shaped to play in any required mode.

1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2275/2 A helical spring has coils of decreasing diameter as they approach the center.

1945 C. E. Balleisen Princ. Firearms x. 109 While all types of springs are used in guns, the helical compression spring is most common.

2010 Contra Costa (Calif.) Times (Nexis) 2 Sept. (My Town section) There's a squeak of a mattress spring from down the hall.

26. figurative and in figurative contexts.

(a) That which causes, impels, or inspires action; an instigating cause, agency, or force; a motive. Cf. mainspring n. 2.Sometimes influenced by and not clearly distinguished from senses 2b and 1d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun]

thingOE

cause?c1225

why1303

casec1325

chesounc1330

skillc1340

mannerc1390

reasona1398

springa1500

impulsion1605

vicissitude1605

whereforea1616

hoti1646

dioti1651

secret1738

the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > motive

achesounc1230

encheason1297

quarrel1340

occasionc1384

springa1398

motive?a1439

motionc1475

springa1500

respect1528

regard1579

moment1611

movent1651

umbrage1664

what makes (someone) tick1931

a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 115 Freelte and diffaulte ben the mocions of thi prayer; power and perfeccion ben the sprynges of His yeftis.

1615 S. Ward Coal from Altar 39 They ascribe it either to vaine glory, or couetousnesse; the onely springs that set their wheeles on going.

1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 16 By these the Springs of Property were bent, And wound so high, they Crack'd the Government.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 207 A strange Impression upon the Mind, from we know not what Springs, and by we know not what Power.

1774 B. Franklin & G. Whately Princ. Trade 1 The Spring, or Movement of such Intercours, is..Gain, or the Hopes of Gain.

1810 S. Smith in Edinb. Rev. 15 309 Instead of hanging the understanding of a woman upon walls,..we would make it the first spring and ornament of society.

1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiv. 243 Morny..prepared to touch the springs of that wondrous machinery by which a clerk can dictate to a nation.

a1928 B. King Seven Torches Char. (1929) iv. 93 The idea touches the springs of character.

1994 G. Prasad I. A. Richards & Indian Theory of Rasa iii. 78 Emotion is the essential spring or motive power behind all thought and action.

(b) spec. in spring of action (also conduct) and variants.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground

achesounc1230

anchesouna1250

reasona1250

groundc1275

matter1340

purposec1350

cause1413

quarrel1476

actiona1500

subject1577

spring of action1583

qualitya1586

inducement1593

place1593

theme1594

instance1597

motive1605

impulsivea1628

justifiera1635

foundation1641

rise1641

plummet1679

mainspring1695

1583 A. Marten tr. P. M. Vermigli Common Places ii. i. 241/2 Those affections, which be the springs and beginnings of actions.

1591 J. Penry tr. T. de Bèze Propositions & Princ. Diuinitie xi. 20 Among those second causes..we are to consider two, vz. the vnderstanding, and the will, as the spring of the actions of men.

1680 tr. P. Nicole Moral Ess. vi. 305 There needs nothing but to suffer the two main springs of mens Rule and Conduct, Idleness and Vanity to act.

1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 173 The springs of all human actions.

1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 285 It is difficult..to come at the true springs of action.

1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. vi. 174 Whether public zeal and patriotic motives, were the springs of his lordship's conduct.

1885 J. Martineau Types Ethical Theory II. ii. iii. 518 Numerous springs of action and modes of feeling which neither interest nor reason could be shown to evolve.

1958 W. Plomer At Home (1961) 117 The springs of action, as Lowes Dickinson once said, lie deep in ignorance and madness.

2001 Australian (Nexis) 21 Mar. 40 Modern liberalism, which puts freedom first, provides a moving principle and a spring of action.

(c) springs of life: that which gives, motivates, or inspires liveliness or an enthusiasm for life.Frequently influenced by sense 1a or sense 1c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun]

souleOE

lifeOE

spiritusOE

bloodOE

ghostOE

life and soulOE

quickship?c1225

quicknessc1230

breatha1300

spirita1325

spark1382

naturec1385

sparkle1388

livelinessa1398

rational soula1398

spiracle1398

animal spirit?a1425

vital spiritc1450

soul of the world1525

candle1535

fire1576

three souls1587

vitality?1592

candlelight1596

substance1605

vivacity1611

animality1615

vividity1616

animals1628

life spring1649

archeus1651

vital1670

spirituosity1677

springs of life1681

microcosmetor1684

vital force1702

vital spark (also flame)1704

stamen1718

vis vitae1752

prana1785

Purusha1785

jiva1807

vital force1822

heartbeat1828

world-soul1828

world-spirit1828

life energy1838

life force1848

ghost soul1869

will to live1871

biogen1882

ki1893

mauri1897

élan vital1907

orgone1942

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > causes or reasons

springs of life1681

1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar v. ii. 73 Every slackn'd fiber drops its hold, Like Nature letting down the Springs of Life.

1728 J. Thomson Spring 21 While sickly Damps, and cold Autumnal Fogs Sat not pernicious on the Springs of Life.

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 112 A body jaded and wrack'd off to the lees by constant repeated over-draughts of pleasure, which had done the work of sixty winters on his springs of life.

1819 W. Scott Let. 6 May (1933) V. 376 A grief of that calm and concentrated kind which..gradually wasted the springs of life.

1883 P. Johnson Epitome Life Late Prince Consort v. 91 'Twould break the springs of life were it revealed.

1986 J. F. Gracey Meat Hygiene (ed. 8) vii. 129/1 Mental functions, rightly viewed, are but the servants of the impulses and emotions by which we live, and these, the springs of life, are surely diencephalic in their neurological location.

2003 Daily Tel. 8 July 21 For her, cerebralism denied ‘the sacred springs of life, which are the imagination and the heart.’

†b. A trick, an artifice. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception

wrenchc888

swikec893

braida1000

craftOE

wile1154

crookc1175

trokingc1175

guile?c1225

hocket1276

blink1303

errorc1320

guileryc1330

sleightc1340

knackc1369

deceitc1380

japec1380

gaudc1386

syllogism1387

mazec1390

mowa1393

train?a1400

trantc1400

abusionc1405

creekc1405

trickc1412

trayc1430

lirtc1440

quaint?a1450

touch1481

pawka1522

false point?1528

practice1533

crink1534

flim-flamc1538

bobc1540

fetcha1547

abuse1551

block1553

wrinklec1555

far-fetch?a1562

blirre1570

slampant1577

ruse1581

forgery1582

crank1588

plait1589

crossbite1591

cozenage1592

lock1598

quiblin1605

foist1607

junt1608

firk1611

overreach?1615

fob1622

ludification1623

knick-knacka1625

flam1632

dodge1638

gimcrack1639

fourbe1654

juggle1664

strategy1672

jilt1683

disingenuity1691

fun1699

jugglementa1708

spring1753

shavie1767

rig?1775

deception1794

Yorkshire bite1795

fakement1811

fake1829

practical1833

deceptivity1843

tread-behind1844

fly1861

schlenter1864

Sinonism1864

racket1869

have1885

ficelle1890

wheeze1903

fast one1912

roughie1914

spun-yarn trick1916

fastie1931

phoney baloney1933

fake-out1955

okey-doke1964

mind-fuck1971

1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting ii. iii. 169 This method of granting favours in a disgustful manner, is one of our chief springs, and must be practised in as many connexions as you possibly can introduce it.

27. A structure in a plant that causes seed dispersal by forcefully ejecting seeds away from the plant.Cf. sense 14b.

ΚΠ

1682 N. Grew Anat. Plants Explication of Tables sig. Ccc1^v/1 The Seed and Seed-Case of Harts Tongue, opened with a Spring. And other contrivances both for the Motion, and Arrest of other Seeds.

1746 G. Adams Micrographia Illustrata xxxv. 173 Every Seed Case stands upon a little Pedicle..; it is girded about with a strong Tendon or Spring.

?1841 W. Rhind Hist. Veg. Kingdom xvi. 98/2 This spiral arm, or spring.., possesses the property of contracting by means of drought, and of expanding by means of moisture.

1881 Pop. Sci. Monthly June 165 The seeds when ripe are flung to a distance which is surprising when we consider how small the spring is.

1920 T. A. Dymes Nature-study Plants ix. 143 At exactly the right time, while the spring is curling up, the hairs give and the seed is shot out.

1955 Boys' Life Nov. 55/2 These springs are lightly glued at the edges and enclose a core with five, evenly spaced seeds.

2006 Observer (Nexis) 6 Aug. 57 The cranesbills do it [sc. seed-dispersal] by forming a structure like a medieval catapult, which hurls the seed away from the parent plant on a coiled spring.

28. Nautical.

a. A rope or hawser laid out from the end or side of an anchored vessel and secured to the anchor cable in order to prevent movement or assist manoeuvring. Also more fully spring cable, spring rope.

ΚΠ

1694 Marquis of Carmarthen Jrnl. Brest-Expedition 40 He very readily clap'd a Spring upon Her Cable, by that means to bring Her Broad-side to bear on the Enemies Fort.

1744 J. Philips Authentic Jrnl. Exped. Anson 156 We clapt a Spring on the Sheet-cable to prevent her from swinging.

1747 Penny London Post 11 Feb. She was obliged to come to an Anchor by Spring Cable.

1800 E. Pellew Let. in Hull Advertiser 16 Aug. 1/4 A gun-brig..moored with springs on her cables.

1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy III. iv. 72 He had warped round with the springs on his cable, and had recommenced his fire upon the Aurora.

1933 H. Allen Anthony Adverse xlvi. 681 He noted with some satisfaction that the Unicorn was..safe in the precise spot where he had moored her bow-and-stern with springs on her cables.

1962 D. Perkins & G. G. Van Deusen U.S.A. I. xii. 282 Macdonough had anchored with spring cables that enabled him to warp his ships about and bring fresh batteries to bear on the enemy.

2010 Sunday Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 28 Feb. 75 The normal bow, stern and spring ropes safely allow Toy Box to float and move gently at her mooring.

b. A rope or hawser laid out diagonally aft from a vessel's bow or forward from a vessel's stern and secured to a fixed point, or to another vessel, in order to prevent movement or assist manoeuvring; cf. spring line n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > for securing vessel > diagonal

spring1769

spring line1801

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > for securing vessel > diagonal > to another ship

spring1769

1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Spring is likewise a rope reaching diagonally from the stern of a ship to the head of another which lies along-side or a-breast of her.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Spring, a hawser laid out to some fixed object to slue a vessel proceeding to sea.

1919 Mariner's Mirror 5 93/2 The various ropes and springs required to warp the vessel into her ultimate berth alongside the discharging wharf.

1991 S. Winchester Pacific (1992) 180 He will..make further adjustments before starting his main engines, weighing anchor, easing hawsers, slipping springs and casting off.

2007 Business Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 26 Jan. 'Springs' are the ropes used on a ship that is alongside a berth to prevent fore and aft movements.

†29. A panel of flexible or elastic material at the side of a boot or shoe, allowing it to be pulled on and off easily. See also springside adj. and n. at Compounds 5e. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > elastic sides of boots

spring1834

side spring1844

gusset1881

boot-gusset1882

1834 E. E. Perkins Treat. Haberdashery & Hosiery (ed. 3) App. 123 Superior Spring ditto, with springs at sides.

1885 J. B. Leno Art of Boot- & Shoe-making i. 11 Boots with springs in them are known to have their disadvantages; but from the fact that they are self-fastening, they are certain to remain popular.

Phrases

Spring and Autumn n. a period of Chinese history corresponding to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (approximately 771–464 bc); often attributive, as Spring and Autumn era, Spring and Autumn period, etc. [After Chinese chūnqiū, transferred use of chūnqiū, the name of a book of annals covering most of this period (both senses already found in Old Chinese, where the word could also be used to refer to historical writings more generally; compare chūn spring + qiū autumn); compare also chūnqiū shí, lit. ‘time of the springs and autumns’, denoting this period (already in Old Chinese)] .

ΚΠ

1843 G. N. Wright China III. 61 Historians make the first foundations of Hoo-chow co-eval with the Chun-tsew, or spring and autumn of the Chinese historical æra.

1880 North-China Herald 20 July 57/3 Modern international politics are regarded by the Chinese of the Interstatal strife of the spring and autumn period.

1934 China Press (Shanghai) 10 Sept. ii. 9/4 Emperors and famous scholars of the seven kingdoms or Spring and Autumn dynasty.

1959 Arch. Chinese Art Soc. Amer. 13 86/2 Kung-sun Chiao, late 6th century B.C., one of the great statesmen active during the time of the Spring and Autumn era.

2004 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Aug. 17/1 Ornamental jade burial rings from the Spring and Autumn period.

spring and fall n. the season of spring and the season of autumn; (as adverb) during these seasons; also figurative, with reference to the contrasting nature of these seasons. Now rare (poetic in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > contrariety [phrase] > the two sides or one thing and its opposite

chalk1393

cross and pilec1450

spring and fall1578

light and shade1733

1578 W. Darell Short Disc. Life Seruingmen sig. E.iv^v There is nothing but it hath a spring and a fal, a Winter and a Summer, an ebbe and a flowe.

1586 T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xl. 277 Especially the spring and fall craue this emptying at large.

1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. i. 171 So great oddes there is betweene the Spring and Fall of Fortune.

c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. ii. 153 Parliaments are to sit frequently... I do not say, as often as you take Physick (Spring and Fall at least).

1753 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery xix. 163 This disease..in some horses shews itself spring and fall.

1764 Bp. W. Warburton Lett. (1809) 354 I do not wonder that any studious man should in England want physic at Spring and Fall.

1826 W. Scott Malachi Malagrowther i. 10 She has been bled and purged, spring and fall.

1850 J. Montgomery Poet. Wks. 363 The blade, the stem, the bud, the flower.., Like day and night, like spring and fall, Alternate, on the abbey-wall.

1909 E. W. Wilcox Poems of Progress 173 Dawn and sunset, Spring and Fall, Held raptures for her, one and all.

1991 A. Atik Offshore 35 Spring and fall, dune and lawn on different hangers.

Compounds

C1. In senses of branch I.

a. General attributive.Some of the more established compounds of this type are treated separately at Compounds 1c.Recorded earliest in spring-tooth n. at Compounds 1c.

ΚΠ

1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 172 I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampsons tune... But the spring-tooth in the iawe, will do vs no horme [sic].

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 402 As for spring-veines [L. fontium..venae] there are none to bee found.

a1652 I. Jones Most Notable Antiq. called Stone-Heng (1655) 93 Spring veins being not there to be found, unlesse by sinking wells or pits very deep.

1711 London Gaz. No. 4887/4 All well water'd with Spring Ponds.

1778 F. Burney Let. 26 Sept. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 172 I believe I should try the depth of Mrs. Thrale's spring pond.

1895 A. C. Wilson After Five Years in India 261 It costs a large sum to make a well where the spring-level is so deep.

1897 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 458 The Danaid spring-nymphs had to carry water in a sieve to prove their virginity.

1924 A. Mawer & F. M. Stenton Introd. Surv. Eng. Place-names viii. 145 Such ponds are known as Spring Ponds in Wessex.

2015 M. Watson Touring Springs of Florida 10 Emerald-green water greets you, and a small wooden deck overlooks the inviting spring pool.

b. Instrumental.

spring-fed adj.

ΚΠ

1640 J. Gower tr. Ovid Festivalls vi. 124 Nor those that shew'd themselves to Priam's Sonne In spring-fed Ida [L. aquosae..Idae].

1883 Cent. Mag. Sept. 651 These ponds are, of course, spring-fed.

2016 Times (Nexis) 16 July (Weekend section) The location takes some beating—on the edge of a spring-fed lake in the midst of Bodmin Moor.

spring-watered adj.

ΚΠ

1855 Calcutta Rev. 24 357 Here are mountains covered with forests.., spring-watered vallies, and low alluvial lands.

1884 Mag. of Art Mar. 215/2 The velvety green of spring-watered field-plots.

2009 Independent Traveller (Nexis) 2 May 4 We swished and swashed through knee-high meadows, past spring-watered orchards of olive, fig and pomegranate.

spring branch n. North American a stream fed by or flowing directly from a spring.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > other

well streamOE

letch1138

well strandc1429

pow1481

black water1483

wash1530

gravel-brook1591

spring branch1650

pour1790

water splash1820

chalk stream1829

understream1830

water feeder1831

quebrada1833

black spring1847

weir-stream1889

obsequent1895

anti-dip1900

resequent1901

misfit1910

1650 in Amer. Speech 15 396/1 Bounded on the North East with a Spring branch or cove.

1795 T. Jefferson Inquest 18 Sept. in Papers (2000) XXVIII. 471 He proposes now to rebuild the said mill..in the same spot at the mouth of a Spring branch.

1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters II. iv. 48 Deer and antelopes..came to the spring-branch to drink.

2004 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Disp. (Nexis) 19 Sept. t 1 The spring branch within the park was lined with anglers stalking the rainbow trout.

spring hole n. North American a hole, cavity, or pond formed by a spring where it rises; cf. spring pit n. (a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > caused by erosion or water > specifically by spring or geyser

spring pit?1757

spring hole1835

bore1863

1835 Globe (Washington, D.C.) 8 June One of the gentlemen, observing a muddy spring hole at a short distance, thrust his hand in and pulled up a bag of spurious Haytien coin.

1956 K. M. Wells By Jumping Cat Bridge xiv. 83 We followed it, up to the spring hole on the edge of the flat land, a no-good bit of bog hole on the edge of arable land.

2016 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 15 May c 11 Striped bass and hybrid stripers are available in spring holes feeding the St. Johns.

spring house n. North American an outhouse built over a spring or stream and used as a larder or dairy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > place for storing food > [noun]

cellar?c1225

larderc1305

pantrya1325

butleryc1325

spencec1386

larder-house1390

aumbrya1398

lardinera1400

meatfettle1440

spinde1481

selyer1483

pantyr?a1500

vault1500

eschansonnery1514

lardrya1552

lard-house1555

coveyc1593

brine-house1594

dispense1622

reservatory1647

provedore1694

ice cellar1735

spring house1755

provision house1787

futtah1834

pataka1842

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > outhouse(s) > [noun] > types of

skilling1389

haghouse1400

hovel1435

back shed1535

cot-house1606

boorachc1660

linhay1695

spring house1755

woodshed1764

cookhouse1802

tool-house1817

shed1855

drive shed1869

1755 in L. Chalkley Chron. Scotch-Irish Settlement Virginia (1912) I. 445 1 spring house, 18 feet long and 12 feet wide.

1894 Outing 24 382/2 To see her at her best was at the butter-making down at the old spring-house.

2014 Wisconsin State Jrnl. (Nexis) 9 Feb. f1 The owners began using the spring and spring house for more than chilling cans of milk.

spring-keeper n. U.S. (now rare) any of various salamanders found in springs.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > amphibians > order Urodela or Caudata > [noun] > member of

amphipneust1831

urodele1842

perennibranchiate1848

spring-keeper1859

urodelan1872

perennibranch1878

1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 438 Spring-Keeper, a salamander, or small lizard-shaped animal, found in springs and fresh water rivulets.

1945 Amer. Speech 20 230/1 While collecting salamanders near Munson Hill, Virginia, years ago, I was informed by a colored woman that the red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) which I caught in her presence was called a spring-keeper.

spring pit n. †(a) a hole or cavity formed by a spring where it rises; (formerly also) a well (obsolete); (b) (in later use) a small hole or crater formed on a lake beach by water which percolates into the sand and then ascends.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > caused by erosion or water > specifically by spring or geyser

spring pit?1757

spring hole1835

bore1863

?1757 G. S. Green Life J. Van II. x. 162 This..made him cry aloud for Help, to search the Spring-pit.

1862 A. Newton Zool. Anc. Europe 21 These [fresh-water tortoises] were found..in a peat bog, by the side of a spring-pit, at East Wretham, about seven feet below the surface.

1930 in Jrnl. Geol. (Chicago) 38 90 A group of spring pits... Most of these pits are about a foot in diameter and up to 6 inches deep.

1987 R. R. Elliott Hist. Nevada (ed. 2) ii. 17 Animal bones were found in the three main layers, with the oldest level showing bones of bison and predatory animals in a spring pit.

2003 E. Draganits et al. in P. Van Rensbergen et al. Subsurface Sediment Mobilization 117/2 A rare combined occurrence of spring pits and their conduits below.

spring salt n. now rare common salt deposited by or obtained from the waters of a saltwater spring.

ΚΠ

1694 R. Blome tr. A. Le Grand Entire Body Philos. ii. v. iii. 117/1 The last is Spring or Fountain-Salt [L. [sal] fontanus], which proceeds from Salt Springs or Well-water, and is boiled into Salt.

1799 J. Girvin Impolicy prohib. Export. Rock Salt 5 Salt is very properly distinguished by Mineralogists into Fossile-Salt, Spring-Salt, and Sea-Salt.

2010 Brit. Jrnl. Hist. Sci. 43 590 They regarded the production of the spring salt as an exceptionally threatening peril for their own economic existence.

spring swamp n. originally U.S. an area of waterlogged ground fed by a spring.

ΚΠ

1636 Patents 1 in G. D. McJimsey Topogr. Terms in Virginia (1940) 124/2 Downe the maine river into the Spring Swamp.

1747 Northumberland County Rec. Bk. in G. D. McJimsey Topogr. Terms in Virginia (1940) 124/2 Thence along the said Mill pon to the Mouth of my Spring Swamp.

1839 Corsair 17 Aug. 354/2 Where are we to try first, on Rocky hill, or in the Spring swamps?

1942 Washington Post 26 Apr. 6/6 Red army cavalry units, scorning the spring swamps which have bogged down other ground forces, have taken a number of German-occupied villages.

2011 Folia Geobotanica 46 52 The species [of fern] is rare here and local populations are mainly found in spring swamps.

† spring-teller n. Obsolete a person who searches for underground sources of water using a divining rod or similar technique.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > the paranormal > [noun] > detection of radiation > detecting subterraneous springs, etc. > rhabdomancy > one who practises

water-finder1656

hydrophantic1729

spring-teller1785

water witch1808

rhabdomancer1817

water diviner1825

rhabdomantist1832

dowser1835

jowser1840

witch1843

water witcher1868

water dowser1873

hydroscopist1885

1785 tr. H. Decremps Conjurer Unmasked xxiv. 58 If any one perceives your motion when you perform the trick..answer them as the spring tellers do [Fr. comme les sourciers], that the metallick emanation, or the vapours of the subterranean waters, occasion the stick to turn.

1871 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 56 The method used by the ‘spring-tellers’ or ‘water-finders’ was simple enough.

† spring-tooth n. Obsolete rare a tooth or part of a jawbone from which water rises.In allusion to Judges 15:19 in which God causes water to rise from a jawbone in order to refresh Samson.

ΚΠ

1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 172 I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampsons tune... But the spring-tooth in the iawe, will do vs no horme [sic].

C2. In sense 6 (branch II.). General attributive.See also spring-flood n., spring tide n. 2.

ΚΠ

1727 R. Greene Princ. Philos. Expansive & Contractive Forces i. v. 101 The greatest Spring Flow is, when the Waters are under the perpendicular Influence of the Sun and Moon.

1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 66 There is a bar outside the entrance; but as it has about 13 feet water over it even at the lowest spring ebbs, it [etc.].

1991 Motor Boat & Yachting June 46/3 It was dusk with a full spring ebb and a westerly six to seven.

2006 G. Brown Sea Kayak xviii. 166 A good rule of thumb is that the neap range is half that of the spring and as a result the neap rate is half the spring flow.

C3. In senses of branch III.

a. attributive.

(a) With the sense ‘of or relating to springtime; appearing or occurring in the spring’.Some of the more established compounds of this type are treated separately at Compounds 3e.

ΚΠ

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 97 The same tyme also in the spring season king Iohn sayled into Normandy.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xi. vii. 313 This Erithace commeth of the Spring-dew.

1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew ii. sig. D4^v For a spring-trick of youth, now, in the season.

1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 49 That long Interval betwixt Autumn and Spring Seed-times.

1760 T. Smith Jrnl. 30 Mar. in Extracts (1821) 137 The robbin and spring birds came a week or ten days sooner than usual.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 279 The springlitters [of pigs] stand greatly in need of the milk and whey.

1817 Lady Morgan France I. 52 The morning light of an early spring day.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. vi. 138 To be concerting measures for the spring Campaign.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 482 There is found little or nothing to do till the burst of spring-work comes.

1870 H. Smart Race for Wife i. 18 The first spring meeting became his assizes.

1925 Auckland Star 8 Oct. 11/2 To wake up these fine spring mornings..makes one feel good to be alive.

1978 L. A. Loubère Red & White vi. 78 Everywhere save in the deep South vines were threatened with spring frost.

2016 Daily Illini (Univ. Illinois) 21 Jan. 1 At the start of the spring semester.., students still had not received any reassurance that their grants will be repaid.

(b) With the first element in the genitive (spring's).

ΚΠ

1826 Dublin & London Mag. Feb. 81 'Twas a spring's day, not warm though fine.

1874 Methodist New Connexion Mag. Nov. 670 Autumn's gloom and winter's drear darkness are relieved by the memories of spring's flowers and summer's golden light.

1918 J. McMillan Mocking Bird's Breed Prol. 11 It was about five o'clock of a spring's morning that Archie Morven..came out of his cabin.

2011 S. Leaf Lady & Sea xxxvi. 208 Spring's sunshine began to touch the March air and melt the snow.

b. Modifying verbal nouns, with the sense ‘occurring or taking place in the spring’, as spring planting, spring ploughing, spring sowing, etc.

ΚΠ

1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 15 Those Plants of the Spring sowing, that you sow later than ordinary, require to be the more watered and shadowed from the heat.

1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 59 This thus pulveriz'd Surface turn'd in, in the Spring-Hoing, enriches the Earth.

1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 351 After each spring digging,..the same care and management of the vines..must be continued.

1795 D. Walker Gen. View Agric. Hertford 39 The spring or top dressings are the leading features of the Hertfordshire farming.

1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 164 Soon after the spring racking,..the casks may be gradually stopped.

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 439 A top-dressing of putrescent manure may be..left on the surface till the spring-stirring.

1967 Sputnik Monthly Digest Nov. 145/1 Not only was food sorely needed, but also seed grain for the spring sowing.

2016 Advertiser (Austral.) (Nexis) 6 Feb. 62 Prior to spring planting, spread the recommended rate of a granulated vegetable fertiliser.

c. Forming adjectives with present participles, with the sense ‘in the spring, during the spring’, as spring-flowering, spring peering, spring-spawning, etc.

ΚΠ

1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 117 The Spring-delighting bird we call the Cuckow.

1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Colchicum Spring-flowering Meadow-Saffron.

1817 J. Keats Poems 33 What is it that hangs from thy shoulder, so brave, Embroidered with many a springpeering flower?

1852 W. Wickenden Hunchback's Chest x. 281 In the spring-budding meadows.

1927 Dunstan Times (N.Z.) 1 Aug. 2/5 The cathedral grounds are full of..azaleas and lilacs, and of all the other lovely spring-blossoming shrubs.

1972 H. Heckman Island Year 79 The spring-burgeoning forest canopy shuts out sunlight.

2006 R. Hannesson in R. Hannesson et al. Climate Change & Econ. World's Fisheries iii. 68 The story of the Norwegian spring-spawning herring over the past 50 or so years is a dramatic one.

d. Forming adjectives with past participles, with the sense ‘in the spring; of or by the spring’, as spring born, spring gathered, spring sown, etc.

ΚΠ

1600 D. Lodge in R. Allott Englands Parnassus 413 Fiue louely sprigs..which featly sprout in length like spring borne friends whose prety tops, with fiue sweet roses ends.

a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry IV ccxlviii, in Poems (1878) IV. 63 Northumberland, who like a Spring-taught Snayle Was crauling to haue Nibbled the fresh leafe.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 304 The spring-made cheese was tarter.

1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 128 Plant out spring-raised cabbages.

1855 J. C. Stretton Woman's Devotion II. 299 The fair shadowing green of the spring-touched larch.

1857 G. W. Thornbury Songs of Cavaliers & Roundheads 53 The sweet spring-gather'd flowers fall before his feet in showers.

1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 101 Winter's wan daughter Leaves lowland and lawn Spring-stricken.

1881 O. Wilde Poems 178 Each spring-impassioned tree Flames into green.

1925 G. Greene Babbling April 25 She waits without fear that spring-scented day.

1932 W. Faulkner Light in August vii. 138 Into the bleak, clean room the springfilled air blew in fainting gusts.

1976 Arkansas City (Kansas) Daily Traveler 9 June 16/2 Spring-planted crops are not likely to make up the losses of winter grain.

2016 Farmers Weekly (Nexis) 3 June We..will seek to increase our spring-sown areas of seed peas, borage and radish crops.

(a)

spring ague n. now historical a mild intermittent fever occurring in the spring.

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1681 J. Warner Vindic. Eng. Catholiks (ed. 2) i. 21 I sayd, Papists Rebellions were like spring Agues, painfull; not dangerous.

1708 Ld. Shaftesbury Let. conc. Enthusiasm 22 They might, instead of making a cure,..turn a spring-ague or an autumn-surfeit into an epidemical malignant fever.

1827 T. J. Graham Mod. Domest. Med. (ed. 3) 213 Spring agues are, in general, less severe and obstinate, and less liable to be followed by dangerous consequences, than the autumnal.

1904 J. F. Payne Eng. Med. Anglo-Saxon Times 43 There is also lent-adle, or spring disease, which must refer to spring agues or tertians.

2000 O. Reiss Med. in Colonial Amer. 153 Spring agues were shorter and milder.

† spring-blood n. Obsolete blood which is generated anew by the body, esp. (supposedly) in the spring.

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1641 A. Streater Ague 1 The liver for obstruction sake cannot send his vitall and Spring bloud.

1773 R. Farmer in S. Johnson & G. Steevens Plays of Shakespeare (rev. ed.) X. App. sig. Pp5 The first folio has ‘the winter's pale’; and the meaning is, the red, the spring blood now reigns o'er the parts lately under the dominion of winter.

spring break n. originally and chiefly North American a vacation taking place in the spring; spec. a university vacation during which students gather in large numbers at beaches and resorts and behave hedonistically.

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society > leisure > [noun] > a period of > holidays > specific type

summer vacation1507

public holiday1736

summer holiday1746

school holiday1777

Cook's tour1856

alcoholiday1877

busman's holiday1893

caravan holiday1899

caravanning holiday1924

staycation1944

spring break1956

farm stay1957

charter1959

ski pack1969

staycation2008

1956 Washington Post 1 Apr. f10/2 The spring break is the longest of the London University year.

1978 A. Buchwald Buchwald stops Here iii. 75 George is coming home for spring break two weeks after Easter.

1990 Time 23 Apr. 61/1 The alcohol-fueled rites of spring break are sparking fresh criticism of aggressive college marketing by brewers.

2012 Atlantic Sept. 56/2 On spring break they had played a game called ‘dirty rounds’.

spring breaker n. originally and chiefly North American a person who is on spring break, esp. a university student who has joined others at a beach or resort and is behaving hedonistically.

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1982 H. Jacobsen & R. Riggs Rites of Spring 48 The rooftop pool at the Holiday Inn attracts some of the best-looking Spring-Breakers.

2007 Metro (Toronto) 28 Feb. 17/1 It has a plethora of eco-friendly and historic sites for those who want to get away from Cancun's spring breakers.

spring cabbage n. any variety of cabbage that is sown in the autumn for harvesting in the spring; a cabbage of such a variety.

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the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > cabbage or kale > [noun] > cabbage > spring cabbage

spring cabbage1728

spring greens1773

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > cabbage or kale > cabbage > types of > spring cabbage

spring cabbage1728

spring greens1773

1728 R. Bradley Dict. Botanicum at Brassica All these are raised from Seed either sown in the Spring if they are design'd for winter Cabbages, or about the Middle of September if we design them Spring Cabbages, that are to bring good Heads in May.

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist iii. v. 629 This [sc. tying up the leaves] may be usefully practised with the earliest spring cabbages.

1979 P. J. Salter et al. Know & grow Veg. iv. 104 Spring cabbage..may be short of nitrogen.

2004 C. Foley Allotment Handbk. (2007) 104/1 Spring cabbage will be ready to eat as early greens.

spring crop n. a crop or harvest that matures in the spring.

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1718 R. Bradley New Improvem. Planting & Gardening: Pt. 3 127 The Radishes will soon be fit to draw, and the Carrots be ready for the Table about May, when the Spring Crop is gone.

1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 255/1 The remainder may be ready for spring crop with very little labour.

2009 New Scientist 11 Apr. 9/1 The cacao swollen shoot virus..threatens to slash this year's spring crop by a third.

spring eruption n. a skin condition occurring in spring or early summer, esp. inflammation and itching caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to increasing levels of sunlight.

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1791 P. Russell Treat. Plague App. p. xxxviii The mother persisted in asserting that the eruptions were all gone, except the one on the neck, and this she, with seeming reluctance, confessed was a little more inflamed since yesterday; but that it gave her no pain, and was certainly nothing else than her usual spring eruption.

1871 R. O. Pringle Purdon's Vet. Hand-bk. (ed. 2) v. 105 Spring eruption in the skin. Causes.—Change of keep, especially when cows have been poorly kept during the winter.

2014 J. L. M. Hawk in M. R. Hamblin & Y.-Y. Huang Handbk. Photomed. viii. 82/1 Juvenile spring eruption, affecting mainly boys in spring, is an apparent extreme example of this [sc. PMLE = polymorphous light eruption], manifesting itchy papules and vesicles of just the ear helices.

spring feed n. animal feed available in the spring; a feed of this type.

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1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman Aug. xi. 38 It [sc. Rye] is only a Spring-feed for Sheep, that dresses, not impairs the Ground.

1789 T. Wright Acct. Advantages & Method Watering Meadows 2 Between March and May we are sure of Spring Feed.

2016 Farm Weekly (Nexis) 13 July 56 The Reynolds family has bucked this trend, being one of the few to capitalise on the abundance of spring feed.

spring fever n. [in sense (a) after post-classical Latin febris vernalis ( T. Sydenham Methodus curandi febres (1666) 33)] (a) a fever occurring in the spring, a spring ague (now historical); (b) an emotional state supposedly occurring as a result of the arrival of spring, variously characterized as a feeling of listlessness, or of restlessness, excitement, inclination to romance, etc. (cf. spring fret n.).

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1696 J. Pechey tr. T. Sydenham Whole Wks. i. iv. 27 But it is to be noted, that purging is not altogether so necessary after Spring-Fevers [L. post febres vernales], as after Fevers in the Fall.

1843 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last of Barons II. vi. vii. 256 The love of Sibyll was no common girl's spring-fever of sighs and blushes.

1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 438 Spring fever, the listless feeling caused by the first sudden increase of temperature in spring. It is often said of a lazy fellow, ‘He has got the spring fever’.

1943 National Geographic Mag. Dec. 668/2 That feeling of lassitude we call ‘spring fever’.

1997 R. Porter Greatest Benefit to Mankind iii. 60 When spring came, blood increased in quantity, and diseases would follow from a plethora of blood, including spring fever outbreaks (primarily benign tertian malaria), dysentery and nose-bleeds.

2015 Providence (Rhode Island) Jrnl. (Nexis) 3 May h4 Whether it is real or simply a happy time that enlivens us, here are some ways to take advantage of spring fever with someone special in your life.

spring flower n. a flower that comes out in the spring.

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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > other flowers

spring flowera1586

globe-daisy1597

sceptre-flower1866

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Ii6 Poesies of the spring flowers were wrapt vp in a litle grene silke.

1884 R. C. Praed Zéro I. iv. 71 The floor was carpeted with moss and spring flowers.

2015 Saga Mag. Apr. 68/3 Red peacock anemones, wild purple stock, magenta Calabrian soapwort and other spring flowers thrive on the rocky slopes.

spring fowl n. a young fowl; young poultry.

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1735 J. Moore Columbarium 42 Their young ones..were full as large as middling spring Fowls.

1885 Poultry World Sept. 140/2 You should have a separate yard for the spring fowls that they may not be ‘bossed’ around by the older ones.

2014 F. Serafin Wicked Phenix City i. 64 Many of the soldiers dismissed the unusual sounds as overactive spring fowl, perhaps mating or fighting.

spring fret n. now chiefly historical a sense of restlessness or desire to wander, felt by humans or animals in the spring.

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1897 R. Kipling in Scribner's Mag. Dec. 679 Send your road is clear before you when the old Spring-fret comes o'er you.

1920 To-day Apr. 45 Let us not be supercilious about whims like the spring-fret, for it, I firmly believe, is Nature's summons to growth.

1995 J. M. Myers Bravos of West li. 276 ‘The spring fret,’ or the primal urge to respond to the rebirth of life by moving, was a cogent force among a people still generally close to nature.

† spring-froth n. Obsolete rare a frothy secretion exuded by certain insects on the leaves, axils, or other parts of plants; = cuckoo-spit n.² 1.

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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > suborder Homoptera > member of family Cercopidae (spit-insects) > frothy secretion

wood-sear1585

cuckoo-spit1592

cuckoo-spittle1646

toad-spittle1658

spring-frotha1722

toad-spit1751

froth-spit1753

frog spittle1811

frog-spit1823

cuckoo-froth1872

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 449 An account of the cuckow-spit, or spring-froth.

1900 Appletons' Pop. Sci. Monthly May 23 This substance is commonly known as frog spittle or cuckoo spit, and, being found in the spring, is known in France as ‘spring froth’.

spring grass n. (a) grass which grows or sprouts in the spring; (b) sweet vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum.

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the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > other grasses

feather-top grass1597

hooded matweed1597

millet grass1597

spring grass1643

moor grass1749

melic1762

finger grass1767

feather-grass1776

aegilops1777

oat-grass1802

prairie grass1812

oat-grass1814

tansy mustard1856

purple moor grass1859

whorl-grass1861

Molinia1866

onion grass1868

káns1874

Turk's-head grass1882

Pangola finger-grass1947

tor grass1954

bush-grass-

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture

windlestrawc1000

red grass1582

spring grass1643

sweet-grass1709

herd-grass1747

Guinea grass1756

vernal grass1762

vernal1771

Paspalum1772

buffalo grass1784

Rhode Island bent1790

red-top1792

finetop1824

kangaroo-grass1827

gamagrass1831

sweet vernal grass1839

yellow-top1839

grama1844

sesame grass1845

sacate1848

Para grass1850

Hungarian1859

alfilaria1860

sacaton1865

Mitchell grass1867

teosinte1877

Landsborough grass1883

turnip-grass1889

brown top1891

ichu1891

manna1897

Rhodes grass1903

Sudan1911

Kikuyu grass1913

never-fail1923

buffel grass1955

1643 His Maiesties Last Speech, & Protestation 7 He findes them [sc. Papists] (for all their pretences of assisting Him) as noysome and infectious weedes in the Common-Wealth, to eate up and choak the sweete flowers and the spring-grasse.

1714 Philos. Trans. 1713 (Royal Soc.) 28 179 Soft Crested Grass..is thicker, softer, and more loose than our common Crested Grass, and in spike more nearly resembles our yellow Spring Grass.

1796 W. Pitt Gen. View Agric. Stafford (new ed.) viii. 84 Cattle thus fatted are generally sold to the butcher during the winter, and before the coming on of the spring grass.

1892 Proc. 18th Ann. Meeting Iowa State Stock-breeders' Assoc. 1891 54 I think the green spring grass is eighteen per cent protein, while there is only eight per cent in the dead grass.

1994 Off our Backs 24 17/3 The smell of new spring grass and just-opening hyacinths.

2006 M. A. Shiffman in M. A. Shiffman & A. Di Giuseppe Liposuction xvii. 103/2 (table) Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum, spring grass): Anticoagulant effect from coumarin constituent.

spring green (a) n. light green colour; (b) adj. light green; of a light green colour.

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the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [adjective] > light green

beryl1594

spring green1735

water-green1757

berylline1847

chlorinea1849

peppermint1868

reseda1873

absinthe1963

lily-green1965

pepperminty1981

1735 J. Barrow Dict. Polygraphicum I. sig. M2 Blue and yellow mixt together compose a yellow-green, spring-green, grass-green, [etc.].

1891 M. E. Wilkins Humble Romance 46 The cottages were painted uniformly white, and had blinds of a bright Spring-green colour!

2015 S. J. Maas Court Thorns & Roses xlvi. 415 Both of us emerged onto the spring-green grass that covered the bumps and hollows of his lands.

spring greens n. the young leaves of cabbages or other varieties of brassica, used as a vegetable, esp. in spring; a variety of brassica whose leaves are suitable for eating in spring (cf. winter greens: see wintergreen n. 3).

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the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > cabbage or kale > [noun] > cabbage > spring cabbage

spring cabbage1728

spring greens1773

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > cabbage or kale > cabbage > types of > spring cabbage

spring cabbage1728

spring greens1773

1773 W. Hanbury Compl. Body Planting & Gardening II. 715/2 (heading) Of Scotch Cole, and other Sorts of Borecole, and Spring Greens.

1806 B. McMahon Amer. Gardener's Cal. 184 Borecole is extremely valuable for winter and spring greens where the winter frost is not too powerful for it.

1919 D. C. Peel Daily Mail Cookery Bk. (ed. 2) vii. 134 Vegetables which can be cooked in this manner—cauliflowers, brussels sprouts, spring greens, broccoli tops, [etc.].

1972 Y. Lovelock Veg. Bk. i. 69 Spring greens, either hearted or leafy, are gradually superseding the tougher British coleworts.

2014 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 3 May 10 Spring greens and purple broccoli add garden-fresh bite to any plate.

spring growth n. plant growth that takes place in the spring.

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1754 Brit. Legacy 155 When you observe the Buds form'd at the Extremity of the same Year's Shoots, which is a Sign of their having finish'd their Spring Growth.

1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows ii. xxii. 129 Until it loose The clammy clods and let out the spring-growth.

2004 Nat. New Eng. Winter 9/1 Its early spring growth..and tolerance of shade allow it to outcompete and displace spring wildflowers.

spring juices n. now historical a preparation made from various plant extracts, used as a tonic and to prevent scurvy.

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the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > decoction or infusion > [noun] > specific decoction or infusion

sabras?c1225

tisanea1398

tamarisk1597

wort1694

sage tea?1706

poppy tea1709

yapon tea1723

herb-tea1744

spring juices1751

balm-tea1752

camomile-tea1753

uva ursi1753

nettle tea1758

bush tea1768

quassia1778

majo bitters1866

Mexican tea1866

1751 J. Hill Gen. Nat. Hist. II. 166 The water brooklime is also one of the antiscorbutics of the shops, and it's juice is always made a part of the spring juices, given against those complaints.

1831 W. Patrick Pop. Descr. Plants Lanarkshire 46 Leaves [of Brooklime]..; generally gathered for medical purposes, and together with scurvy-grass, an ingredient in that nauseous composition called Spring juices.

1863 J. T. B. Syme Sowerby's Eng. Bot. (ed. 3) I. 178 Formerly the Water-Cress was in high repute for its medicinal qualities, and boiled with brooklime, scurvy-grass, and Seville oranges, formed the ‘spring juices’ so much esteemed by our grandmothers as a health-giving draught for children.

1976 M. Jordan Guide to Wild Plants iii. 107 Brooklime..was once widely recommended as an anti-scorbutic, being included in the ‘spring juices’.., before standards of living improved sufficiently to eliminate such deficiencies as scurvy.

spring lamb n. (a) a milk-fed lamb born in the late winter or early spring, typically being sold by the age of five months; (b) the meat of such a lamb used as food.

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1777 J. Whitfeld Conjectures on Tyndaris of Horace 21 My simple hunger can appease, like Beet, or cooling Water-cress; Or a Spring-Lamb, when Lambs abound.

1846 Punch 22 Aug. 75/1 Thoughts of Michaelmas goose, of Christmas beef, of spring lamb.

1890 National Stockman & Farmer 1 Aug. 3/2 Spring lambs are selling for $2.25.

1940 Sun (Baltimore) 16 Apr. 15/5 Offerings..in the sheep pens consisted of a few lots of..native spring lambs.

1975 J. McCourt Mawrdew Czgowchwz (2002) i. 14 Racks of spring lamb were turning over Sherry's coals.

2009 Atlantic Monthly May 22/2 Lean spring lamb, naturally lower in fat than the big animals.., has less of the marbling that accounts for the ‘lamby’ flavor many people find objectionable.

spring leaf n. a new leaf produced by a plant in the spring.

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1673 N. Grew Idea Phytol. Hist. i. 23 The first Spring-leaves of all kinds of Docks.

1818 in J. Keats Life, Lett., & Lit. Remains (1848) I. 116 I've gather'd young spring-leaves, and flowers gay Of periwinkle and wild strawberry.

1999 Canberra Times (Nexis) 1 Aug. a 25 The spring leaves that appear about flowering time are thinner and larger than the summer leaves.

spring lily n. a lily that flowers in the spring.

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1784 J. Abercrombie Propagation & Bot. Arrangem. Plants & Trees II. 392 [Atamasco] or Virginian Spring Lily.

1872 J. A. Symonds Introd. Study Dante 175 Like one of the white spring-lilies of the Alps.

2015 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 3 Apr. Spring lilies always add a dramatic touch to gardens and homes this time of year, but cat owners need to be careful.

spring onion n. any of various varieties of onion which do not form bulbs (also called scallion) or are harvested as young plants before the bulb has fully developed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > other types of onion

hollekec1000

chibol1362

scallion1393

oniona1398

chesbollc1410

oinet?1440

red onionc1450

sybow1574

green onion1577

Strasbourg onion1629

cibol1632

Portugal onion1647

Spanish onion1706

Welsh onion1731

spring onion1758

Reading1784

rareripe1788

yellow onion1816

onionet1820

potato onion1822

tripoli1822

escalion1847

stone-leek1861

Egyptian onion1880

ramp1885

multiplier1907

ramps1939

Vidalia1969

tree onion-

1758 J. Hill Gardener's New Kal. 265 Dig a well shelter'd piece of ground for the spring onions.

1924 L. H. Bailey Man. Cultivated Plants 161 A[llium] fistulosum, L. Welsh Onion. Spring Onion. Scape short and thick, hollow,..arising from bulbous base little thicker than st[em].

2008 BBC Good Food Sept. 55/2 Cut the ends from the spring onions, and cut the green and white of the onion lengthways.

spring pottage n. now rare pottage or soup made from fresh green vegetables.

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the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup

joutes1377

leek-pottagec1440

kalea1480

colea1500

nettle broth1652

spring pottage1661

minestra1673

spring soup1744

onion soup1747

shchi1824

Palestine soup1834

potato soup1834

tomato soup1840

julienne1841

gazpacho1845

printanier1867

minestrone1871

vichyssoise1939

pistou1979

1661 W. Rabisha Whole Body Cookery 32 (heading) To make Spring Pottage.

1774 Ann. Reg. 1773 87 After eating a hearty breakfast of Spring-pottage.

1958 Country Life 23 Oct. 937/2 Thistles..had plenty of medical uses and could, at least one variety, be used as spring pottage, to clear the blood.

spring roll n. (in Chinese cookery) a small pancake or similar base filled with vegetables (and sometimes also meat), rolled into a cylinder, and deep-fried. [After Chinese chūnjuǎn ( < chūn spring, with connotations of newness and freshness + juǎn to roll), probably originally so called because vegetable snacks were associated with the spring festival (Chinese New Year).]

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the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > pancake, tortilla, or oatcake > [noun] > pancake

froise1338

pancakea1400

flawnc1400

crust-rollc1430

pancake wisea1500

flapjack1620

torteau1625

egg-fraise1693

wafer pancake1769

flamm1819

blini1842

leather-jacket1846

round robin1847

Pfannkuchen1856

palacinka1884

blintz1903

latke1909

crêpe Suzette1922

Dutch baby1927

spring roll1927

Palatschinken1929

egg roll1938

tostada1945

crêpe1951

ploye1959

palacsinta1964

pancake roll1967

appam1972

popiah1975

uthappam1976

1927 N. C. Wong Chinese Recipes 16 The spring rolls should always be sliced slantwise and served hot.

1972 D. Bloodworth Any Number can Play xxii. 219 Helping himself to a spring roll from a trolley of hot Chinese delicacies.

2015 Forever Sports July 57/1 Starters or mains, spring rolls don't have to be the crispy cylinders of saturated fat that you get from your local takeaway.

spring root n. rare a root newly grown by a plant in the spring.

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a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 299 Strike fresh sap-roots, or buds preparative to the ensuing spring, and which will the next year be the spring-roots.

2009 J. Bruton-Seal & M. Seal Backyard Med. 20/1 The other advantage is that you will know where to dig for spring roots, as the [burdock] leaves die back to very little in the winter and the plants can be difficult to find.

spring shoot n. †(a) the time of rapid and plentiful growth in the spring (obsolete); (b) a shoot or young plant that grows in the spring.

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1676 M. Cook Manner of raising Forrest-trees xxxiv. 116 If you cut off the head of the shoots as soon as ever the Spring-shoot is over.

a1746 E. Holdsworth Remarks & Diss. Virgil (1768) 35 Scarce any tree growing faster than a young Alder,..especially in the spring-shoot.

1763 Museum Rusticum (1764) 1 141 When the ground is properly prepared, it should be planted with sets, being the spring shoots pulled up in a madder-plot.

2016 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 24 Mar. 4 Just as winter fades and the first spring shoots break through, Atkins' kitchen garden comes to life.

spring shower n. a shower of rain occurring in the spring, esp. one that is brief or sudden.

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1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1005 Now the Spring showers and raines [Fr. les pluyes de la primeuere] are most necessarie for seeds and herbs.

1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 365 Immediately after a hasty spring-shower.

1910 Atlantic Educ. Jrnl. Apr. 14/1 How does the sky look after a spring shower? It is fresh and clear like a window glass.

1979 V. Canning Satan Sampler ix. 183 A fierce spring shower was pock-marking the surface of the lake.

spring soup n. a pottage or soup made from fresh green vegetables.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup

joutes1377

leek-pottagec1440

kalea1480

colea1500

nettle broth1652

spring pottage1661

minestra1673

spring soup1744

onion soup1747

shchi1824

Palestine soup1834

potato soup1834

tomato soup1840

julienne1841

gazpacho1845

printanier1867

minestrone1871

vichyssoise1939

pistou1979

1744 Adam's Luxury 183 (heading) A good Spring Soup.

1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 195 He took remarkably good care of himself during dinner time, had twice spring soup, and twice salmon and cucumber.

2016 Toronto Star (Nexis) 25 May e 6 Green garlic can stand alone in a spring soup or pair it with green peas or asparagus.

spring suit n. chiefly Surfing a wet suit that only partially covers the arms and legs, usually worn in warmer water.

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1974 Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.) 28 July (Southland Sunday section) 20/2 The wet suit..is what made surfing possible during any weather. The suits, from just jacket sleeves and vests to Long Johns (overalls without sleeves), Short Johns and short spring suits, are not cheap.

1990 Surfer Aug. 180/2 Overhead sets, water temps in the sixties and air in the eighties had surfers at North Carolina's Frisco Pier shedding their fullsuits in favor of springsuits and even vests.

2010 News-Jrnl. (Daytona Beach, Florida) (Nexis) 26 Feb. 1 c Surf dudes in spring suits, which are lighter than full wet suits, so it can't be all that wintry.

spring term n. (a) (the name of) the session of a court of law which follows the winter vacation and precedes the spring vacation; (b) (the name, at some universities and schools, of) the academic term which follows the winter vacation and precedes the spring vacation.

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1771 H. Pelham Let. 15 Aug. in Lett. & Papers Copley & Pelham (Mass. Hist. Soc.) (1914) 139 If the tryal is put off till November, and anything should prevent its being then tryed, it must go to the spring term.

1864 Weekly New Mexican 24 June 2/2 The fines..during the past spring terms, amounted to Eleven hundred and Fifteen dollars.

1918 W. Cather My Ántonia (1988) ii. i. 94 Before the spring term of school was over, I could fight..and use forbidden words as well as any boy in my class.

1940 R. Arthur in Thrilling Wonder Stories Jan. 120/2 [Trying] to get Tommy into school there for the Spring term.

1983 Platt's Oilgram News (Nexis) 28 Feb. A nearly-filled hearing calendar for the remainder of the spring term may prevent the U.S. Supreme Court from scheduling oral argument [in the appeal].

2015 P. Murphy Is there Honey still for tea? xxi. 128 In the spring term I devoted myself mostly to my studies and to chess.

spring tiller n. a tiller (tiller n.³) that grows in the spring.

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a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 138 The spring-tillows..do arise from the foot of the root of the winter-stems or shoots.

1921 Take-all of Wheat & its Control (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 1226) 7 Spring tillers become evident in excessive numbers, giving the diseased plants a ‘bunchy’ appearance.

2012 W. Zegada-Lizarazu et al. in A. Monti Switchgrass iii. 65 Leaf formation in spring tillers..continues until environmental conditions induce floral development.

spring training n. physical fitness training taking place in the spring; (occasionally also) a period of such training; (chiefly Baseball) pre-season fitness and skills training taking place in the spring.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > training

spring training1828

1828 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 27 Feb. Medley is a sorrel of great promise as a racer, and is now in preparation for a spring training.

1888 Boston Daily Globe 26 Feb. 19 (heading) The big captain's system of spring training. Some points for managers of base ball teams.

1928 G. H. Ruth Babe Ruth's Own Bk. Baseball i. 17 When I collapsed..during the spring training trip, a lot of people figured I'd never put on a uniform again.

2013 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Mar. d6/3 Stretch fit caps..that are used in spring training.

spring vacation n. a springtime vacation during which institutions such as universities, courts of law, parliament, etc., are closed.

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1761 T. Mortimer Every Man his own Broker ii. 95 The spring vacation generally begins in March.

1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott II. 243 As soon as the spring vacation began, Scott followed him by sea.

2003 D. Lipsky Absolutely Amer. iii. 229 This year, the pinched days between January and spring vacation have been one unbroken snowfall.

spring vegetable n. (often in plural) a vegetable that is typically in season and available during the spring.

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1724 G. Cheyne Ess. Health ii. 22 Thus the Spring vegetables, as asparagus, strawberries, and some sorts of sallading, are more easily digested than pears, apples, peaches, and nectarines.

1847 Leeds Mercury 28 Aug. 5/4 In the future we may depend on the potato as a spring vegetable.

2011 Time Out N.Y. 24 Mar. 23/1 Yogurt-marinated chicken cooked on a tawa (a cast-iron griddle) with spring vegetables.

spring violet n. (a) a violet that blooms in spring, as the sweet violet, Viola odorata; †(b) English regional = spring gentian n. at Compounds 3e(c)(i) (obsolete).

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1612 J. Webster White Divel ii. i. 166 Neglected cassia or the naturall sweetes Of the Spring-violet.

1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Spring violet, Gentiana verna, L.—Durh. (Teesdale).

2013 Mouse River (Towner, N. Dakota) Jrnl. (Nexis) 8 May Be on the lookout for the spring violets. They will provide some much needed color to the bland spring landscape.

spring wind n. a wind occurring in the spring, esp. one that is warm, soft, or fresh.

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1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 63 Greene Hearbes, still freshe and flowering, a sweete ayre, warme and spring windes [It veriferi venti], with a confused charme of singing and chirping birdes.

1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 233 The Spring winds, which nips the young Buds.

1835 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 785 (note) The ἄνεμοι ὀρνιθίαι, or spring-winds, which bring with them the birds of passage.

2010 Carmarthen Jrnl. (Nexis) 21 July 36 The spring winds whisper at the trees.

(b) With the sense ‘sown or suitable for sowing in the spring’ or (in the case of some vegetables) ‘harvested or suitable for harvesting in the spring’; see also spring cabbage n. at Compounds 3e(a).

spring barley n.

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the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > sowing > [adjective] > sown > in spring

spring barley1730

vernal1792

1730 G. Rye Considerations Agric. p. xi The Mention made of Barley therein, and the preparing the Ground, is designed for Spring Barley, being flat Eared, with two rows of Corn.

1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 699 H[ordeum] vulgare, Bere, Bigg, Four-rowed or Spring Barley.

2009 Classic Tractor Sept. 80/2 Our land is too heavy for spring barley.

spring corn n. [compare earlier Lenten corn n. at Lenten n. and adj. Compounds and lent corn n. at Lent n.¹ Compounds 1a]

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1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xviii. vii. 557 Some there be who take for Spring-corne [Fr. blez de caresme, L. frumenti genera..verna], Millet, Panicke, Lentils, cich Pease, and the graine wherof Fourmentie is made.

1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 49 Wheat..hence having about Thrice the time to be maintain'd that Spring Corn hath.

1973 J. Thirsk in A. R. H. Baker & R. A. Butlin Stud. Field Syst. Brit. Isles vi. 248 Almost certainly..Medbourne farmers observed a three-course rotation of legumes or fallow, spring corn, and winter corn.

2003 Farmers Guardian 14 Mar. 8/2 Spring corn and beans are all drilled and shouldn't be long before they are through.

spring kale n.

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1699 Ld. Belhaven Countrey-mans Rudim. 33 Your Cabbage may be preserved in the same manner, till your spring Kail come in.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 637 Of the various sorts of cabbage, fit for field culture, the Scotch gray, the open green or spring kale, and the turnip-rooted, are the hardiest.

2015 Lancaster Evening Post (Nexis) 23 Feb. The farmer has recently been developing his own sweeter varieties of spring kale.

spring lettuce n.

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1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. vi. iii. 157 We replant Spring Lettuce [Fr. des Laituës du Printemps], to Cabbage.

1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 252 More..on warm borders to stand for spring lettuces.

2012 Mod. Baking (Nexis) 10 Apr. The Mediterranean Mozzarella salad is built on a bed of spring lettuce.

spring rye n.

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1755 A. Berthelson tr. E. Pontoppidan Nat. Hist. Norway i. iv. 104 They likewise sow vœrling or spring-rye [Dan. Værling eller Vaar-Rug].

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 226 It seems adviseable to delay the sowing of spring-rye as long as can be.

2008 Osiris 23 172 Spring rye and spring wheat are normal annual plants completing a whole life cycle within the same year (growth season).

spring seed n.

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1672 T. Crane Isagoge ad Dei Providentiam iv. 344 There is a Winter-grain; and Spring-seed, as Oats, Barley, which are earthed after the former.

1794 A. Bruce in A. Lowe Gen. View Agric. Berwick 132 The kail..is so hardy as to resist our severest winters, and answer well for a spring seed.

1896 H. M. Stringfellow New Hort. x. 53 Since the introduction of the Triumph potato, with its peculiarity of making a good fall crop from home-grown spring seed, the Irish potato is likely to come more prominently to the front.

2016 Farmers Weekly (Nexis) 22 Aug. Seed traders say demand for spring seed has been delayed by the wet conditions.

spring wheat n.

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1762 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry I. 359 A little rye is found in winter wheat, and a little barley in spring wheat.

1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. 244 A discrimination is highly necessary between winter wheat sown in the spring, and the Siberian, or real spring wheat.

1913 J. E. Rogers Bk. Useful Plants 26 Hard spring wheat culture centres in the Red River Valley. Kansas is the centre of the hard winter wheat district.

2011 A. R. Gehring Back to Basics Handbk. iii. 154/1 Spring wheat will not survive the winter if planted in fall.

(c) In the names of other plant and animal species, typically flowering, emerging, arriving as migrants, or otherwise prominent in the spring.

(i) In the names of plants.

spring beauty n. any of various small bulbiferous plants with white to pink flowers opening in the spring (genus Claytonia, esp. C. virginica, family Montiaceae), found mainly in North America; (also) North American regional any of several other small spring-flowering plants, as trilliums.

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1818 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 2) i. 42 Claytonia..(spring beauty).

1915 M. Armstrong Field Bk. Western Wild Flowers 122 This charming little flower resembles the Spring Beauty of the East, Claytonia Virginica, and blooms in late spring, among the ferns and wet grasses near the Yosemite waterfalls.

2009 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 4 Apr. 6 c Spring beauties began to open their pink striped petals and look about.

spring bell n. the satinflower, a bulbiferous North American plant with bell-shaped purple flowers, Olsynium douglasii (family Iridaceae).

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1874 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. (rev. ed.) Suppl. 1344 Springbell, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum.

1924 J. Weathers My Garden Bk. xx. 370/1 Sisyrinchium..grandiflorum (Spring Bell) is a beautiful N. American perennial with a somewhat creeping root-stock, and erect sword-like leaves.

1972 Gardeners Chron. 14 Apr. 42/2 Vast areas of open country in North America are populated by the spring bell, or grass widow, as it is variously known by the children.

spring crocus n. a crocus that blooms in the spring (cf. autumn crocus n. at autumn n. Compounds 5). [After post-classical Latin crocus vernus (late 16th cent.).]

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1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 169 (caption) Crocus vernus luteus vulgaris. The common yellow spring Crocus.

1850 G. Glenny Hand-bk. Flower Garden 236 The spring crocuses come into bloom some time in February, and continue more or less in bloom until the beginning of April.

2009 Observer (Nexis) 8 Mar. (Escape section) 3 My lasting childhood memory of Harrogate was the endless carpets of spring crocuses.

spring gentian n. a small gentian found in high mountain meadows in Eurasia, esp. in central and southern Europe, Gentiana verna. [After post-classical Latin gentianella verna ( C. Clusius Rariorum Plantarum Historia (1601) I. 315), and (in later use) scientific Latin Gentiana verna (1753 in Linnaeus; 1724 or earlier in post-classical Latin).]

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1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. Index Latinus Cantabrica, Gentianella minor verna, The smaller Spring Gentian.

2012 Irish Times (Nexis) 7 July (Travel section) 36 Early purple orchids and spring gentians were in bloom.

(ii) In the names of animals.

spring herring n. (a) North American the alewife (alewife n.²), Alosa pseudoharengus (now rare); (b) an Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) of a variety or subspecies which spawns in the spring, esp. as caught in inshore waters during or after the spawning stage. [In sense (b) probably after Norwegian vårsild kind of herring caught in spring (18th cent. or earlier; the work cited in quot. 1876 summarizes a debate on the nature of these fish conducted in a Norwegian journal over several issues in the early 1870s).]

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1815 Trans. N.Y. Lit. & Philos. Soc. 1 454 Spring Herring, or Alewife.

1876 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Fish & Fisheries 205 We have advanced some steps in understanding..by proving that the summer-herring only represents different stages in the life of the spring-herring.

1884 M. MacDonald in G. B. Goode et al. Fisheries U.S.: Sect. I 579 The ‘Spring’ Herring or ‘Alewife’, Clupea vernalis.

1973 J. Seymour & S. Seymour Self-sufficiency xvi. 216 Spring herring are generally spent.

1991 I. Dore New Fresh Seafood Buyer's Guide 4 Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus. River herring is an alternative market name. Gaspareau, gaspergoo and gray, white or spring herring are not legally acceptable names.

2017 E. Ojaveer Ecosyst. & Living Resources Baltic Sea iii. 104 The experiments..showed no normal descendants hatched from the spring herring eggs fertilized with autumn herring sperm.

spring peeper n. a small frog of the forests and woodlands of eastern North America, Pseudacris crucifer, the male of which has a loud, high pitched mating call considered to mark the beginning of spring.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > amphibians > order Anura or Salienta (frogs and toads) > [noun] > types of frog or toad > suborder Procoela > family Hylidae > spring peeper

rain frog1827

peeper1851

spring peeper1855

1855 Putnam's Monthly Mag. July 38/2 The deep bass of the bullfrog, the sharp whistle of the ‘spring-peepers’, and the cheerful, bird-like twitter of the tree-frog.

1950 Chicago Tribune 28 Mar. 14/3 Then there are those who listen for choruses of spring peepers.

2002 Northern Woodlands Spring 4/2 Spring peepers begin peeping in earnest. Isolated peepers will peep until November, but only now is there a big deafening chorus of them.

spring salmon n. North American any of various North American salmon that return from the sea to the river in spring.

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the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Salmoniformes (salmon or trout) > family Salmonidae (salmon) > [noun] > member of genus Oncorhyncus (chinook)

red fish1763

spring salmon1776

gorbuscha1784

keta1824

quinnat1829

Chinook salmon1851

coho1869

king salmon1871

silver trout1873

kokanee1875

salmon1884

sockeye1888

chisel-mouth1889

pink salmon1899

spring1900

tyee1902

pink1905

blackmouth1906

chum1908

greenback cut-throat1989

the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > salmon

salmona1387

nerka1764

spring salmon1776

truff1818

1776 G. Cartwright Jrnl. Resid. Coast Labrador 18 June (1792) II. 180 He saw some spring salmon.

1905 D. S. Jordan Guide Study of Fishes II. 80 The economic value of any species depends in great part on its being a ‘spring salmon’.

2006 Canad. Geographic Sept. 52/1 There is where they caught spring salmon in December.

spring usher n. a Palaearctic geometrid moth, Agriopis leucophaearia, which emerges from its pupa in February and March, the female being wingless.

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1766 M. Harris Aurelian 79 (heading) Spring Usher.

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 102 The Spring Usher (Anisopteryx leucophearia..) appears in oak woods the end of February and March.

2001 Independent (Nexis) 8 Dec. (Features section) 14 After New Year comes the Early moth, the Spring Usher and the March moth.

† spring wagtail n. British Obsolete the yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava.A migrant in Great Britain in the spring and summer, so called in contrast to the similar but resident grey wagtail, M. cinera (also called the winter wagtail).

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1802 G. Montagu Ornithol. Dict. at Wagtail Spring, or Summer Wagtail.

1834 Field Naturalist 14 Mar. 144 The spring wagtail (Budytes flava) goes under the name of the yellow wagtail with us hereabout.

1907 K. P. Wormeley tr. G. De Voogt Our Domest. Animals xi. 279 (caption) The Spring Wagtail.

C4. In senses of branch IV. See also spring wood n.

† spring-shaw n. Obsolete rare a low strip of young wood forming the border of a field; cf. shaw n.¹ 2.

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1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Spring-shaw, a strip of the young undergrowth of wood, from two to three rods wide.

C5. In senses of branch V.

a. attributive.

(a)

(i) Designating a device or implement, with the sense ‘equipped with a spring or springs’, ‘acting on or by means of a spring or springs’, or ‘acting like a spring’.Earliest in spring clock n. at Compounds 5a(a)(ii).See also defined compounds at Compounds 5e.

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1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Clavette, the Cannell bone, or Craw-bone; also, a Spring-pinne; the little peece of yron wherwith tradesmen keepe in the yron pinnes of their shop-windowes.

1634 in Archaeologia (1853) 35 199 One two-leaf wyndowe with longe boult, springe boult, and staples.

1694 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 18 103 Its shape is not very unlike to a sort of Spring-Purse (as they are called) which many People use.

1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 224. ⁋5 Little cuts and figures, the invention of which we must ascribe to the Author of Spring-Trusses.

?1750 M. Allison, Bookseller in Falmouth (advt.) Mathematical Instruments... Sweeps with spring Joints.

?1785 J. Imison School of Arts 216 At the top of the spring-arbor, is the endless-screw, and its wheel.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 325 With the mortar and levigating stone, a spring-knife is very useful.

1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 408/1 I claim, as my invention or improvement in carriages,..the peculiar adaptation of spring buffers and spring fastenings.

1888 F. Rutley Rock-forming Minerals 18 The most generally useful contrivances are spring clips.

1894 T. W. Fox Mechanism Weaving ix. 259 Sprincords..consist of two wooden end-pieces..into which two wires..are driven.

1905 U.S. Patent 793,332 1/1 Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the spring-tab detached from the card.

1934 Cassell's Home Encycl. 86/2 Automatic or springblinds are made with a hollow roller.

2000 Irish World 2 June 33/1 Fix a few small cross pieces down the inside and screw in spring clips known as terry clips (available from your DIY centre).

2014 E. Robens et al. Balances iv. 141 Elastic forces as applied in spring balances strongly depend on the position of the balance beam, which must be accurately observed.

(ii)

spring clock n.

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1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. E4 Spring clocks that seeme to goe of themselues.

1829 Chapters Physical Sci. 92 The wheels in the spring clocks and in watches are urged on by the force of a spiral spring.

2008 Intelligencer Jrnl. (Lancaster, Pa.) (Nexis) 2 Feb. a1 There's spring clocks and novelty clocks and watches.

spring gauge n.

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1836 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 21 225 The piston of the spring gauge was bent.

1927 Pop. Mech. June 1053/2 After the plugs are turned, they are pushed against a small spring gauge attached to the side of the motor.

2013 Arthroscopy 29 1472/1 The force to displace the hand from the shoulder was measured with a spring gauge.

spring mattress n.

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1828 Morning Post 25 Oct. 1/2 (advt.) Spring Mattresses, Carriage Seats, &c. on the most improved principle.

1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Spring-mattress, one having metallic springs beneath the hair or moss filling.

2006 Strait Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 22 Apr. Ms Sangeeta Hiranand..was fed up with her 15-year-old spring mattress.

spring plate n.

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1742 J. Martyn & E. Chambers tr. Philos. Hist. & Mem. Royal Acad. Sci. Paris II. 102 I made some remarks..on those [inequalities] which may come from a little spring plate, which I had put instead of silk, to sustain the pendulum.

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 123 The elasticity of a spring plate somewhat resembles the elasticity of a common cane.

2006 P. Shakespeare Building Dune Buggy xiv. 79 It should be easy to see that the spring plate is being asked to flex in two directions at once.

spring roller n.

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1786 Daily Advertiser 10 Oct. (advt.) Venetian Spring Blinds, and green Silk Curtains on Spring Rollers.

1821 P. Egan Life in London ii. iv. 266 A fine collection of maps, concealed by the cornices of the book-cases, on spring rollers, can be referred to without the least trouble.

2013 Chicago Daily Herald (Nexis) 14 June 3 Built-in spring rollers, like the ones rolling shades use, work pretty well and usually don't break down much.

spring seat n. now historical

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1744 Daily Advertiser 15 May (advt.) A Handsome second-hand Landau, lin'd with light Colour Cloth, with a Set of Lanthorn Springs, a Spring Seat, and four Harness.

1853 Heal & Son Catal.: Bedsteads Sofas and Couches..with squab or spring seats.

2001 C. H. Wendel Encycl. Antique Tools & Machinery 75/1 Today, a good spring seat will likely sell for well over $100.

spring tool n.

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1765 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 3 July (advt.) A large parcel of Lancashire and Sheffield files, turn benches, brass turn saws, spring tools.

1859 R. Hunt Guide Mus. Pract. Geol. (ed. 2) 103 Several of the tools [for glass-making] are exhibited,..the spring tool, the shears, &c.

2009 Missouri Lawyers Media (Nexis) 26 Oct. The main hand tool is called jacks or jack tool. It's a spring tool with a long blade and a handle.

spring trap n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]

grinc825

trapa1000

snarea1100

swikea1100

granea1250

springec1275

gina1300

gnarea1325

stringc1325

trebuchet1362

latch?a1366

leashc1374

snarlc1380

foot gina1382

foot-grina1382

traina1393

sinewa1400

snatcha1400

foot trapa1425

haucepyc1425

slingc1425

engine1481

swar1488

frame1509

brakea1529

fang1535

fall trap1570

spring1578

box-trapa1589

spring trapa1589

sprint1599

noosec1600

springle1602

springe1607

toil1607

plage1608

deadfall1631

puppy snatch1650

snickle1681

steel trap1735

figure (of) four1743

gun-trap1749

stamp1788

stell1801

springer1813

sprent1822

livetrap1823

snaphance1831

catch pole1838

twitch-up1841

basket-trap1866

pole trap1879

steel fall1895

tread-trap1952

conibear trap1957

conibear1958

a1589 L. Mascall Bk. Engines in Bk. Fishing (1590) 74 (heading) The spring trappe for Mice.

1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda II. xxii. 355 A man, whose leg had..been caught in the spring trap.

2016 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 23 July 10 It is appalling that spring traps have been illegally set resulting in the death of a common gull.

spring watch n. now rare

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1675 R. Hooke Diary 18 Feb. (1935) 148 Zulichems spring watch spoken of by his letter.

1729 B. Mandeville Fable Bees ii. 177 If he was wholly unacquainted with the Nature of a Spring-Watch.

2002 Notes & Rec. Royal Soc. 56 135 The dispute over spring watches..reached its peak in 1675–76.

(b) Designating a vehicle, with the sense ‘having springs, suspended on springs’, as spring coach, spring carriage, spring cart, etc. Now historical.

ΚΠ

1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman xlvi. 232 The nicest Pieces of Work is Springs for Spring-Coaches.

1794 Gentleman's Mag. 64 Suppl. 1074 The best thing to be done generally..is to put the patient into a spring-waggon.

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 117 The tax to which spring vehicles are subject.

1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 386 C-springs..were formerly used for almost all kinds of spring-carriages.

1864 G. A. Sala in Daily Tel. 6 Apr. A couple of spring ambulances, drawn by four horses apiece.

1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. x. 86 A spring-van is delivering its load of greenhouse plants at the door.

1963 New Castle (Pa.) News 31 Dec. 2/3 Four or five of them took off in a spring wagon and traveled about 16 miles before they heard Morgan had been captured.

2016 Inverell (Austral.) Times (Nexis) 4. Feb. The old bush school was six or seven miles away and we had a horse and a spring cart to take us.

(c) In various compounds used attributively, as spring-teeth rake, spring-knife manufacturer, spring-tine cultivator, etc.

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1794 J. Monk Gen. View Agric. Leics. 21 Spring-teeth rakes, sold by Mr. Cort at 16s. each.

1853 in Inq. Yorksh. Deaf & Dumb (1870) 30 Spring-knife manufacturer.

1867 J. Hogg Microscope (ed. 6) i. ii. 157 This consists of a spring-wire coil acting on an inner tube.

1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Spring-blade knife, a pocket-knife whose blade is thrown out or held out by a spring.

1892 Engineer 24 June 542/2 The Harrison Patents Company, Stamford, exhibit a rotary back-action spring tine hay kicker.

1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 192/1 The most handsome and up-to-date spring heel shoe ever placed on the market.

1907 Army & Navy Co-operative Soc. Ann. Price List 304/3 Gentleman's Spring-side Safety irons, with Prussian sides.

1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 54 (caption) Canadian spring-tine cultivator with corn and grass seed boxes.

1948 Penguin Music Mag. June 54 Sir Henry Wood..recommended the use of spring-clip mutes which fastened on the music desks.

1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 15 Mar. 98/3 The spring-tine rake to the rear..is provided to meet necessary safety regulations.

1973 Sun 4 Sept. 20/2 (advt.) Spring roller blinds from £2.94.

2006 Inside Bay Area (Calif.) (Nexis) 17 Nov. From their rusty-looking spring-tooth harrow to their horse-drawn cultivator, almost all their implements come from Amish farmers.

(a) Forming adjectives with past participles, as spring-jointed, spring-framed, spring-fitted, etc.

ΚΠ

1726 Ladies Diary 24 Steel Spring Jointed Trusses, for Ruptures.

1849 R. S. Surtees Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour xxiv, in New Monthly Mag. Sept. 112 He had never been able to accomplish the art of opening a gate, especially one of those gingerly-balanced, spring-snecked things.

1899 Fortn. Rev. 65 113 I ought also to mention a spring-framed machine, the Triumph.

1920 J. Galsworthy In Chancery ii. xiv. 236 His spring-mattressed bed.

1978 J. Irving World according to Garp xv. 311 They had opened one of the big spring-doored dryers.

2011 Leader-Post (Regina, Sask.) (Nexis) 16 July d7 Monette's Human is an engineering marvel of steel-sheathed foam panels and spring-fitted bolts.

(b)

spring-driven adj.

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1861 U.S. Patent 31,242 2/1 The main spring in a spring driven clock as previously described was operated upon.

1929 Times 12 Mar. 18/5 A small spring-driven motor.

2009 P. Glennie & N. Thrift Shaping Day x. 388 Both used a spring-driven timekeeper.

spring-heeled adj. [compare spring heel n. at Compounds 5e]

ΚΠ

1790 Pennsylvania Packet 5 Feb. 3/3 Lined & bound spring-heel'd Pumps.

1819 Supporter (Chillicothe, Ohio) 14 Apr. (advt.) Fringe spring heeled walking Shoes.

1958 Times 20 Aug. 2/6 Zhukov, Pudov, and Ozog all flashed past the now weary Eldon in pursuit of the fleeing, spring-heeled Pole.

1977 Vogue Dec. 11/2 ‘Colleagues’ has something inert and passive about it, compared with the spring-heeled activity of ‘work mates’.

2013 Oldie Apr. 76/1 You won't get rich backing this spring-heeled jumper, who looks destined for the very top.

spring-mounted adj.

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1842 Newcastle Courant 27 May i. 1/8 (advt.) [Locomotive] Wheels, Coupled Cylinders..Stroke 18 in.; Spring Mounted.

1960 E. L. Delmar-Morgan Cruising Yacht Equipm. & Navigation 37 If the compass is of the spring-mounted type [etc.].

2008 Loughborough Echo (Nexis) 28 Nov. 76 The security mechanism on the hub has..spring-mounted security bolts, which Porsche is hoping will be foolproof against thieves.

spring-operated adj.

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1881 Sci. Amer. 10 Dec. 374/3 The movement of the pencil is effected by a combination with a loose spur wheel of pinions, a spring operated detent,..and other devices controlling a pencil-carrying rack bar.

1973 E. K. Henriksen Jig & Fixture Design Man. vii. 79/1 Spring-operated ejectors..are insufficient for heavy parts.

2004 Sporting Gun Mar. (Start Shooting! Suppl.) 15/1 When the gun is opened the hammer is re-cocked by way of spring-operated levers.

spring-powered adj.

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1922 Burlington (Iowa) Gaz. 20 Dec. 2/4 (advt.) Of course, there are the spring-powered ones, as well as the electrical trains.

1962 Pop. Mech. Nov. 144/1 For pure fun-shooting, it's as hard to beat the old spring-powered BB gun now as it was 20 years ago.

2007 J. Spencer Guide to Trapping i. 21 Guard-type traps have a spring-powered, U-shaped lever that comes up over the jaws of the trap after it springs.

spring-tempered adj. (of metal) tempered so as to increase elasticity; (of an object) made of a metal so tempered.

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1750 J. Michell Treat. Artific. Magnets 66 From the spring-tempered bars being able to communicate their virtue..it appears how abundantly sufficient the power attained by the soft ones was.

1899 Amer. Electrician 11 520/2 Many makers are adopting a contact made up of the ends of many laminated leaves of spring-tempered copper.

1972 US Patent 3,633,592 3 A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising first and second elongated spring-tempered strips.

2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) xi. 2/2 Made for the professional tradesman, with high quality spring-tempered steel blades.

spring-tined adj. (of a rake, harrow, etc.) equipped with flexible tines; cf. spring tine n. at Compounds 5e.

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1872 Our Monthly Nov. 350/1 She says her Tom is e'en a most tickled to death with that spring-tined pitchfork.

1938 C. Culpin Farm Machinery vii. 95 The spring-tined harrow is a really light cultivator that can be adjusted to produce very variable effects.

2016 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 27 Mar. Remove the material with a spring-tined rake.

c. With verbal nouns, as spring-making, spring-shaping, spring-manufacturing, etc. Chiefly attributive.

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1806 York Herald 4 Oct. 1/1 (advt.) Any young man who is capable of learning Spring-making.

a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 848 Spring Shaping Machine.

1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 151 Two smithies, with over 100 fires, and turning and spring-making shops.

1917 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 22 May 1254/2 Spring-fastening device... A separable fastening device comprising a pair of separable elements.

1920 Locomotive Railway Carriage & Wagon Rev. 15 May 112/1 Too much care cannot be taken in the selection of material, and in the manufacture of punches for spring forging work.

1983 F. J. Riley Assembly Automation vi. 174 Spring winding is still very much an art, a trial and error approach that must be recognized if one attempts to integrate spring manufacturing with assembly.

2015 Craven Herald (Nexis) 2 July Two brand new pieces of spring-making machinery have been purchased to increase production in the larger wire sizes.

d. With agent nouns denoting a person, implement, or organization.

† spring contractor n. Obsolete

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1843 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 6 245 Description of Lieutenant D. Rankine's [Railway] Spring Contractor.

1866 Ann. Rep. Commissioners Patents 1864: Arts & Manuf. I. 951 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (38th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. No. 51) The arrangement and combination of the spring contractor E with the barrel and the magazine provided with a spring and follower, as specified.

spring forger n.

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1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products 356/2 Spring-forgers, workmen in the cutlery trade, who form the spring or piece of steel at the back of clasp and folding pocket-knives.

1992 1990 Census Pop. & Housing (U.S. Bureau of Census) O-96/1 Forging Machine Operators... Spring forger.

spring maker n.

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1675 J. Smith Horol. Dialogues iii. iii. 81 The Work-man is commonly on such occasions blamed, though the fault be none of his, but is rather..the fault of the spring-maker.

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 81 The spring-makers assert that steel of a finer quality would not answer so well.

2015 Black Country Bugle (Nexis) 13 July 21 One of West Bromwich's best known spring makers, in a town that was once full of them.

spring brass n. and adj. (a) n. brass that has been tempered in such a way as to give it greater than usual elasticity; spring tempered brass; (b) adj. made of such brass (now rare).

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1835 Liverpool Mercury 6 Feb. (advt.) Spring Brass Rules.

1852 Sci. Amer. 24 Jan. 148/3 This instrument is made of spring brass and is so arranged that it contracts or expands to any form or size.

1944 Pop. Sci. Monthly May 183/1 Equip this screw with an old radio knob, and insulate it from the spring-brass contact.

2007 U.S. Patent 7,294,782 B2 8 The multi-function clips can be composed of phosphor bronze, spring brass, spring steel or the like.

spring collet n. a tapered collet (collet n.¹ 2a) having one or more slots along its length which allow it to contract or expand under exterior or interior pressure respectively, thereby enabling it to gain a secure hold either upon a shaft inserted into it or against the interior surface of an object into which it is inserted.

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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > parts of > other parts

spring collet1845

post boxa1884

tumbling crank1886

sheave1887

vibration damper1932

taper-lock1954

1845 Trans. Soc. Encouragem. Arts, Manuf. & Commerce 55 37 A spring-collet is placed under the milled head to prevent the body from sliding down by its own weight.

1932 W. P. Turner Machine Tool Work xiii. 290 The clamping lever..is pushed back, which moves the hollow push sleeve..against the end of the spring collet, forcing it into the nose cap, thus closing the collet on the stock and holding it firmly.

2012 P. J. Hoffman et al. Precision Machining Technol. v. ii. 369/1 Spring collets are very accurately ground cylindrical sleeves.

† spring dart n. Mining Obsolete a tool equipped with an arrowhead-shaped tip with hinged projections that are extended outward by one or more springs, used for retrieving lengths of piping from boreholes.

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1781 London Gaz. No. 12216. John Hobson, formerly of Plum-tree-court, late of Feathers-court, both in Holborn, Spring-dart-maker.

1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 232 Spring-dart, an arrow or fish-headed boring tool for extricating a lost implement, or for withdrawing lining tubes.

1910 W. H. Maxwell & J. T. Brown Encycl. Munic. & Sanitary Engin. 52/1 Latch tool for picking up pipes from a bore-hole... Spring dart for same purpose.

spring divider n. (in plural) dividers (divider n. 6(a)) in which the legs are kept apart by a spring, maintaining consistent tension while in use.

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1767 J. Bird Method dividing Astron. Instruments 4 There spring-dividers..will best answer the purpose.

1873 E. Spon Workshop Receipts 1st Ser. 3/1 The differences of the distances..may be measured by spring dividers.

2009 P. Lague Constr. Plant & Equipm. iv. 134 Some of the tools that metalworkers use include a scriber, spring dividers, a centre punch..and second-cut files.

spring floor n. a floor designed to provide a resilient, shock-absorbing surface.

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1781 Morning Chron. 11 Sept. Spring floors and dancing shoes appeared every where.

1895 Strand Mag. Jan. 113/1 In the Hall a spring floor has been laid over the ordinary hard oak boards.

2016 Club Industry (Nexis) 12 July The center has a full-size swimming pool, a fitness room, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms and rooms with wood spring floors for dance classes.

springform n. Cookery a round cake tin with a removable bottom which is held in place by a sprung collar forming the sides; chiefly attributive.

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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > cooking vessel or pot > [noun] > ovenware > tin or pan

bake panc1350

trap?c1390

roaster1649

pattypan1660

cake pan1714

hoop1736

cake tin1771

baking tin?1775

tin1795

bake-kettle1828

bun-pana1845

brick tin1880

springform1902

tourtière1959

1902 N.Y. Times 31 Mar. 4 (advt.) Spring Form Cake-Pans, 45c.

1926 Port Arthur (Texas) News 4 June 8/1 Line the sides and bottom of a small spring form, melon or bundt form with lady fingers.

2016 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 10 July 26 Lightly grease a 25cm (10in) springform cake tin and gently spoon in the cake batter.

spring frame n. a frame that is equipped with springs (or devices which act in a similar manner), typically in order to provide cushioning or suspension; esp. (in later use) (a) the part of a bedstead consisting of a frame in which springs are mounted, used to support the mattress directly; (b) a frame of a bicycle or motorcycle in which the rear portion can pivot vertically, forming part of the suspension.

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1729 S. Switzer Introd. Gen. Syst. Hydrostaticks & Hydraulicks II. xxix. 341 One of the upright Timbers that support the Spring-frame and Pipes join'd to the horizontal Piece.

1884 H. H. Griffin Tricycles Year (Second Ser.) 8 The ‘Spring Frame’ is mainly designed for the less active class of riders.

1898 Canad. Patent Office Rec. May 532/1 In an invalid bed..a jointed spring frame supported upon said main frame.

2005 M. Walker Manx Norton ii. 37 Although there had been spring frames before, to obtain the best results he believed that the main-frame and rear-wheel springing had to be designed as a whole.

2015 Scottish Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Mar. 60 The spring frame slipped between the two side support angles, landed on the floor and folded up, with the young couple in the bed.

spring heel n. a heel consisting of a single slip of leather inserted just above the sole; (in later use figurative) elasticity or springiness of movement, esp. in running or jumping.

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1794 London Chron. 15 May 466/2 Cherry coloured satin shoes, whith [sic] spring heels.

1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 194d/2 Chocolate Goat Button, made with spring heel, new opera toe with tip.

1952 M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke viii. 140 ‘He's got nerve.’..‘Likewise spring heels and rubber bones.’

2016 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 2 Mar. 46 Taylor then took his tally for the season to 17 when showing spring heels in the six-yard box on 38 minutes to end an eye-catching move.

Spring-heeled Jack n. (also Spring-heel Jack) now historical a legendary figure with an exceptional ability in running and jumping, enabling him to escape from the scene of various robberies and assaults; (in later use) a highwayman.The first sighting of this putative figure was reported in London in 1837 and he allegedly appeared numerous times until the early 20th cent.; he was never apprehended. He was particularly associated with attacks on coaches, or for appearing in gentlemanly disguise to young women and then frightening them by revealing his claw-like hands and fiery breath.

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the world > movement > bodily movement > [noun] > qualities of bodily movement > elasticity > person

Spring-heeled Jack1838

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > [noun] > highwayman

routerc1300

malandryna1438

stradarolle1562

highpad1567

highway robber1577

way-beatera1586

lance-man1589

high lawyer1591

St. Nicholas' clerk1598

outrider1599

bidstand1600

land-pirate1608

highwayman1617

pad1652

knight of the road1665

rum-padder1665

paddist1671

rum pad1688

pad-thief1690

gentleman (also squire) of the pad1700

snaffler1728

gentleman1778

scamp1782

scampsman1799

bandolero1832

ladrone1832

Spring-heeled Jack1838

road agent1840

agent1876

1838 Penny Satirist 20 Jan. 2/2 All the world had..heard of the London Ghost, who is known in the suburbs, by the name of ‘Spring-heeled Jack’.

1838 Satirist 25 Feb. 57/1 The performances will commence with Bertram... After which, Spring-heel Jack.

1946 F. Clune Try Nothing Twice 21 The bunger burst with a deafening roar and John Chinaman..jumped like Spring-heel Jack.

2006 Independent 10 Oct. (Extra section) 7/1 Some of the mythical figures in the book were petrifying. Like Spring-Heeled Jack, who terrorised Londoners in the 1830s.

spring lathe n. a lathe in which the work is turned by a cord passing round it, the cord being fastened at one end to the end of an elastic pole and at the other to a treadle; = pole-lathe n. at pole n.¹ Compounds 2.

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1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. II. 209/2 Common spring lathe.

1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 323 The turner giving the rotation by means of the treadle and spring-lath attached to the ceiling.

2002 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 19 Sept. (Home ed.) (Cherokee section) 2 jq Participants can build a spring lathe, the principal spindle-turning lathe used for furniture making in Appalachia.

spring-load v. transitive (a) to equip with a spring-loaded mechanism, to make spring-loaded (also figurative); (b) Finance (chiefly U.S.) to grant (a stock option) prior to the release of a positive story about the company whose stock is being sold, so that the value of the option increases immediately after issue (cf. spring-loading n. (b)).

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1914 Motor Boating Feb. 13/1 The most satisfactory results will be obtained by spring loading the controls with a light coil spring so set as to be in tension under all conditions of lever setting.

1978 T. Monroe How to rebuild Small-Block Ford Engines 105/2 (caption) The expander fits behind the two rails to spring-load them against the cylinder bore.

1997 D. Carradine & D. Nakahara Introd. Chi Kung 115 The facial expression will often have an angry look. It's as if the sufferer of excess liver energy is ‘spring loaded’ and ready to burst.

2004 Irish Times (Nexis) 15 Jan. 4 The Quays Bar..undertook..to springload doors so they could not stay open.

2010 Univ. Pennsylvania Law Rev. 158 1937 Executives have particularly strong incentives to springload option grants.

spring-loaded adj. (of a tool, device, etc.) operating by means of a compressed or stretched spring acting on one or more components.

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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [adjective] > parts of

take-off1869

spring-loaded1871

retractile1879

gadgety1934

1871 Rochester (Indiana) Sentinel 23 Sept. The lock-up safety-valves herein provided for shall, in their mechanism, employ but one lever, or spring-loaded valve.

1938 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. 29 40 A spring-loaded pencil..made a record on a sheet of graph paper.

2014 Sunday Star-Times (Auckland, N.Z.) (Nexis) 28 Sept. 12 When Monkey [sc. the stallion] wasn't showing off, he was pulling his Houdini act, somehow escaping the spring-loaded locks on his gate.

spring-loading n. (a) a spring-loaded system or mechanism; (also) the action or fact of equipping something with such a mechanism; (b) Finance (chiefly U.S.) the granting of a stock option prior to the release of a positive news story about the company whose stock is being sold, so that the value of the option increases immediately after issue.

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1925 Financial Times 4 May 9/5 Torque is taken by a member of the box section, made of steel pressings, and is hinged and ball jointed with spring-loading at the forward end.

1961 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 23 Dec. 1674/1 There is reason to believe that the Heidbrink valve, even with the minimum spring-loading possible, allows a degree of rebreathing while the Ruben valve does not.

2002 Wall St. Jrnl. 4 June c 2 Mr. McGee said Tyco has never ‘manipulated the cash flow or earnings of companies we acquire for the purpose of spring-loading, or getting better results after the acquisition’.

2012 Yale Law & Policy Rev. 30 524 Although springloading is not necessarily a form of insider trading..it can accomplish similar results.

spring power n. †(a) the capacity or power to spring back into shape or position after compression, bending, etc.; = sense 13 (obsolete rare); (b) the capacity of a spring to do work; frequently attributive, designating devices powered by a spring.

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1662 H. More Antidote against Atheism (ed. 3) ii. ii. §10 in Coll. Philos. Writings (ed. 2) Which Pressure (as in all flexible Bodies that have a Spring-power in them) is perpetual.

1827 U.S. Tel. 23 Apr. 3/5 (advt.) A Spring-power Washing Machine.

1873 Eng. Mechanic 18 July 448/1 The objection to spring-power is its short duration.

1961 Pop. Mech. July 195/1 (advt.) A new Kodak 35mm camera..has a spring-power film drive and automatic electric eye.

2010 L. Penman Clock Repairer's Handbk. ii. 39/1 Gently let the chuck wind back under spring power until the spring is tight in the barrel.

spring punch n. a punch (punch n.¹ 3a) which recoils after each stroke by means of a spring.

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1846 Preston Chron. & Lancs. Advertiser 9 May 8/2 Mr. Leach also stated, that..his shop was again broken open, and a spring punch, a number of boots and shoes, and a great quantity of leather stolen and taken away.

a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 853/1 Staple Fastener, a spring punch for driving and clinching a staple against an anvil block beneath.

2011 Spokesman Rev. (Spokane, Washington) (Nexis) 17 July e1 I had to use a spring punch to make the scales (on the steel plate).

spring rate n. Mechanics a spring's resistance to compression or extension, typically expressed as the load required to produce a deflection of unit length; = rate n.¹ 11.

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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [noun] > part of > spring > quality of

spring rate1914

rate1944

1914 Inst. Mech. Engineers: Proc. 49 Owing to the very heavy spring rate necessary for gas-engine indicating, a very slight distortion would make a great difference to the indicated horse-power.

1944 Jrnl. Sci. Instruments 21 195/1 The spring rate, S, of the system of four mountings may be expressed in terms of the dynamic compression modulus of elasticity of the rubber.

2005 Wired Nov. 149/1 (advt.) Spring rates and stabilizer bars have been tuned for high-performance handling.

spring release adj. and n. (a) adj. comprising or containing a release mechanism which operates by means of a spring (cf. sense 25); (b) n. a release mechanism which operates by means of a spring.

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1909 Times 1 Oct. 16/3 The ordinary arrangement of pressure supply from the exhaust through a spring release valve.

1911 Washington Post 4 Nov. 1/5 The spring release to the trap door will be dropped with weights in order that the execution may not be halted by mechanical blunders.

1931 Movie Makers Feb. 88/1 The spring release is so arranged that the camera stops at all times with the shutter closed.

1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 925/2 Two spring-release traps.

1987 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) (Machinery & Chemicals Special Suppl.) 17 Mar. The bale is closed against a ratchet catch, with a trigger-operated spring release.

2002 Org. Life May 60/3 Flan Case: Line a..spring-release tin with Baking Parchment.

spring reverb n. a device that produces a reverb effect by means of a transducer causing one or more springs to vibrate in response to an audio signal, these vibrations being converted into a second audio signal which is then mixed with the original.

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1965 Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe 18 Dec. 9/4 Danelectro spring reverb—$20.

1978 Contemp. Keyboard July 53/1 While seemingly primitive, the possibilities of spring reverb have barely been exploited.

2007 A. U. Case Sound FX xi. 312 A steel string acoustic guitar might be made to sound a bit brighter still through judicious use of spring reverb.

2017 A. Pejrolo & S. B. Metcalfe Creating Sounds from Scratch iii. 80 Spring reverbs have been installed in guitar amplifiers for many years.

spring sail n. now historical a type of sail on a windmill consisting of a series of shutters attached at one end to a single bar or rod, with the force required to open them being determined by a spring attached to each sail.The spring sail was invented by the Scottish millwright Andrew Meikle in 1772.

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society > occupation and work > equipment > mills > [noun] > windmill > sail > type of

spring sail1835

spring sweep1919

patent sail1924

fan-tail1934

1835 Ipswich Jrnl. 2 May (advt.) The property consists of two spacious post windmills..with spring sails, round-house, and extensive stowage for corn.

1931 S. P. B. Mais England of Windmills p. xxiv The spring sail is made up of wooden shutters, or a canvas-covered wire frame, hinged at one edge and connected to a common sail-rod so that they all open or shut simultaneously.

2015 Scunthorpe Tel. (Nexis) 10 Sept. 50 This [sc. post mill]..worked until the 1940s, when it had four spring sails, before becoming derelict.

spring saw n. now historical and rare a small fine-toothed hand saw having a long, flexible blade, used for fine or intricate work.

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1587 in M. A. Havinden Househ. & Farm Inventories Oxfordshire (1965) 244 A wimble a spring sawe a compas sawe & a hande sawe.

1778 Life T. Boulter 57 A certain sum to procure some spring saws.

2005 F. H. Casstevens Out of Mouth of Hell 150 Three steel frames for using spring saws, and 35 saws of steel or iron were found.

springside adj. and n. (a) adj. designating a boot or shoe with elasticated side panels which allow it to be pulled on and off easily (cf. sense 29); (b) n. (usually in plural) a boot or shoe having such elasticated sides.

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1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. II. 527/2 Ladies' white tabinet and black satin spring-side boots and dress shoes.

1870 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 15 Oct. 5/2 The boots were a pair of springsides and were not heavy ones.

1921 W. de la Mare Mem. Midget viii. 48 She, too, was in black, with a long, springside boot.

1961 Times 7 Oct. 9/7 ‘Spring sides’ certainly lasted long after the Victorian era... Zip fastened boots (liable to come undone) were not a patch on them.

2011 B. Petersen P. Jackson iv. 101 Finally Smith appeared wearing a white flannel jersey. Under this he wore..white spring-side boots and white breeches.

spring spike n. now historical and rare a metal rod with a spring attached half way down its length, used to temporarily disable a cannon or other artillery piece by being inserted into the touch hole; cf. spike n.² 1b.The spring is compressed manually during insertion and expands once it has passed through the touch hole, making it difficult to remove.

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1803 Morning Chron. 16 Aug. 19 serviceable Spring Spikes, for Garrison Guns.

1871 G. E. Voyle Dict. Artillery Terms (ed. 2) Spring spike, in artillery, a spike with a spring attached to it, used for rendering a gun temporarily unserviceable.

1981 A. J. B. Johnston Defending Halifax 101 The equipment lists are virtually the same, with the only difference being in the length of the spring spikes.

spring stay n. Nautical (now chiefly historical and rare) a stay (stay n.¹ 1a) fitted almost parallel to a mainstay in order to reinforce it and act as a fail-safe should it break, typically being of a lighter construction than a mainstay.

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1745 P. Durell Log 20 May in J. S. McLennan Louisbourg (1918) x. 177 Ye fore Spring Stay was Shott away.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Spring-Stays, are rather smaller than the stays, and are placed above them, being intended as substitutes should the main one be shot away.

1983 J. E. Garland Down to Sea xii. 192 (caption) There will be hell to pay if the fore gaff swings over and the topsail jams against both the maintopmast stay and the triatic, or spring stay, between the fore and main mast caps.

spring steel n. and adj. (a) n. steel that has been tempered in such a way as to give it greater than usual elasticity; spring tempered steel; (b) adj. made from such steel.

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1707 Daily Courant 22 Oct. Dropt last Sunday..a Silver Watch-Chain, with a Spring Steel Seal and Key.

1773 J. Ferguson Select Mech. Exercises 162/1 An hundred pound weight of pure fine Gold is equal in bulk to..39.8 of Spring Steel.

2000 P. Sweeney Gunsmithing: Shotguns xvii. 257/2 The bronze ring is segmented on its inside face, and has a spring steel clip-ring around it.

2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) ix. 59/2 The robust plastic case houses 15 metres of flexible spring steel.

† spring sweep n. Obsolete rare = spring sail n.

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society > occupation and work > equipment > mills > [noun] > windmill > sail > type of

spring sail1835

spring sweep1919

patent sail1924

fan-tail1934

1919 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 187 178 In some cases these shutters worked against the tension of a spring instead of the pull of a weight, and such were known as Meikle's ‘spring sweeps’.

1924 Trans. Newcomen Soc. 1922–3 3 50 It was desired to fit patent sail regulation instead of ‘spring’ or ‘sail’ sweeps.

spring temper n. a temper (temper n. 5) in which the metal concerned has greater elasticity than is typical; cf. spring-tempered adj. at Compounds 5b(b).

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?1714 F. Hauksbee Course Mech., Optical, Hydrostatical, & Pneumatic Exper. Table Specifick Gravities Steel... Soft... Hard... Spring Temper.

a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. III. 2061/2 They are polished, and then brought to ‘spring temper’ by heating.

2003 L. K. Gillespie Hand Deburring xx. 243/2 When drawn to spring temper, as used in brushes, [stainless-steel] wire from all heats of type 302 can be attracted to a magnet by varying degrees.

spring-tight adj. and adv. (a) adv. so as to be tight enough to exert a secure grip, but sufficiently loose as to allow movement under sufficient pressure; (b) adj. that is tight enough to exert a secure grip, but sufficiently loose as to allow movement under sufficient pressure.

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1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 302/1 Upon that part of the arbor..which is on the outside of the plate or frame is placed the cannon-pinion.., which has a hole quite through it for the reception of the centre-wheel arbor, on which it turns spring-tight.

1883 Amateur Mech. Oct. 183/1 In French clocks with visible escapements there is one item that requires especial attention—the spring-tight collet.

2002 U.S. Patent 6,358,181 B1 23 The upper part of the sheet metal holder with the body portion 303 and the leg 302 can thus be held spring-tight in one of the channel openings.

2011 U.S. Patent 2011/0168227 A1 3/2 Releasing the upward pressure on the redirection bracket..also creates a spring tight pressure seal.

spring tine n. (in a harrow, rake, etc.) a tine having greater flexibility than is typical.

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1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1868 I. 835/1 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 52, Pt. 1) X To each ear a spring tine is secured by an axial bolt fastening.

1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 49 The simple spring tine as first introduced on the Canadian cultivator had not sufficient strength.

2000 Farmers Weekly 18 Feb. 76/4 The implement offers a 4m working width and consists of track eradicators, levelling board, slatted roller, four rows of spring tines and a crosskill roller at the rear.

spring-type adj. (of a part of a mechanism, an apparatus, etc.) having the form or movement of a spring.

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1921 Pop. Mech. Sept. 449/2 (caption) Spring-type oil-hole cover.

1973 Pop. Sci. Feb. 146/2 When up to four strips are in place, put a spring-type clothes pin on top and bottom strips and wind a rubber band around the two pins to squeeze them together.

2013 T. Pisano Build your own Beekeeping Equipm. vi.71 All you really need are the spring-type gate handles that will keep tension on the wires.

spring work n. †(a) (perhaps) plants that are in bloom, considered collectively (obsolete rare); (b) a system or arrangement of springs forming part of a mechanism, device, etc.Quot. a1646 is an excerpt from a description of a garden designed to act as a map of a geographical area.

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a1646 J. Gregory Posthuma (1649) 329 The Towns, Villages, Castles, or other remarkable Edifices, in small green mossie Banks, or Spring-work proportional to the Platform.

1675 E. Sherburne in tr. M. Manilius Sphere App. 86 He..caused to be made for that hopeful Prince, a large Sphere with curious Movements, which by the help of Spring-Work, not only represented the Motion of the whole Celestial Sphere, but shewed likewise the Particular Systems of the Sun and Moon, and their Circular motions.

1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 523 This locking..has only the advantage..of being firmer, and less liable to be out of repair, than any locking where spring-work is used.

2008 C. Kimball 55 Surefire Homebased Businesses 160 Furniture is comprised of four basic components: the framework, a spring system, the padding that covers the spring work to make it comfortable, and the covering.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

springn.²

Brit.

/sprɪŋ/, U.S.

/sprɪŋ/

Forms: Middle English–1500s spryng, Middle English–1500s sprynge, 1500s– spring.

Origin: Apparently formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring v.¹

Etymology: Apparently < spring v.¹Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French espringuer , Old French, Middle French espringuier to dance (13th cent; < a Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch springhen to leap, to dance: see spring v.¹) and Old French (Picardy) espringhe (noun) dance (13th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation). Compare also early modern Dutch sprong dance step, dance (1613), Middle Low German sprunc dance step, kind of dance, both specific uses of a noun with the sense ‘act of leaping’, reflecting the Germanic noun base (with zero-grade) regularly corresponding to the verbal base of spring v.¹ (compare forms cited at spring n.¹). Compare further the related foreign-language words for a dancer cited at springer n.¹

†1. A kind of lively dance. Obsolete. rare. Middle Eng. Dict. interprets quot. c1475 as showing an otherwise unattested sense ‘a group (of lechers)’ (perhaps cf. spring n.¹ 7), but it seems more likely to belong here.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > other dances > [noun]

dance of Macabre?c1430

springc1450

lege de moya1529

bobc1550

lusty gallant1569

duret1613

fading1613

huckler1617

ground-measure1621

entry1631

slatter de pouchc1640

ballo1651

Irish trot1651

omnium gatheruma1652

clutterdepouch1652

upspring1654

passacaglia1659

shuffle1659

passacaille1667

flip-flap1676

chaconne1685

charmer1702

Cheshire-round1706

Louvre1729

stick dance1730

white joke1730

baby dance1744

Nancy Dawson1766

fricassee1775

bumpkin1785

Totentanz1789

Flora('s) dance1790

goombay1790

egg-dance1801

supper dance1820

Congo dance1823

slip-jig1829

bran-dance1833

roly-poly1833

Congo1835

mazy1841

furry1848

bull-dance1855

stampede1856

double-shuffling1859

frog dance1863

hokee-pokee1873

plait dance1876

slow dancing1884

snake dance1895

beast dance1900

soft-shoe1900

cakewalk1902

floral dance1911

snake dance1911

apache dance1912

grizzly bear1912

jazz dance1917

jazz dancing1917

jazz1919

wine-dance1920

camel-walk1921

furry dance1928

snake-dance1931

pas d'action1936

trance dancing1956

touch dance1965

hokey-cokey1966

moonwalk1969

moonwalking1983

Crip Walk1989

mapantsula1990

c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 1235 Pipers of alle Duche tonge To lerne loue Daunces, sprynges, Reus, and these straunge thynges.

c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 747 (MED) Now Meyntnance and Perjury Hathe schewyde þe trace of þer cumpeny, Ye xall se a sprynge of Lechery, þat to me attende.

a. A tune, esp. a quick or lively one, played on the bagpipes or other musical instrument; a dance tune. Chiefly Scottish (now rare).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > dance music > [noun]

springa1475

dance1509

ballo1825

a1475 Friar & Boy (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 58 (MED) Y dyd ryȝt noȝt to hym to day, But pyped hym a spryng.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice l. 144 in Poems (1981) 136 Him to reios ȝit playit he a spryng.

?1596 J. Burel To Duke of Lenox sig. L3 Thair wes the Hautbois and the Harpe, Playing maist sweit and pleasant springs.

a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffff2^v/1 We will meet him, and strike him such new Springs, and such free welcoms, shall make him scorn an Empire [etc.].

1699 ‘Lady of Honour’ Golden Island 6 The Harp play'd us a pleasant spring, and Neptune took a dance.

1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i. 7 Gie's a bonny Spring; For I'm in Tift to hear you play and sing.

1788 E. Picken Poems & Epist. 17 Frae the sprigs, the sylvan quire War liltan up their early spring.

a1835 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 351 Let me strengthen my heart with ae spring on my pipes before I venture.

1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxv. 257 Robin took the pipes and played a little spring in a very ranting manner.

1922 J. Firth Reminisc. Orkney Parish (new ed.) 133 Doun wi' the fiddle an' play me a spring.

1979 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. 68/1 Reck du me fiddle doon, an I'se play you twartree springs.

b. Scottish. figurative and in figurative contexts. Frequently in to take a spring of one's own fiddle and variants: to do things one's own way; to do what one pleases. Now archaic and rare.

ΚΠ

1568 H. Charteris in D. Lindsay Wks. Pref. sig. +ii^v Sic ane spring he gaif yame in the play, playit besyde Edinburgh, in presence of the Quene Regent.

1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxviii. 21 Bot now Prouest Marschell in playing this spring;..Beleuis thow this trumprie sall stablische thy style?

1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 919 But since ye thinkt an easie thing To mount above the moone Of your owne fiddle take a spring And dance when yee have done.

1637 S. Rutherford Let. 16 June (1848) clxxxi. 349 Christ..will give you leave to sing as you please, but he will not dance to your daft spring.

1686 G. Stuart Joco-serious Disc. ii. 27 Experience will this unriddle; Sae take a Spring of thine awn Fiddle.

1786 R. Burns Poems 220 I've play'd mysel a bonie spring, An' danc'd my fill!

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 273 Ou, sir, if the gentleman likes he may play his ain spring first; it's a' ane to Dandie.

1933 Musical Q. 19 387 He's made his bed, let him lie on it. Let him take a spring of his own fiddle and dance to it when he has done.

†c. Scottish. In various phrases. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 254 Auld springs gevis na price.

1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 20 Another would play a Spring, e're you tune your Pipes.

1834 P. Buchan Peterhead Smugglers ii. i. 24 Old songs, like old springs, gie nae price.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

† springn.³

Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: springe n.

Etymology: Apparently a regional variant of springe n., perhaps showing failure of palatalization and assibilation, or perhaps resulting from association with (ultimately cognate) spring n.¹ V. Compare Dutch spring snare, trap (1598 as spreng; obsolete in this sense).

Obsolete (English regional (chiefly northern) in later use).

A snare, noose, or trap. Also figurative.With the use in quot. 1604, with reference to the trapping of a foolish or gullible person, cf. springe n. 2a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]

grinc825

trapa1000

snarea1100

swikea1100

granea1250

springec1275

gina1300

gnarea1325

stringc1325

trebuchet1362

latch?a1366

leashc1374

snarlc1380

foot gina1382

foot-grina1382

traina1393

sinewa1400

snatcha1400

foot trapa1425

haucepyc1425

slingc1425

engine1481

swar1488

frame1509

brakea1529

fang1535

fall trap1570

spring1578

box-trapa1589

spring trapa1589

sprint1599

noosec1600

springle1602

springe1607

toil1607

plage1608

deadfall1631

puppy snatch1650

snickle1681

steel trap1735

figure (of) four1743

gun-trap1749

stamp1788

stell1801

springer1813

sprent1822

livetrap1823

snaphance1831

catch pole1838

twitch-up1841

basket-trap1866

pole trap1879

steel fall1895

tread-trap1952

conibear trap1957

conibear1958

1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Insidias auibus moliri..To lay springs to catch birdes.

1604 N. Breton Grimellos Fortunes in Wks. (1879) II. 10/1 To make a meanes, by which to catch this Wood-cocke in a fine spring.

1621 F. Quarles Hadassa xiv. Medit. sig. K4 The rau'ning Fox, that did annoyance bring Vnto thy Vineyard, 's taken in a Spring.

1648 C. Walker Relations & Observ. ii. 129 This engine..is better then any spring or trap to catch any active Presbyterian.

1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Lark Country People..make use of Springs..to take Larks with.

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 153 My friend, justice Buzzard, has set so many springs for my life.

1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) Spring,..a snare.

1886 H. Cunliffe Gloss. Rochdale-with-Rossendale Words & Phrases Spring, a springe-snare.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2019).

springv.¹

Brit.

/sprɪŋ/, U.S.

/sprɪŋ/

Inflections: Past tense sprang, (chiefly U.S.) sprung; past participle sprung;

Forms: 1. Present stem Old English sprincgan (in prefixed forms), Old English sprincð (3rd singular indicative), Old English springan, Old English spryngan (rare), late Old English sprinð (in prefixed forms), late Old English (in prefixed forms)–early Middle English sprinþ (3rd singular present indicative), early Middle English springenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English springue, early Middle English sprinke, Middle English sprenge, Middle English springge, Middle English spryngge, Middle English sprynghe, Middle English spyngeþ (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), Middle English–1500s spryng, Middle English–1500s sprynge, Middle English–1600s springe, Middle English– spring, late Middle English spriggyng (present participle, transmission error), late Middle English spruget (south-western plural present indicative, transmission error), late Middle English spyng (transmission error), late Middle English spyngeth (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), late Middle English spyringe, 1500s sprinis (Scottish, 3rd singular present indicative), 1500s spryneth (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), 1500s–1600s springen (archaic), 1700s sprink (nonstandard, in sense Phrases 4a). 2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). Originally 1st and 3rd singular indicative.

α. Old English spranc (rare), Old English– sprang, late Old English sprancg (in prefixed forms), late Old English spræng (in prefixed forms), early Middle English (1500s transmission error) sparng, Middle English spran, Middle English spranke, Middle English–1600s sprange, Middle English (1800s Scottish (north-eastern)) sprank, late Middle English spranga (transmission error), 1500s spraynge.

β. Old English–1600s sprong, early Middle English sprog (transmission error), early Middle English sprongue, Middle English sponge (transmission error), Middle English spron, Middle English spronghe, Middle English–1600s spronge, Middle English–1600s sproong; N.E.D. (1915) also records a form Middle English spronk.

γ. Middle English–1600s sprunge, 1500s– sprung, 1700s– sprunk (nonstandard, esp. in sense Phrases 4a).

δ. Middle English sperng, Middle English sprenge, Middle English (1800s English regional (Yorkshire)) spreng.

(ii.) Plural.

α. Old English sprungan (in prefixed forms), Old English sprungon, Old English sprungun (in prefixed forms), Old English sprungyn (in prefixed forms, rare), late Old English sprungæn (Kentish, in prefixed forms), Middle English sprungen.

β. Middle English sprongen, Middle English sprongyn.

γ. late Middle English sprangen.

b. Weak.

α. Middle English sprynged, Middle English spryngede, 1500s–1600s (1800s–1900s English regional) springed.

β. English regional 1800s sprunged.

3. Past participle. a. Strong.

α. Old English gesprungen (rare), Old English spruncen (in prefixed forms (not ge-); rare), Old English (in prefixed forms (not ge-))–Middle English sprungen, early Middle English isprounge, early Middle English isproungue, early Middle English sprungenn ( Ormulum), Middle English isprunge, Middle English isprungen, Middle English sproungyn, Middle English sprungyn, Middle English ysprunge, Middle English ysprungen, Middle English–1600s sprunge, 1500s sproungen, 1500s 1700s isprung (archaic), 1500s– sprung, 1700s– sprunk (nonstandard, esp. in sense Phrases 4a), 1700s ysprung (archaic), 1800s sprungn (English regional); also Scottish pre-1700 sproung, pre-1700 sprungin, pre-1700 sprungyn, pre-1700 spruning.

β. early Middle English sprond, Middle English hyspronge, Middle English isprong, Middle English ispronge, Middle English isprongge, Middle English sprongene, Middle English sprongne, Middle English sprongon, Middle English sprongun, Middle English yspronge, Middle English ysprongen, Middle English ysprongyne, Middle English–1500s sprongen, Middle English–1500s sprongyn, Middle English (1500s archaic) (1700s archaic) ysprong, Middle English–1600s sprong, Middle English–1600s spronge, late Middle English spongge (transmission error), late Middle English sprongyng (perhaps transmission error), 1500s–1600s sproong; Scottish pre-1700 sprong, pre-1700 sprongin, pre-1700 sprongyn, pre-1700 spronnge.

γ. late Middle English spryngen; Scottish pre-1700 spring, pre-1700 springin, pre-1700 spryng.

δ. 1600s–1800s sprang.

b. Weak.

α. late Middle English sprynged, 1500s–1600s (1800s English regional) springed.

β. 1800s asprung'd (English regional (south-western)).

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian springa (West Frisian springe), Old Dutch -springen (in ouerspringen; Middle Dutch, Dutch springen), Old Saxon springan (Middle Low German springen), Old High German springan (Middle High German, German springen), Old Icelandic springa, Old Swedish, Swedish springa, Old Danish springæ (Danish springe), further etymology uncertain.Further etymology. The Germanic verb is perhaps < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek σπέρχομαι to hurry and (with different ablaut: zero-grade) Sanskrit spṛh to be eager, although this poses phonological problems. Another possibility is that it could be < the same Indo-European base as Lithuanian sprengėti to throttle and (in prefixed derivatives) Russian naprjagat′ , Polish sprężać , Bulgarian zaprjagam , all in sense ‘to strain, to tighten’, although this poses semantic problems. A further possibility is that it could be < the same Indo-European base as classical Latin spargere to sprinkle, scatter (see sparse v.). Related forms in other languages. Compare Old French espringuer to dance ( < Old Dutch: see spring n.²), and (hence) also Occitan espingar to kick one's legs, Italian spingare to dance, springare to kick one's legs (both early 14th cent.). Use in Old English. In Old English a strong verb of Class III. The verb is intransitive in Old English; for the later development of transitive uses compare sprenge v. (originally the corresponding causative form). In Old English the prefixed form gespringan (compare y- prefix) is also attested, chiefly in intransitive senses corresponding to those of the unprefixed verb, as ‘to flow (suddenly or violently), to spurt or burst out, to fly, to spread, to arise’, but occasionally in transitive use, as ‘(of rumour) to reach (a person) by spreading, to cause (streams) to flow’; compare also aspringan aspring v., ætspringan atspring v., geondspringan to spread abroad (compare yond prep.), onspringan to flow forth, to well up, to bound, leap, to shatter, tōspringan to-spring v., upspringan upspring v. The unprefixed verb is attested noticeably less frequently than aspringan aspring v., which is attested earlier in senses corresponding to senses 3, 10, and 29. Specific senses. In use with reference to sprinkling (see sense 4) probably influenced by sprenge v. and springe v.¹, and sometimes difficult to distinguish from the latter. Compare further bespring v. and bespreng v., and also sprinkle v.² and springle v.¹ With the Middle English form sprenge compare Middle Dutch sprengen and Middle Low German sprengen , occasional variants of the words cited above (semantically distinct from the forms cited at sprenge v.).

I. To flow or rise and related senses.

a. intransitive. Of a liquid (esp. blood, tears, or sweat): to flow suddenly or violently, esp. in a jet or stream; to pour or spurt out; to gush. Also of fire, flame, sparks: to leap or fly out. Chiefly with forth, out, or from.In use with application to fire or flames sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 8a(a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > suddenly

springeOE

outleaplOE

outspring?a1200

loukc1275

start?1316

bursta1325

to start outa1382

out-braida1400

sprentc1400

thringa1500

flush1548

flunge1582

protrude1626

explode1840

flounce1865

plunge1891

dartle1893

the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > squirt or issue in a jet [verb (intransitive)] > out

springeOE

squizzle1856

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > eject

warpc1000

wreaka1300

out-throwa1393

excludec1400

shootc1400

spitc1400

deliver?a1425

outflingc1450

springc1480

bolka1522

vomit1552

spurge1582

out-braid1586

hurl1590

cast1601

spew1605

eject1607

ejaculate1609

spew1610

to cast out1611

throw1625

eructate1632

gullop1646

explode1660

to throw off1660

belch1668

eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxxv. 150 Sete on þone nægl wið þa wearta, sleah þonne þæt þæt blod springe ut.

OE Beowulf (2008) 2966 Him for swenge swat ædrum sprong forð under fexe.

OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 25 Aug. (2013) 166 Ða eagan wæron swylce fyren iren, ond [him] sprungon spearcan of þam muðe.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) 900 Þet ter sprong ut, mid te dunt, milc imenget wið blod.

c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 556 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 17 Þat blod sprong out with gret strem, þo weren þe schrewes a-gaste.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 6187 Of þe helmes þat fur sprong out, vor hii were stronge beye.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 9102 His body [to] driue. nakid wiþ skourges þorou þat þrange. out of his bak þe blode sprange.

c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) l. 1907 (MED) Swych strokes þey gon dyȝte Þat sparkes sprong out.

c1480 (a1400) St. Nicholas 581 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 497 Of his body oyle cane spryng, þat helful wes til al sare thing.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 150 in Poems (1981) 137 The bludy teres sprang out of his eyne.

1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iii. f. 34^v The bloud sprang out a pace, and eke their backe did swell and whealeWith multitude of stripes.

1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania ii. 173 One hee wounded in the body to death, the other with a blow on the head, the blood springing out of his eyes, nose, and eares in greatest aboundance choked him.

1685 tr. T. Willis London Pract. Physick xiii. 612 The Blood sprang forth so copiously from the left-Nostril, that, being received into a Bason, it made vast Bubbles by its fall.

1700 E. Ward Dancing-school 6 They could not have prov'd a Sourer Nosegay, than what sprang out of the Pores of the Melting Assembly.

1777 Whole Proc. Jockey & Maggy (rev. ed.) ii. 9 She recklesly came o'er his lobster neb a drive wi' the laddle until the blood sprang out.

a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in Posthumous Poems (1824) 403 And near us, see, sparks spring out of the ground.

1888 America 18 Oct. 7/1 The blood sprang forth staining both men as they fell to the ground.

1921 A. Lowell Legends 167 Dang! went the bell, and the lady hearkened—once, twice, thrice—and her tears sprang forth.

1951 A. Seton Foxfire x. 201 Suddenly sweat sprang out on his forehead, and glistened on his pallid cheeks.

2006 M. G. Santos Inside iii. 24 Blood springs out in spurts as the man tries to run away.

†b. intransitive. figurative and in figurative or similative contexts. To flow or gush, esp. in the manner of blood. Chiefly with out. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 287 Herodes..was i-tormented wiþ..wormes þat welled þat sprang out of his prive harneys [L. vermescentibus testiculis].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1600 Þis word out of his hert sprang.

a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 299 Yf ony word hym hadde sprong, That men myght here of his tong.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. xxvi. 19 The leprosy spronge out of his foreheade in the presence of the prestes.

†c. intransitive. To flow or gush with blood. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > discharge or flux > discharge [verb (intransitive)] > bleed > flow of blood

railc1390

well1532

springc1540

outbleed1596

c1540 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xxii. 125 Þe wound þat was springand with huge stremes of blude [L. manantem cruore].

1642 J. Nicholas News from Kingdom of Poland 5 It being thought a sport amongst the Turks, to rip up womens bellies with their Scimitaries, and to carrie young children upon the top of their Launces, springing with bloud.

1652 A. Ross Hist. World sig. Pppp A Well springs with blood fifteen days.

1725 W. Benson tr. Virgil Husbandry: 1st Bk. 48 Nor were the Victims wanting to forbode Impending Fate; Or Wells to spring with Blood.

†2.

(a) intransitive. Of fame, news, a rumour, etc.: to spread, to disseminate; to become known. Frequently with wide. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current

springOE

spreadc1300

to go abouta1325

quicka1400

risea1400

runa1400

walkc1400

stir1423

voice1429

fly1480

to go abroad1513

to come abroad1525

wandera1547

divulge1604

to get abroad1615

to take aira1616

to make (also do) the rounds1669

to get about1740

reach1970

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. ix. 26 Exiit fama haec in uniuersam terram illam : geeade uel spranc mersung ðas..in alle eorðo ða ilco [OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus þes hlisa sprang ofer eall þæt land].

OE Beowulf (2008) 18 Beowulf [probably read Beow] wæs breme—blæd wide sprang—Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 127 Ðo sprong þe word of his holi liflode wide into þe londe.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3141 Of hire wisdome sprong [c1300 Otho sprang] þat word wide.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 22 His name, it sprong wel wide.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1921 (MED) Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, Sprong out to every mannes Ere.

1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 1 (MED) Grete rumour sprang in the people.

a1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Tanner 346) (1878) l. 74 Thorow oute the worlde so gan hyr name sprynge That her to se had euery wighte likynge.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 73 in Poems (1981) 134 His noble fame so far it sprang and grewe.

1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Love in W. W. Skeat Chaucerian & Other Pieces (1897) 21 (MED) False wordes springen so wyde by the stering of false lying tonges.

c1550 Clariodus (1830) v. 1254 Out throw the world springin is ȝour name.

c1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 11 That of thy fame nothing as ȝit be sprong Into the cuntrie.

(b) transitive. To cause (fame, reputation, etc.) to spread. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) ix. l. 215 (MED) Myn entent is Thyn honour to sprynge And iugement.

a1500 (a1471) G. Ashby Active Policy Prince l. 747 in Poems (1899) 36 (MED) Your seruauntes wol bere oute your fame..And renowne your glorious & goode name, Spryngyng it for the to eueryche degree.

b. intransitive. Of a scent or smell: to be diffused. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [verb (intransitive)] > be emitted

springc1390

sprent?1486

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)]

bredeOE

bespreadc1275

skaila1300

springc1390

shaila1400

spread1560

disperse1605

diffuse1655

c1390 (?c1350) Barlaam & Josaphat (Vernon) l. 395 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1875) 1st Ser. 220 Out of hem sprong a sauour Swettur þen eny Rose flour.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xiii. 192 And so for smel springiþ to vs by ham, & [read he] hatte nosetrelles.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1704 The swote smelle spronge so wide That it dide all the place aboute.

1695 E. Settle Triumphs London 15 'Tis here my Aromatick Odours spring; And my Rich Fruits their fragrant Harvest bring.

3. Of water, a springhead, etc.: to rise or flow in a stream out of the ground; to flow. Also in figurative contexts.

a. intransitive. With out or up.In quot. eOE showing aspring v. in similar use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > spring > [verb (intransitive)]

springa1225

risea1398

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 11 Nilus seo ea..besincð eft in on þa eorþan & þonne eft norþ þonan up aspryngð.]

a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 141 Þe stan to-chan, and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer of.

a1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 25 Þe welle springet out of þe uirtutis.

c1300 St. Leonard (Laud) l. 72 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 458 He bi-gan openi þe eorþe a luyte and is oresones he made. A swiþe fair welle þare sprong up.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 428 Every thing which he can telle, It springeth up as doth a welle.

?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 51 It commez fra þe mount Liban of twa welles þat springes vp þare.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) in Centaurus (1968) 12 225 (MED) Þe watir bicomeþ warme anoon And warme springeþ out.

?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. lv. f. 37^v (MED) Þe water sprong vp atte þe grounde of þe welle and stod stille.

1589 R. Lane in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 739 Which head they say springeth out of a maine rocke in that abundance, that forthwith it maketh a most violent streame.

1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxi. 17 Israel sang..Spring vp O well.

1672 J. Davies tr. Murtada ibn al-Khafīf Egyptian Hist. 74 The King was obliged to put back his Horse from the place where he was, seeing the water springing up under his Feet by the permission of God.

1675 E. Wilson Spadacrene Dunelmensis 17 Such a quantity of water..as springs daily out of the Earth.

1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 168 Pipes, by which..they caused odoriferous Liquor to spring up from the bottom to the top of the Amphitheatre.

1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. xix. 125 If..the land is wet, even at some distance above the place where the water springs out.

1832 R. Lander & J. Lander Jrnl. Exped. Niger II. xiv. 281 Our own [hut] had positively pools of water springing up out of the ground.

1888 Med. Bull. (Philadelphia) Oct. 337/1 Here the natural warm water springs up in different places amid the mud.

1940 N. Tranter Harsh Heritage iii. 196 Cailean found the stream, sprung out from under a great rock, where no stream had been before.

2014 R. Downie Semper Fidelis xiii. 50 It is an old and very holy place where a constant supply of hot water springs out of the ground.

b. intransitive. Without construction. Now rare.

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 207 Þu makest wallen to springen.

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 36 A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai, Boðe bi niȝt & bi dai.

c1300 St. Michael (Laud) 641 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 318 For þare beoz ase it veynene weren onder eorþe.., and þarof springueth þis wellene ech-on.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2306 Beside a roche..He syh wher sprong a lusty welle.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 745 (MED) Watrys þat were swote & clere..sprange lyche cristal in þe colde welle.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1104 There he wolde ly downe and se the well sprynge and burble.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 I haue sene the place where Temmes springeth.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xi. 45 A very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. 507 Out of one hill spring three great rivers running divers waies.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Spring, to rise, come, or spout out, as a River or Water does.

1782 W. Cowper Charity in Poems 198 How copious and how clear Th' o'erflowing well of Charity springs here!

1816 Ld. Byron Stanzas to —— vi, in Prisoners of Chillon & Other Poems 26 In the desert a fountain is springing.

1985 L. McMurtry Lonesome Dove (1986) i. 15 The spring was just springing enough to make a nice mud puddle.

†4.

a. transitive. To sprinkle (a person or thing); to lightly cover with liquid, esp. water; to moisten. Frequently with with. Obsolete (English regional (chiefly southern) in later use).Some early examples may belong at springe v.¹

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle something with liquid > a person or thing

sprengeOE

springa1325

a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 2356 (MED) Ȝif þat lond is ffordryed..Me mot sende reyn and dieuȝ ffor-to hit beo betere yspronge.

a1425 (a1399) Forme of Cury (BL Add.) 87 in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 117 Set hem adoun and spryng hem with vynegar.

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 7 Bray hit a lytelle, with water hit spryng.

1519 W. Horman Vulgaria xxi. f. 178^v Take a lytell pece of erthe, and spryng it with water.

1576 G. Baker tr. C. Gesner Newe Jewell of Health iv. f. 239 A certaine vessell..both sproungen rounde about, and couered with Chimney soote.

1825 J. Jennings Observ. Dial. W. Eng. 72 Spring, to moisten; to sprinkle.

1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 281 To spring clothes is to moisten them a little previous to ironing.

b. transitive. To sprinkle, to scatter, to distribute (a liquid, esp. water); to discharge (a liquid). Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete.Some early examples may belong at springe v.¹

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle liquid

sprengeOE

springa1387

berainc1420

twirl1763

sprint1855

the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle

warpc1000

sprengeOE

strenkc1175

springa1387

bespring1387

sprinkc1390

sprinklea1400

strinklec1400

springle?a1425

sprinkle?a1425

sprainc1440

bespreng1496

oversprinkle?1548

overstrew1570

besprent1573

insperse1587

insperge1599

asperse1607

besprink1609

disparple?1615

spark1637

swiggle1683

twirl1763

sparkle1787

bespatter1813

spray1829

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 23 (MED) Reyn is y-seie arered vppon þe hilles and anon i-spronge aboute [L. diffundi] in þe feeldes.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. x. 1135 [The adder] springeth oute venyme by bytynges.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 248 Þat castyth out synne & springeth in vertewe.

1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius iii. 416 Spryng holy water, sing Masses for the quicke and the dead.

5. transitive. To cause (water) to well up or flow out of the ground. Also (and in earliest use) in figurative contexts. rare after the 17th cent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > cause to flow [verb (transitive)] > cause to flow out or well up

springc1450

c1450 (a1400) Orologium Sapientiæ in Anglia (1888) 10 343 (MED) Þat welle of pyte springynge mercye is more redye to ȝive mercye þanne þou art to aske hit.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 275 Þis grace in þe ground of equyte, þat spryngeth vp þise vij. stremys of vertuys.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. LL^v A Well: whiche..shulde springe fayre water and swete.

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 819 The Earth; of which being thrust close and pressed together by the violence of revolution, sprang Water.

1667 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 2 485 Lakes.., sprung up by Earth-quakes.

2010 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 7 Apr. 29 They engineer a phoney miracle—springing water from barren rocks—to drum up trade.

†6. transitive. To drain off (water). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > action or process of extracting > extract liquid [verb (transitive)] > by draining

draina1552

draw1580

spring1597

unwater1642

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > throw or cast in

inswak1513

spring1597

inject1611

indart1733

the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > insertion or putting in > insert or put in [verb (transitive)] > forcibly

thrustc1175

quevena1400

stopc1480

ingyre1513

ram1519

dig1553

intrude1563

purr1574

spring1597

grub1607

inject1611

ingest1617

sock1843

to dig in1885

the world > space > place > removal or displacement > extraction > extract [verb (transitive)] > extract gas or liquid

exhaust1540

draina1552

to draw off1594

uncask1594

spring1597

carry1602

tap1602

milka1628

to carry off1677

evacuate1719

drafta1875

aspirate1880

bleed1889

1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 667 Steepe the leaues in cold water, & at night spring off the water.

7. intransitive. Of blood, a flush, etc.: to rise suddenly and involuntarily to the cheeks or face; (also of tears) to rise suddenly and involuntarily to the eyes.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] > appear or become visible > suddenly

bursta1325

swirk?a1513

to start out1566

flash1590

rush1594

spring1698

upstart1874

1698 W. Philips Revengeful Queen i. 3 'Twas then, what Blood you had Sprung to your Cheeks, and strait retreated thence.

1771 Hist. Sir William Harrington II. 17 Being quite overcome by the hurry of spirits I was in, some tears sprang up to my eyes.

1802 Lady's Monthly Museum Jan. 38 Tears sprang to the eyes of Mr. Evelyn.

1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xxvi. 433 A flush of decision sprang into his face.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii. 52 The quick colour that sprang to her cheek at his words.

1913 Sat. Evening Post 10 Aug. 38/3 The unshed tears sprang to her eyes.

1953 S. Kauffmann Philanderer xi. 182 She broke off, and tears, actual tears, sprang into her eyes suddenly.

2016 R. Wells French War Bride lxix. 429 I couldn't help it. Tears sprang to my eyes.

II. To move energetically and related senses.

(a) intransitive. Of an object: to change place or position by a sudden or rapid movement; to move with a sudden jerk or bound, esp. (in later use) so as to rebound or recoil; to dart, to fly. From the 17th cent. with adverbs, as up, back, forward, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of things

springOE

leapc1275

OE Beowulf (2008) 2582 Beorges weard..wearp wælfyre; wide sprungon hildeleoman.

OE Battle of Maldon (1942) 137 He sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt se sceaft tobærst, and þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang ongean.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. xxv. 294 Þeah þu teo hwelcne boh ofdune to þære eorðan.., swa sprincð he up & wrigað wið his gecyndes.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11938 Heo..fusden feondliche. þat fur him sprong [c1300 Otho sparng] after.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1804 Ðor wrestelede an engel wið; Senwe sprungen fro ðe lið.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 13 Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange, Ofte haf I wayted.

c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 2079 As fire ys wont to quyk and goo From a sparke spronge amys.

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 196 The stone, sprung backe againe & smote Earth.

1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ x. 193 A Hasel or other stick..that being stuck into the ground may spring up like unto the springs they usually set for Fowl.

1725 R. Blackmore Treat. Spleen & Vapours 180 Such a Stretch of the Muscles as does not exceed Nature's Standard, but is capable of springing back.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Elasticity The component Parts..must certainly, on the Cessation of the External Violence, spring back to their former natural State.

1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 20 He drew adown the wind-stirred bough, and took The apples thence; then let it spring away.

1929 Boys' Life Jan. 3/1 The ball..sprang upward again and fell against the rim a second time.

1965 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Res. 4 341 When this tension is released the style and stamens spring forward, causing the pollen to be distributed.

2009 Ol House July 17/2 The bristles..should resist bending and spring back when you let go.

(b) intransitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To leap, bound.In early use esp. with reference to the heart or soul.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > cause to appear

springc1330

springc1430

c1330 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Auch.) l. 32 in Englische Studien (1885) 8 118 For ioie his hert bigan to spring.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 3071 Þe folkes herte so gan sprynge Aȝeins Alisaunder þe kynge.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 45 With that sprang vp hir spreit be a span hechar.

1644 R. Harwood King David's Sanctuary 6 The soule that creepes upon the ground doth rot, and putrifie, when that which springs upwards is immortall.

1754 M. Morgan Philoclea i. 7 My Soul springs upward at the Thought.

1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein II. v. 159 Arthur Philipson's heart sprung high at the appearance of these strangers.

1988 D. Rowe Successful Self ii. 34 When there've been catastrophes in the family..I've been able to spring back.

2003 Observer (Nexis) 2 Mar. (Mag.) 54 Dynamic elastic has sprung back into fashion.

b. transitive. To cause (a thing) to change place or position by a sudden, rapid, or jerky movement; to cause (a thing) to fly up, out, etc. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > cause to move suddenly [verb (transitive)]

braidOE

startc1440

startle1576

spring1665

the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > off suddenly

thrill1606

spring1665

fly1676

spanghew1781

to send flying1879

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 210 These six leggs [a flea]..clitches up altogether, and when he leaps, he springs them all out.

1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lxxiv. 287 At the very next stroke, he sprung it [sc. the billiard ball] over the table.

1831 Examiner 675/2 It blows a gale enough..to spring the teeth from out your jaws.

1856 Punch 27 Dec. p. iv Victor Emmanuel.., gracefully manipulating the mustachios that have springed so many hearts.

1880 G. Meredith Tragic Comedians I. v. 107 It sprang Clotilde a stride nearer to reality.

1919 Outing Mar. 310/3 I sprang the hook on his under jaw, one half fully in his mouth.

1980 J. Barnes Metroland ii. iii. 105 I linked my fingers in front of my stomach, palms inwards, then sprang both thumbs out.

2003 Daily Tel. (Sydney) (Nexis) 10 July 7 Simple tricks such as an ‘ollie’—springing the board into mid-air—can be picked up in just a couple of weeks.

†c. transitive. Military. To shift (a weapon, etc.) rapidly from one designated position to another. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (transitive)] > position weapons > shift position of smartly

spring1780

1780 Encycl. Brit. VI. 4438 Make ready: i.e. Spring the firelock briskly to the recover.

1797 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry (rev. ed.) App. 246 Carbines sprung, and unstrapped.

1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. i. 29 Each man springs his ramrod as the officer passes him, and then returns it.

1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 46 Spring arms—Two. Load.

1903 C. King Apache Princess xvii. 194 The corporal sprung his rifle to the hollow of his arm.

a. intransitive. To shatter into pieces or fragments; to burst, to break, to split; to give way. Also figurative of the heart.Sometimes with open, apart.The interpretation of the word in quot. OE has been disputed; the most likely interpretation is that Grendel's corpse ‘split wide open’ when the head was struck off, but it has alternatively been suggested that the torso might have ‘sprung up or recoiled some distance away’ (cf. senses 8, 11) either under the impact of the blow or because of some (magical) remnant of life.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > shatter or break to pieces or burst

to-burstc893

forbursta1000

springOE

to-flyc1000

to-shootc1000

to-springc1000

to-drevea1225

to-resea1225

to-breakc1230

to go shiversc1275

to-drivec1275

to-rivec1275

to-shenec1275

to-wendc1275

debruise1297

lash13..

to-dashc1300

to-scatter13..

to-shiver13..

shiverc1330

bequash1377

shinderc1390

brasta1400

bursta1400

to-shiderc1450

to fly in pieces1488

sprent1488

splindera1500

reavec1560

dishiver1562

shatter1567

disshiver1586

split1590

slent1608

besplit1638

disrupt1657

splintera1661

rupture1734

explode1784

to ding in staves1786

to break, knock etc., or go, to smash1798

spell1811

to go (also run) smash1818

to play smash1841

bust1844

splitter1860

disrump1886

to fall into staves1895

smash1904

OE Beowulf (2008) 1588 Hra wide sprong syþðan he æfter deaðe drepe þrowade, heorosweng heardne—ond hine þa heafde becearf.

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 1794 (MED) Whene his spere was sprongen, he spede hym full ȝerne, Swappede owtte with a swerde.

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 198 Þe grete schafte þat was longe All to spildurs hit spronge.

a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 3920 An C tymes hys herte nye sprange, By that bors had hym the tale tolde.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 21 Speires vnto sprottes sprongen ouer hedes.

1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 345 By reason of a plancke that spronge in hir.

1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ii. 4 If one of those ends should spring, or giue way it would be a..troublesome danger.

a1726 H. Barham Hortus Americanus (1794) 179 Which seed-vessel, touched with the least moisture, springs open with a little snap or noise.

1820 J. Hennen Princ. Mil. Surg. (ed. 2) 217 At length an artery sprung, which, in the attempt to secure it, most probably burst under the ligature.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 190 At once a flood of light I'll fling, Yet softly, lest the glass should spring.

1960 G. E. Evans Horse in Furrow xv. 200 The wheel was put over this and clamped down so that it wouldn't spring.

2012 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 21 Apr. 5 The whole contraption appears liable to spring apart at any moment.

b. Nautical.

(a) intransitive. Of a mast, boom, etc.: to split, to crack.Chiefly in the perfect (in early use formed with to be).

ΚΠ

1578 G. Best True Disc. Passage to Cathaya 47 The worthie Captayne..although hys Mast was sprong..continued hys course towardes the Northweast.

1685 N. Boteler Six Dialogues Sea-services iv. 164 When a Mast, is only crackt, and not quite broken.., then the Sea-saying is, the Mast is Sprung.

1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 271 The Carpenters discovered the Fore Mast to be sprung.

1765 J. Byron in J. Hawkesworth Acct Voy. Southern Hemisphere (1773) I. 59 Capt. Mouat, who commanded the Tamar, informed me that his rudder was sprung.

1824 P. Schmidtmeyer Trav. into Chile i. 11 On the 21st, the weather being still very bad, our fore mast sprang.

1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vi. 222 The dissel-boom was sprung, and the hind axle also.

2011 J. Stockwin Conquest vii. 177 Probably the mast had sprung in some squall.

(b) transitive. Of a vessel or a vessel's crew: to have (a mast, yard, etc.) split or crack. Also of the wind: to cause (a mast, yard, etc.) to split or crack. Cf. Phrases 4a.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > have masts or spars split

spring1582

society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > have masts or spars split > cause

spring1582

1582 R. Madox Diary 2 Aug. in E. S. Donno Elizabethan in 1582 (1976) 158 The Edward sprang hir foremast.

c1595 T. Maynarde Sir Francis Drake his Voy. (1849) 11 The Exchange, a small shippe, spronge her mast, and was sunke.

a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 20 A boisterous wind..Springs the..mast.

1669 London Gaz. No. 421/1 Off the Lizard she sprang her main Mast by the board.

1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 401 The Ship in which himself was..that sprung a plank in the Indies.

1799 Hull Advertiser 13 July 1/4 St. Joaquim..sprung her foremast;..St. Paulo sprung her tiller.

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxv. 439 We..sprung the sprit-sail yard; and made nothing of studding-sail booms.

1880 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Sentinel 13 Oct. 3/1 During recent heavy weather outside the schooner Arendal sprung her mizzenmast head.

1907 Everybody's Mag. May 596/1 Half an hour later another sea mounted over the quarter-rail, sprung the mizzen-boom, and tore the mizzen-traveler out of the dock.

1960 J. Barth Sot-weed Factor ii. xiii. 243 While the men were still in the ratlines a gust split all three sails and sprang the mizzenmast as well.

2013 S. L. Butler Defending Old Dominion xxiii. 415 Seahorse sprung her mizzenmast, Euryalus its foremast.

c. Military.

(a) transitive. To explode (a mine). Also in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > use of mines and explosives > use mines and explosives [verb (transitive)] > mine > explode a mine, etc.

spring1625

vent1687

fire1699

to let off1714

to set off1881

bump1915

1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. x. ix. 1798 They sprung another Mine..wherein was placed about sixtie Barrels of Powder.

1677 London Gaz. No. 1244/2 This morning we Sprung a Mine under a Ravelin.., which did considerable execution.

1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 187 They sprung several Mines and blew up a great Number of our Men.

1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 119 Go, spring the mine of elevating thought.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. xi. 285 I only grieve that I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all!

1880 Freeman's Jrnl. 10 May It was a mine sprung without any warning by the lowest section of the electorate.

1915 C. S. Churchill Let. 17 Dec. in W. S. Churchill & C. S. Churchill Speaking for Themselves (1999) vi. 134 Yesterday's official communiqué said that on Wednesday S.W. of Ypres the enemy sprang a mine under one of our trenches.

1973 J. G. Farrell Siege of Krishnapur xv. 199 He was ready now to spring the mine.

2009 E. J. Hess In Trenches at Petersburg ix. 118 The Confederates fully intended to spring a mine on his front.

†(b) intransitive. Of a mine: to go off, to explode. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > be violent [verb (intransitive)] > explode or go off (of firearms, gunpowder, etc.)

to go off1560

fulminate1651

springa1658

explode1673

displode1812

to go up1950

a1658 J. Cleveland Poor Cavalier in Wks. (1687) 328 At Langport..thy Rear miscarry'd too, And by a strong Intelligence the same time, Thy Hooks and Buttons sprung with Sherburns Mine.

1698 tr. F. Froger Relation Voy. Coasts Afr. 30 On the 22nd the mines sprang, and took very good effect.

1747 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 437/1 The mine will spring by its gallery.

1845 Encycl. Metrop. VI. 303/1 If likewise it be wished that one mine shall spring before another, it is only necessary to shorten the hose.

10.

†a. intransitive. To appear in a manner resembling dawn or the first signs of day. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 259 He þet is ower lif..springeð as þe daȝunge efter nichtes þeosternesse.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. ix. 2 To the men dwellende in the regioun of the shadewe of deth, liȝt sprungen is to them.

c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 1158 The tru son of ryghtusnes..Xall sprynge in hem þat drede hys meknes.

1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. xxii. 26 To whome is ysprunge veray sterre of trouth!

1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 255 Lyghte spryngeth in darkenesse, helle ys pryued of robry.

1579 in W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. A.iiij The light of Gods truth might spryng foorth agayne.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 584 But God..can as easie Cause light again within thy eies to spring .

1825 F. D. Hemans Forest Sanctuary (1927) 137 In that young heart a light sprung up again.

1909 Royal Mag. Feb. 396 All at once a new light sprang up in her beautiful blue eyes.

b. intransitive. Of dawn, morning, daylight, etc.: to appear, to become perceptible; to appear over the horizon or in the sky. Also in figurative contexts.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use.In quots. c1300, c1430, and a1649 transitive (figurative): to cause (day, daylight, etc.) to appear in the sky.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] > appear or become visible > of dawn

springc1300

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > cause to appear

springc1330

springc1430

OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 33 Þærrihte up asprungenum dægriman dægredsang sy begunnen.]

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 124 Al þe day & al þe niȝt, Til hit sprang dai liȝt.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 5259 On þe morȝnyng wan þe day him sprong, Charlis ȝeode ys host among.

c1430 N. Love Mirror Blessed Life (Brasenose e.9) (1908) 50 This day the sonne of riȝtwisnesse, that was first vnder cloude, sprang openly his bemes of mercy and the liȝt of his grace in alle the world.

?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. 38 f. 24 (MED) Þou schalt sodeinli sprenge vp as þe day sterre in gladnesse of herte.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iv. iv. 1 Furth of the see, with this, the dawing springis.

1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 70/2 in Chron. I By the light of the daye, that then beganne to spring.

1611 Bible (King James) Judges xix. 25 When the day began to spring .

a1649 R. Crashaw Carmen Deo Nostro (1652) 80 Thine was the Rosy Dawn that sprung the Day Which renders all the starres she stole away.

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 54 Phospher..Promis'd the Sun, e're Day began to spring.

1803 Visct. Strangford tr. L. V. de Camoens Poems 54 Dear is the dawn, which springs at last.

1876 W. Morris Story of Sigurd iii. 182 But meseems that the earth is lovely and each day springeth anew.

1927 N.Y. Times 2 Jan. e4/3 The dawn begins to spring.

1940 J. Buchan Memory Hold-the-Door 300 Eerie dawns in Flanders and Picardy when the sun sprang out of enemy country.

2009 J. Straughan West Indian Adventure 253 The inevitable dawn sprang forth out of the blackness.

†c. intransitive. To ascend in the sky. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > rise or go up [verb (intransitive)]

styc825

astyc950

ariseOE

upstyOE

to step upOE

upcomec1000

to come upOE

to go upOE

upwendc1200

runge?c1225

amountc1275

upgoa1325

heavec1325

uparise1340

ascend1382

higha1393

lifta1400

risea1400

skilla1400

uprisea1400

raisec1400

rearc1400

surmount1430

to get upc1450

transcenda1513

springa1525

upmounta1560

assurge?1567

hove1590

surgea1591

tower1618

hoist1647

upheave1649

to draw up1672

spire1680

insurrect1694

soar1697

upsoar1726

uprear1828

higher1889

a1525 Crying ane Playe 87 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 152 The mone sprang neuer abone his kne.

11. To bound, to leap; to move suddenly, to dash.

(a) intransitive. With adverbs or prepositions, as to, out, after, through, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)]

leapc900

startOE

reseOE

springa1275

throwc1275

upleapc1275

launch13..

aspringc1315

sault1377

lance?a1400

sprenta1400

loupc1480

lope1483

spang1513

bendc1530

jump1530

spend1533

stend1567

vaulta1568

pract1568

exult1570

bound1593

saltate1623

subsalt1623

jet1635

spoutc1650

volt1753

a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 192 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 65 Tel me nou swiþe ant into helle spring.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10719 Cador sprong [c1300 Otho sparng] to horse swa spærc him doh of fure.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 91 He..sprong forth so sparke of glede.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 12527 A nedder sprong out of þe sond.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1318 Alexander..Springis out with a spere.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope (1967) i. x. 80 [The serpent] sprange after his neck for to have strangled hym.

?1561 T. Blundeville Newe Bk. Arte of Ryding i. xiii. sig. D^v The spur doth make him to springe forward, and to amende his pace.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Mar. f. 9^v With that sprong forth a naked swayne.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 37 I sprung forward through the throng.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 132 The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upward spurn the briny Seas.

1788 W. Cowper On Feather-hangings Mrs. Montagu in Gentleman's Mag. June 542/2 Like Pallas springing arm'd from Jove.

1797 H. Lee Canterbury Tales I. 205 [He] lightly sprung over the fence by which they were separated.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 670 Some of the English sprang to their arms and made an attempt to resist.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. lx. 277 His daughter sprang to his embrace.

1901 R. Kipling Kim vi. 140 The man dismissed them, and first to spring through the verandah into the open sunshine was Kim.

1954 J. R. R. Tolkien Two Towers ii. i. 22 Like a deer he sprang away.

2002 J. Ray Step-ball-change x. 135 The floor was a trampoline. Every time he hit it, he sprung back higher.

(b) intransitive. Without construction.Occasionally spec. of a partridge: to rise from cover. Cf. sense 14a.Quot. OE shows the prefixed verb onspringan in similar use in sense ‘to bound, leap’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [verb (intransitive)] > specific actions of partridge

spring1589

juck1611

jug1648

OE Blickling Homilies 165 Sona þæt cild onsprang & ongean his Hlaford hyhte & hine of his modor bosme on þære fæmnan bosm halette.]

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 593 Þe fole bigan to springe, & horn murie to singe.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 2487 (MED) Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 366 Full faste schall I springe for to spede.

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. ii. 33 Octauian maad his sones to be taught..to swyme, to sprynge and lepe.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 Marke hym whan he daunseth you shall se hym springe lyke a yonkher.

1589 R. Robinson Golden Mirrour sig. G.3^v The Partridge sprang, my hauke fled from my fist.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 465 The Tawnie Lion..then springs .

1708 O. Dykes Moral Reflexions Eng. Prov. 148 The Partridge..always springs afterwards upon the first Sight of a Setter or a Dog in the Field.

1789 tr. G. F. Magné De Marolles Ess. Shooting xvi. 220 When a covey of partridge springs, if one of the company fires, the rest stop until he has reloaded his piece.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Arethusa in Posthumous Poems (1824) 157 Gliding and springing, She went, ever singing, In murmurs as soft as sleep.

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. xi. 297 The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously.

1947 J. Steinbeck Pearl iii. 53 Then he sprang like an angry cat, leaped striking and spitting for the dark thing.

2009 A. Rickloff Dangerous as Sin x. 95 Cam went completely still, his whole body coiling tight as a wire just before he sprang.

(c) intransitive. figurative. To move, act, or react with speed, suddenness, or alacrity; (of mountain peaks, the sun, etc.) to appear, emerge, or arise in a manner suggestive of sudden movement. Now chiefly in to spring to (a person's) defence, to spring to a conclusion.See also to spring into action at Phrases 2, to spring to (one's) mind at mind n.¹ 19l.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > proceed rapidly [verb (intransitive)] > take prompt action

spring1548

to take at the (first) bounda1556

to be quick off (occasionally also on) the mark1914

to jump to it1917

to snap (in)to1918

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Acts v. f. xxii^v Wondrefull great feare sprang [L. obortus est] through the whole Churche of the faythfull.

1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 6 Religion spread under ground, whiles the Roman power in a continuall war sprang upward.

1796 Female Gamester I. xxxii. 118 The moment he entered, my heart sprang to greet him.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Triumph of Life in Posthumous Poems (1824) 73 Swift as a spirit hastening to his task,..the Sun sprang forth Rejoicing in his splendour.

1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe iv. 201 The mighty peaks..spring at one bound to a height of some ten thousand feet.

1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After i. 21 The stockbroker's wife..sprang to her husband's defence.

1986 R. Ingalls Pearlkillers 14 She was looking at a set of floodlit glass boxes that sprang from the darkness like lighted boats.

2011 Atlantic Online (Nexis) 11 Apr. Reporters sprang to the conclusion that the speech would make detailed new commitments.

b. intransitive. To rise quickly, or with a bound, from a sitting or lying position. With adverbs and prepositions.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] > rise > quickly or suddenly

to start upc1275

upstart1303

leapc1330

upspringc1374

uprapea1400

boltc1425

starta1470

spring1474

rear1835

rare1886

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. vii. 141 Y^e kynge..sprange out of his chare and resseyuyd them worshipfully.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc5^v The whole family..Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 259 Till rais'd By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,..and upright Stood on my feet.

1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ix. 284 Springing from the ground, Both chiefs at once ascend the lofty mound.

1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 68 The..monster sprung up and cast himself..upon our hero.

1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 262 At an early hour in the morning the guests of the Castle sprung from their repose.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xx. 137 Good news caused me to spring from my bed.

1921 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love (1960) xi. 145 She suddenly sprang up, turned her back to him, and walked away.

1962 P. Mortimer Pumpkin Eater xxi. 131 Holding the camera in both hands, he sprang athletically to his feet.

2016 Herald Sun (Austral.) (Nexis) 11 May 13 The man sprang to his feet, grabbed her shoulder and demanded her keys.

c. intransitive. Of a breeze, wind, etc.: to begin to blow. With up.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > begin to blow

risec1330

warpa1400

upwaffc1400

spring1611

arise1847

1611 I. R. tr. N. Le Jay Tocsin sig. C3 As the winde sprong vp [Fr. survint] which conducted Butes out of danger, and saued him in Lybia.

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. i. 8 For want of Cloaths to cover me in the Night I was very cold when the Land-wind sprang up.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 210 A Breeze of Wind springing up the same Evening, we weighed and set Sail for the Brasils.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xi. 255 When a gale sprung up, it constantly blew off the land.

1805 Ld. Nelson Let. 25 Sept. in Dispatches & Lett. (1846) VII. 50 As the breeze is now springing up from the N.W.

1877 A. B. Edwards Thousand Miles up Nile v. 111 By and by a little breeze springs up.

1905 E. Wharton House of Mirth (1964) i. i. 9 A breeze had sprung up, swaying inward the muslin curtains.

1945 Motor Boating Oct. 45/1 A brisk southwest wind sprang up and promised to settle down to a good sailing breeze.

2016 Sunday Times (Nexis) 5 June (Sport section) 11 A breeze had sprung up and a storm was forecast to arrive some three hours later.

d. transitive. To leap over (a distance).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > cause to jump [verb (transitive)] > leap, spring, or jump over

leapc900

overleapeOE

freea1578

overjump1604

jump1609

overskip1629

fly1719

top1735

spring?a1775

clear1791

overbound1813

over1837

overspring1847

leap-frog1872

vault1884

?a1775 W. Bartram Trav. Georgia & Florida in Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. (1943) 33 167/2 They usually spring 2 or 3 feet on their prey & may be called the Tyger Spider.

1825 W. Scott Talisman xiii, in Tales Crusaders IV. 275 He that would climb so lofty a tree, Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee.

1854 Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 96 The grasshoppers..being capable, with ease, of springing some hundred times their own length.

1907 J. H. Patterson Man-eaters of Tsavo viii. 89 If the lion could spring the twelve feet which separated me from the ground.

1969 K. Wheeler Champions Soccer iv. 27 Denis..sprang some four feet into the air.

1999 Washington Post (Nexis) 16 June c1 Tarzan could spring 20 feet across the treetops.

†12. intransitive. To advance in rank or status; to be promoted to a specified rank. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 548 We beþ kniȝtes ȝonge, Of odai al isprunge [a1350 Harl. alle to day yspronge].

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 6954 Therof all parseners be we And tellen folk where so we go That man thurgh vs is sprongen so.

a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 4650 (MED) Thou and such felows yong..to knightes be late sprong.

a1500 (c1380) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 479 (MED) Whanne þe pope was deed & cardenals weren not ȝit sprongun, in whois hond was þe chirche?

13. transitive. To make (a horse, pony, etc.) gallop.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > ride (a horse) rapidly > gallop (a horse)

springc1440

wallop1490

gallopc1515

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 483 (MED) Þey spede at þe spoures, þey sprangen þeire horses.

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 165 A Hose [sic] happens to be sprung out at his full Speed.

1837 ‘Nimrod’ Chace, Turf, & Road ii. 75 We always spring 'em over this stage.

1875 C. T. S. B. Reynardson Down the Road 167 I must spring them a bit,..or we shall never get up the Lodge Hill.

1986 Horse & Hound 25 Apr. 40/4 Just before the last pair of cones he sprung his ponies.

2002 B. Miller Pretender 341 Trent and Harry had sprung their horses and should be able to give them some news as soon as they got there.

14.

a. transitive. To cause (a bird, esp. a partridge) to rise from cover. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (transitive)] > cause birds to rise

flush1450

to set up1496

spring1531

to tread up1808

walk1847

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xviii. sig. Jviii The men sprange the birdes out of the busshes.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlvii. f. 280 His spaniells sprong a Partrich.

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy ii. ii. iii. 317 A..Hawke..when the game is sprung, comes down amaine, and stoupes vpon a sudden.

1682 G. Wheler Journey into Greece vi. 260 We sprang Ducks and Snipes.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 108. ¶4 Honest Will. began to tell me of a large Cock-Pheasant that he had sprung in one of the neighbouring Woods.

a1793 G. White Observ. Birds in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1802) II. 175 [The] land-rail..flies in a very..embarrassed manner,..and can hardly be sprung a second time.

1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 33/1 Before the birds are sprung, he should pat and encourage the dog.

1883 Cent. Mag. 487/2 In October and November, the sportsman often ‘springs’ coveys containing birds too small to be shot.

1912 Life 26 Sept. 1881/2 Having found them, he ‘springs’ the grouse and the pheasants, but ‘flushes’ the woodcock.

1999 A. Walker Encycl. Falconry 122/2 Spring, Of a falconer or his dogs, to flush (quarry). They might spring a partridge.

b. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To cause (a person or thing) to appear; to surprise, to come upon, to discover. In later use also (Australian): to catch or come upon (a person engaged in an illicit or compromising activity).

ΚΠ

1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet sig. E2 That there is not a better Spanniell in England to spring a couie of queanes than Martin.

a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. C3 Heeres good game for the hawke,..a couie of Cockscombs, one wise man I thinke would spring you all.

1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre v. vi. 86 in Wks. II I may perhaps spring a wife for you, anone.

1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. ii. 163 Your greedy slav'ring to devour..sprung the Game..Before y' had time to draw the Net.

a1720 J. Sheffield Wks. (1753) II. 162 Which can hardly fail of springing some game in such an ample field of fame and glory.

a1777 S. Foote Cozeners (1778) i. 7 What new game have you sprung?

1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. (at cited word) Any thing hid is called, the plant... To spring a plant, is to find any thing that has been concealed by another.

1826 W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry II. i. 41 Let's start on some spree; no doubt we shall spring a lark somewhere.

1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 33/1 We looked every where for you and couldn't ‘spring’ you.

1918 C. Fetherstonhaugh After Many Days 250 The Scotchmen had by some means ‘sprung’ the bushrangers' plant, and got away to Scotland with it.

1980 J. Hepworth & J. Hindle Boozing out in Melbourne Pubs 42 He figured that nobody would ever spring him, but he figured wrong.

2001 P. Doyle Devil's Jump ii. 22 If any bastard springs us, we'll have a blue on our hands.

†15. transitive. Of a stallion: to copulate with (a mare). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > copulate with > mount

leap1530

spring1585

mount1593

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxxi. 154 [They] sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares [Fr. pour faire saillir leurs iumens].

1667 Duke of Newcastle New Method to dress Horses i. 66 Their Colts at two Years old Springs their Mares, and then they Geld them.

16.

†a. transitive. To begin or initiate (something); to produce (something) quickly. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > cause to begin to act or operate

to put (also set) to worka1398

to put on work?1440

streek?a1500

setc1500

to put (also set) in (also into) motion1598

spring1598

to set offa1625

to put (also set) in work1626

to set (a-)going1705

start1822

to start up1865

to set in motion1890

1598 G. Chapman in C. Marlowe & G. Chapman Hero & Leander (new ed.) iv. sig. I Many more effects This picture wrought, and sprung Leandrian sects.

1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 663/2 The Yorkists..thought it now a fitte season to spring their practise.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 10 Nov. (1974) VIII. 524 To spring nothing in the House nor offer anything but just what is drawne out of a man.

1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Cinyras & Myrrha in Fables 178 Surpriz'd with Fright, She starts, and leaves her Bed, and springs a Light.

†b. transitive. colloquial. To put (counterfeit money) into circulation. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1656 R. Fletcher Poems in Ex Otio Negotium 193 Down Fleet-street next she rowls..To spring clip'd-half-crowns in the Cuckow's nest.

†c. transitive. To introduce (a witty comment); to tell or make use of (a joke). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > circulation of money > put into circulation [verb (transitive)] > pass counterfeits

to give (one) the slip1567

output1576

to nail up for a slip1594

spring1686

smash1801

shove1859

drop1938

the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > cause laughter [verb (transitive)] > utter a jest or joke

jest?a1562

spring1686

crack1957

1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 234 They saw him..not valuing to lose a Friend, rather than not have the Pleasure of springing a Witticism [Fr. dire un bon mot].

1898 Garnet (Union University, Schenectady, N.Y) 43 153 Perk will spring his annual consignment of gags.

1917 B. Hall Diary 13 Feb. in B. Hall & J. J. Niles One Man's War (1929) 233 I shall have my Tsarina's Red Cross train episode all ready to spring and then I'll sit back and watch 'em go over.

1918 Stars & Stripes 5 Apr. 4/3 I cannot spring the old gags, Not that I don't know how; But I cannot pull the old stuff—I'm in the army now.

d. transitive. To announce (a piece of news, a fact, etc.) suddenly or unexpectedly. To reveal (a surprise). Sometimes with on (formerly also †upon).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)] > introduce unexpectedly

surprise1770

spring1866

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > come upon suddenly [verb (transitive)] > bring upon suddenly

spring1866

1866 [implied in: J. G. Holland Life A. Lincoln xiii. 184 He was more given to..the springing of false issues, to quibbles and tricks.].

1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer xxxiv. 265 Old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people here to-night.

1891 H. Herman His Angel 167 The threat of springing the naked facts upon the young lady.

1922 Ladies' Home Jrnl. July 72/1 One day she sprang a surprise.

1969 Listener 14 Aug. 204/1 The official French government spokesman sprang the wholly unexpected news: the franc was to be devalued.

2001 H. Holt Delay of Execution (2002) i. 4 Look, don't decide now—I've rather sprung it on you—have a little think and let me know in the next few days.

†e. transitive. To impose (an obstacle) suddenly or unexpectedly. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > suddenly

shootc1075

flapc1320

flatc1330

spang1513

yark1568

flirt1582

cant1685

jerk1708

flip1712

shuttle1823

spring1884

1884 J. E. Jenkins Week of Passion I. iv. 110 He must expect to be countermined, to have a thousand ingenious obstacles sprung in his way.

17.

a. transitive. Architecture. To form the initial upward curve of (an arch). Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [verb (transitive)] > spring

spring1700

1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 34 The level of the place, whence you begin to spring the Arch.

1756 Ld. Harcourt Let. 21 Dec. in Burlington Mag. (1985) 127 229/1 Instead of springing the arch or compass point of the Venetian window from the cornish.., I have boldly adventured to follow a design of an old building.

1807 R. C. Hoare Tour Ireland 198 The arches which were sprung to support it.

1854 H. D. Thoreau Walden 353 It affords me no satisfaction to commence to spring an arch before I have got a solid foundation.

1913 T. G. Jackson Byzantine & Romanesque Archit. I. iv. 52 From the top of this stone they sprang their arch, of the full thickness of the wall.

1983 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 73 115 Connecting the arcade supports and the outer wall with a flat lintel rather than springing an arch across the void.

b. intransitive. Of an arch or arched object: to extend in a curving or slanting upward direction from a point of support. Frequently with from. Cf. springer n.¹ 2, spring n.¹ 9.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [verb (intransitive)] > of arch: curve or slant upwards

summer1700

impost1730

spring1739

groin1805

1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 8 Semi-circular Arches, springing from about 1 Foot higher than Low-water Mark.

1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 14 The Arch..springs at high Water Mark.

1814 W. Scott Diary 12 Aug. in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1837) III. v. 185 Doubtless an arched roof sprung from the side walls.

1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic ii. x. 458 A wall plate is nailed to receive the rafters, one of which springs from each of the front posts.

1951 N. Pevsner Middlesex 97 The braces spring from wallposts carved with figures of apostles under canopies.

1999 R. Yeomans Story Islamic Archit. v. 83/2 The lower arches..spring lightly and freely, like semicircular tie-beams.

18. transitive. Nautical. To manoeuvre (an anchored vessel) by means of a rope or hawser secured to the anchor cable. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (transitive)] > move or swing by spring

spring1814

1814 D. T. Patterson Let. 29 Dec. in Examiner (1815) 1 Mar. 382/2 Sprung the ship to bring the starboard guns to bear upon the enemy.

1898 S. B. Luce Text-bk. Seamanship 217 Ships may be sprung broadside to the wind..for the purpose of better ventilation; or in engagements at anchor, to bring the guns to bear on various points.

1922 C. C. Soule Naval Terms & Definitions 69/2 Spring, to turn a vessel with a line.

1947 Jrnl. Negro Hist. 32 197 He..sprang the ship round so as to bring her broadsides to bear, and was preparing to fire.

19. transitive. To cause (a mechanism) to work with a sudden or rapid movement; to cause (a lock, clasp, etc.) to open by applying pressure. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > force or wrench open

unspurna1300

upbreak1382

to strike up1467

to break open1594

wrench1607

force1623

spring1825

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > cause to move suddenly [verb (transitive)] > cause (mechanism, etc.) to work suddenly

spring1825

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. iv. 82 The preacher sprung the silver clasp of the Bible; and opened at the regular chapter for the evening.

1897 H. Tennyson Alfred Lord Tennyson I. 19 He would spring all their traps.

1930 D. Hammett Dain Curse (U.K. ed.) xv. 165 ‘All right, spring it,’ I said... ‘Spring the puzzle.’

1980 J. Barnes Metroland iii. iv. 161 I started again, more seriously this time, masochistically trying to spring that familiar trigger for panic and terror.

2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xliii. 425 A chance to drive down from the ranch and spring the padlock.

†20. transitive. Joinery. To join with a mitre joint. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1849 J. Craig New Universal Dict. at Spring In Roofing, to set the boards together with bevel joints for the purpose of keeping out the rain.

†21.

a. transitive. Nautical. To raise (the upward curvature of a vessel's deck); to raise (the sheer). See sheer n.² 1. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 151 To Spring, is to quicken or raise the sheer.

1909 Rudder May 479/2 For springing the sheer line and keel contour a yellow pine batten about 1 by inches, and 22 feet long is the thing to use.

b. transitive. Shoemaking. To raise (the toe of a last). Cf. spring n.¹ 15c. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > carry out other processes

coupa1300

foot1465

unsole1598

close1801

galosha1817

top-piece1830

tree1856

sprig1885

knife1888

to knock up1905

spring1905

1905 E. J. C. Swaysland Boot & Shoe Design iii. 21 An upward curve in the waist of about an eighth of an inch... This is very much less than lasts are usually sprung in the waist.

1916 F. Plucknett Introd. Boot & Shoe Manuf. ii. 16 Provision should be made for alteration in shape which would be likely to take place in wear.., e.g. springing the toe of the last.

22.

(a) transitive. colloquial. Originally: †to acquire (goods of a specified value) (obsolete). Later: to pay or spend (a sum of money).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)]

yieldc893

pay?c1225

spendc1450

make1473

redd1491

to pay in1623

betall1630

to pay away1731

fund1843

spring1851

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 53/2 It's a feast at a poor country labourer's place, when he springs six-penn'orth of fresh herrings.

1883 J. Greenwood Odd People 244 In hope that he might spring a few shillings more than he had promised.

1904 M. Pemberton Red Morn xi. 168 I'll spring one hundred pounds, sir, if you will tot it up.

1957 P. G. Wodehouse Over Seventy xiii. 137 He wouldn't spring a nickel for a bag of peanuts.

2008 Australian (Nexis) 13 May 36 Macintosh users who don't feel like springing hundreds of dollars for Microsoft Office.

(b) intransitive. Australian and U.S. slang. To pay. Usually with for.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > pay [verb (intransitive)]

payc1387

to pay for——c1387

to come off?1544

settle1788

spring1906

pester1936

1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands xviii. 250 Feathers..said reproachfully to the Aberdeen engineer..whose turn it was to ‘spring’: ‘Blime, cobber, er yer givin' ther barmaid er perpetual 'oliday 'r what?’

1965 Pittsburgh Courier 18 Dec. 19/6 I'll spring for a party and swing with the crows on a moment's notice.

1976 M. Machlin Pipeline ix. 107 We'll spring for the booze.

2008 Flying Aug. 38/1 Think I'll spring for a new paint job.

†b. intransitive. slang. Of a customer or prospective buyer: to raise the offered price. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > buying > buy [verb (intransitive)] > make various types of bid

revie1591

underbid1611

bida1616

overbid1616

to buy over a person's head1682

ticket1778

spring1851

tender1865

jolly1869

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 28/2 If the seller finds he can get him to ‘spring’ or advance no further.

1905 T. Collins in Austral. Short Stories (1951) 15 Fred, starting fresh from that base, sprung to £2.

23. transitive. U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland). To sprain, strain (a part of the body).

ΚΠ

1853 Daily Commerc. Reg. (Sandusky, Ohio) 29 Sept. In jumping from the cars, Mr. Young, of Peoria, sprung his left knee badly.

1922 P. A. Rollins Cowboy xii. 231 The process offered too much risk of springing a knee or of spraining a shoulder.

1961 Daily Times-News (Burlington, N. Carolina) 18 Aug. 3 b/5 Sidney..sprang an ankle yesterday and so far that has been our only serious injury.

2012 D. J. Schow Upgunned 118 The first day of sitting in my modified chair..completely sprung my back and neck.

†24. intransitive. To readily rebound or recoil; (also) to shift position as a result of this. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > be pliable [verb (intransitive)] > be elastic

resile1712

spring1869

1869 W. J. M. Rankine Cycl. Machine & Hand-tools Pl.M 2 It is impossible for the tables to spring in the least.

1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 Spring, a forme of type or plates is liable to ‘spring’, or go off its feet, if not properly locked up.

25. transitive. To bend (an object) out of shape by applying too much force or strain. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > project from (something) [verb (transitive)]

stickc1540

spring1873

the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > change the direction of > from a straight line

spring1873

1873 Routledge's Young Gentleman's Mag. July 503/2 Don't drive it in too hard, as it will ‘spring’ the plane-iron, and make it concave.

1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 May 8/1 It is so stiff that the utmost power of a man is required to spring it even very slightly.

1924 Pop. Sci. Monthly Sept. 95/1 If you clamp the piece too strongly, you are very likely to spring it out of shape.

1968 Janesville (Wisconsin) Daily Gaz. 15 Mar. 4/7 The wind caught one of the main doors as it was opened, sprung it out of shape and then caused it to crash into the adjoining window.

26.

a. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). Originally: to release (a person) from custody or imprisonment, esp. by securing bail. Later: to enable (a person) to escape from prison.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > imprison [verb (transitive)] > liberate from

bail1581

spring1900

1900 ‘J. Flynt’ & ‘F. Walton’ Powers that Prey 62 It cost his push a thousand plunks to spring him from the coppers.

1929 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Nov. 1/6 I got sick of him [sc. the lawyer] and I started examining the jury myself. They sprung me in five minutes.

1967 Punch 15 Mar. 375 In the main the British bail system works better than the American one. Over there a professional bondsman..‘springs’ the accused man for roughly ten per cent of the bail fixed.

1974 Daily Tel. 2 Sept. 3 Miss Mary Tyler..is to be returned to a high security prison this week in case militant Maoists try to ‘spring’ her.

2006 K. W. Bender Moneymakers viii. 177 German diplomats had to spring him from prison.

b. intransitive. Originally U.S. slang. To escape or be released from custody or imprisonment. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [verb (intransitive)] > from confinement > from imprisonment

bust1871

spring1902

to have away1958

1902 H. Hapgood Autobiogr. Thief in Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Sept. 453/2 Every thief needs his fall (arrest) money, so as to be able to spring, that is, to escape the results of arrest.

1955 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. No. 24. 184 You get snatched in the neck and it costs you twelve hundred to spring.

1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xii. 82 When I sprung..Moss was standing by the prison door.

c. transitive. to spring (something) out of (a person): to cause (a person) to unexpectedly give or reveal (something). With out of. rare.

ΚΠ

1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey ii. i Futile to attempt to spring anything out of a chap like that.

2000 N. Roberts Judgment in Death 113 ‘Where did Kohli get the funds he's funnelled into investment accounts?’ Webster's mouth tightened. Spring it out of him?

III. To grow and related senses.

27. Of grass, leaves, branches, etc.: to grow, to sprout; to come up; to come out. Also of a flower: to bloom.

(a) intransitive. With from, of (formerly also †out of).

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)]

growa1000

springOE

creue?c1450

eche1567

vegetate1605

the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout forth or spring up

growc725

springOE

upspringc1000

sprouta1200

springa1225

risea1382

burgeon1382

burgea1387

to run upa1393

lance1393

bursta1400

launch1401

reke?1440

alighta1450

shoot1483

to come up?1523

start1587

to grow up1611

to come away1669

to break forth1675

upshoot1841

outgrow1861

sprinta1878

break1882

sprount1890

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xix. 180 Swa swa of anum treowe springað manega bogas, swa gað of anre lufe manega oðre mihta.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 219 (MED) Þe huuemeste bou of þe treuwe springed of þe neþemeste rote.

c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 220 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 7 He..bad him legge þulke kurneles onder is fader toungue Ȝwane he were ded, and burien him, and lokie ȝwat þarof sprongue.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 6794 (MED) Þe rose springþ of þe brer, þat ssarp & kene is.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22878 Þoru his wil dos þat mihti kinge Out of hard tre to spring First þe lef and þan þe flowr.

c1450 in W. R. Dawson Leechbk. (1934) 172 Roses or the..leves bene fully sprongene oute he shall be gaderid and of the rede levys shrede small and of hony..is made mel rosett.

1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclviii Thou desyrest to knowe the maner of braunches, that out of the tree shulde spring.

1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Kings iv. 33 From the cedar tre..euen vnto the hyssope that springeth out of the wall.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. vii. xxii. 531 As for another [vine shoot], springing from a yeare-old branch, it is left alwaies for a breeder.

a1689 A. Behn tr. A. Cowley Plants in Wks. (1711) III. iv. 391 The noble Flow'r that did from Ajax spring.

1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 362 The Road hereabouts..being overgrown with Daneweed, they fansy it sprung from the Blood of the Danes, slain in Battle.

1776 C. Linnaeus Introd. Bot. 391 Radicalis, springing from the Root... Caulinus, springing from the Stem.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 661 Shoots of the same year's growth, springing from wood of the last year's growth.

1845 P. H. Gosse Ocean (1849) i. 35 From a number of little rootlets..springs a straight olive-brown stem.

1920 C. McKay Spring in New Hampsh. 28 The vivid grass with visible delight Springing triumphant from the pregnant earth.

1974 J. A. Michener Centennial vi. 338 There was moisture in the ground, and from it sprang a million flowers, gold and blue and brown and red.

2013 R. M. Stone Eat with Joy 163 Some vegetables.., like broccoli raab and string beans, spring from the earth with very little encouragement.

(b) intransitive. figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)]

arisec950

syeOE

comeOE

riselOE

springc1175

buildc1340

derivec1386

sourdc1386

proceedc1390

becomea1400

to be descended (from, of)1399

bursta1400

to take roota1400

resolve?c1400

sourdre14..

springc1405

descenda1413

sprayc1425

well?a1475

depart1477

issue1481

provene1505

surmount1522

sprout1567

accrue?1576

source1599

dimane1610

move1615

drill1638

emane1656

emanate1756

originate1758

to hail from1841

deduce1866

inherita1890

stem1932

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §314 Thanne is pryde the general roote of alle harmes, for of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches, as Ire, Enuye [etc.].

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xviii. 210 A wande shall spryng fro Iesse roytt.

1576 G. Whetstone Ortchard of Repentance 11 in Rocke of Regard I bought at worst, yet sould I vnder foote, A poore increase, can spring of such a roote.

1626 D. Featley Ancilla Pietatis 324 That the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility, and spring vpward in hope.

1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 876 The Primitive root out of which the vast stock of the Catholick Church sprung.

1786 J. Matthews Let. 20 Nov. in Voy. River Sierra Leone (1791) 95 The Suzeé language seems to be the root from which the Bagoe..sprung.

1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 61 Commerce! beneath whose poison-breathing shade No solitary virtue dares to spring.

1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 6 Some miraculous soil, from which prodigies and portents spring.

1936 D. Carnegie How to win Friends & influence People i. ii. 42 Dr. Sigmund Freud..says that everything you and I do springs from two motives: the sex urge and the desire to be great.

2007 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 20 Dec. 66/3 The..tendency to view the Terror as springing from a nationalistic response to external aggression and internal sedition—has long had its critics.

b. intransitive. Without construction. Also in figurative contexts.In quot. c1300 reflexive.

ΚΠ

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. i. 82 On lengtentima springað oððe greniað wæstmas, and on sumera hig weaxað.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 437 Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1042 Forhe is wod þat soweþ his sed Þar neuer gras ne sprinþ ne bled.

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 130 (MED) Ihc here foȝeles singe & þat gras him springe.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5966 Here sprong lo þe uerste more [= stock] as of hom of normandye.

c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 135 Heil spice sprong þat neuer was spent.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4702 Na corn on erth, ne gress sprang.

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iii. l. 377 Ffertile, & fressh, ek knotty, sprongen newe Thy graffes be.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 90 in Poems (1981) 135 Lyke till a flour that plesandly will spring.

1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 50 The trompettes chapplettes were of oke serriall newly spronge, and not coome to perfectione.

1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 312 They begin to bud and shout forth, as the Vine, Fig-tree and others then springing.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 84 The Grass securely springs above the Ground.

1712 J. Norris Profitable Advice for Rich & Poor 50 A long green Leaf in Winter, on which the Cattle delight much to Feed; and where that is plentiful, Cattle keeps themselves in very good plight, till Grass springs again.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 455 It springs well, and its flax is sooner ripe than any other.

1830 Ld. Tennyson Poems 44 For her the green grass shall not spring,..Till Love have his full revenge.

1883 Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Railway 21 In all cases where the seed does not spring, the Contractor is to re-sow the same.

1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. xiii. 163 Where this wild plant [sc. love]springs, men and women are but moths around the pale, flame-like blossom.

1988 J. Frame Carpathians xvii. 102 The grass sprang tall.

2006 N. Roberts Morrigann's Cross vi Foxglove sprang tall and purple among the trees.

c. intransitive. With up (formerly also †out, †forth). Also in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout forth or spring up

growc725

springOE

upspringc1000

sprouta1200

springa1225

risea1382

burgeon1382

burgea1387

to run upa1393

lance1393

bursta1400

launch1401

reke?1440

alighta1450

shoot1483

to come up?1523

start1587

to grow up1611

to come away1669

to break forth1675

upshoot1841

outgrow1861

sprinta1878

break1882

sprount1890

a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 69 (MED) Ne mai wexen non god sad of godes wordes on ȝeure herte molde..Amang alle ðese embeðankes is ðe wrecche hierte swa iheueȝed, þat non godes word upp ne mai springen.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xiii. 5 Anoon thei ben sprungen vp, for thei hadde nat depnesse of erthe.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 4679 (MED) The lilie croppes on and on, Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, He smot of.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20788 In þe toumb..Mai naman find na thing bot flur Springand up of suet sauur.

c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 177 (MED) Þer is a-nodyr tree þat spryngith vppe on heyght þe lenght of a mannys arme.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 This yere is farre forthe the hawthorne buddes be spronge forthe all redy.

1556 J. Olde tr. R. Gwalther Antichrist f. 14 The gospell, which was than but grene, & newly sprongen up.

1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xliv. 4 And they shall spring vp as among the grasse, as willowes by the water courses.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 548 There stood A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change.

1710 T. Nairne Let. from S. Carolina 9 Many Flowers, which spring up of themselves, and flourish in their kind, every season of the Year.

1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature IV. 235 The olive-tree which Minerva had there caused to spring up.

1837 P. Keith Bot. Lexicon 158 At first a tuft of fungi sprung up accidentally on some particular spot.

1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 423 I hear that the young grass is fast springing up.

1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xxxiii. 271 The gravel sweep was weedy, and grass had sprung up at the very jaws of the garage.

1962 S. Wynter Hills of Hebron xvi. 196 The heavy fragrance of the wild jasmine that had sprung up near their home oppressed her spirit.

2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) ix. 299 Wildfires increased, because the second-growth woods springing up on logged land were more flammable than were old-growth forests.

28. To derive, to proceed from; to arise, to come about; to spread.

a. intransitive. Without construction. To arise, to come about; to spread. rare after 18th cent.

ΚΠ

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxviii. 519 Swa micel oga sprang ofer eallum þam mennisce, þæt þær nan ne belaf þe ne gelyfde on god.

c1300 St. Clement (Laud) l. 470 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 337 Ase bestes huy leoueden in wildernesse þo cristinedom bi-gan furst springue.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xii. 30 Þer was sprongen a grete crie in Egipte.

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 338 Among al blasphemes þat ever sprongen, þis is þe moost cursid.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 93 A thyng i-sprunge late, Bitwene religiouse men..of the oone partie, and a worthy man..of þe oþer.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. li^v/2 Of late amonge dyuers people was sprongen a mater of dowt vpon the most olde custume had and vsed in this Cyte of London.

1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. i. i. f. 1 The vtilitie springinge by the right vse of these [sc. medicines] is great.

1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xiv. 98 New pleasures will be springing forth unto us.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 312 If Natures concord broke, Among the Constellations warr were sprung .

1711 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 163 in Parl. Papers 1884–5 (C. 4576–I) XLII. 1 I ask..whether such an intent ever sprung in the brains of the Irish Commissioners.

1783 S. Johnson Let. 20 Aug. (1994) IV. 187 I read your last kind letter with great delight, but when I came to love and honour, what sprang in my Mind?

1902 V. Jacob Sheep-stealers xiv. 129 A little rift had sprung between the two brothers.

2013 Sunday Times (Nexis) 5 May (Sports section) 5 When Rodallega hit the bar, hope sprang among the fans who had booed Fulham off the field at half-time.

b. With prepositions.

(a) intransitive. To arise out of (formerly also †of, †up out of).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)]

arisec950

syeOE

comeOE

riselOE

springc1175

buildc1340

derivec1386

sourdc1386

proceedc1390

becomea1400

to be descended (from, of)1399

bursta1400

to take roota1400

resolve?c1400

sourdre14..

springc1405

descenda1413

sprayc1425

well?a1475

depart1477

issue1481

provene1505

surmount1522

sprout1567

accrue?1576

source1599

dimane1610

move1615

drill1638

emane1656

emanate1756

originate1758

to hail from1841

deduce1866

inherita1890

stem1932

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4936 Forr alle mahhtess springenn ut Off soþ mecnessess rote.

a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 63 Of ðesere godes dradnesse springþ ut an oðer godes ȝiue.

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 1026 (MED) Horn..him ȝede alone, Also he sprunge of stone.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27538 Vte o þir seuen [sins] all oþer springes, Als of þe stouen þe branches hinges.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 283 It springeth out of compassioun, and of ruthe of an-oþeres synne.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 86 They [sic] chefe poynt that perteynyth to theyr honowre,..wych ys ryse & spronge of a long custume.

1578 A. Parkhurst Let. 13 Nov. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) iii. 674 I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soeuer it springeth.

a1613 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 261 Out of which knott hath spronge the peace of this lande.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xii. 58 New Religions may againe be made to spring out of them.

1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued II. i. 252 Much of our good springs out of evil.

1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. ix. 1625 Some good, however, generally springs up out of evil.

1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 343 Such a limitation being by way of use, springs out of the estate.

1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 69 Out of the union of wisdom and temperance with courage, springs justice.

1952 E. J. Pratt Towards Last Spike 41 Miracles did not spring out of air.

2009 Independent on Sunday 22 Nov. (New Review) 19/1 All of our work springs out of a love of making food.

(b) intransitive. To arise or proceed from (formerly also †whence).

ΚΠ

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §247 It is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes þ^t synnes spryngen, & how they encressen.

1568 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 77 Beseiking him fra quhome all mercy springis Ws to ressaue.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Psalms (1963) x. 22 From his mouth doth spring Cursing and cosening.

1629 W. Prynne Church of Englands Old Antithesis 88 From whence then springs this inæqualitie..?

1692 tr. Sallust Wks. 9 Envy sprung from Opulency.

1718 Free-thinker No. 10. 2 Nothing, but Confusion and Immorality, can spring from Falsehood.

1790 F. Burney Diary Apr. (1842) V. 100 Humour springing from mere dress, or habits,..is quickly obsolete.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 155 The coalition which had restored the king terminated with the danger from which it had sprung.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §4. 192 A yet more important result sprang from the increase of population.

1917 Virginia Law Rev. 5 198 The close bond of communion and business intercourse that will spring from the union of arms with our allies.

1957 A. Miller Coll. Plays (1958) iv. 27 His terror springs from his never-lost awareness of time and place.

2015 Children, Youth & Environments 25 294 The changes documented by the book seem to spring..from unlucky but well-intentioned policy choices.

c. intransitive. With up (formerly also †upon). To rise up, to arise, to come about.

ΚΠ

1452 in Catal. Anc. Deeds (1906) V. 350 The cause also of such dyvorce hade and movet sprongen or comyn opon the party of the saide Margarete.

1544 R. Tracy Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII sig. Ciij Enormytyes & abuses sprongen vp in the christen religion.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxviij^v There sprang vp many aduersaries.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 180 There have sprung up also in these later times, two other Courts.

1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. John i. 1 Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the Person, Doctrine & Works of Christ.

1768 E. Search Light of Nature II. iii. xxv. 78 He will find the train of thought springing up in his mind.

1823 C. Lamb On Some of Old Actors (new ed.) in Elia 304 Thought springing up after thought, I would almost say, as they were watered by her tears.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §4. 128 The scholastic philosophy sprung up in the schools of Paris.

1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse ii. v. 202 The voice of..persistency itself, trodden down but springing up again.

1971 ‘G. Charles’ Destiny Waltz v. 194 A kind of affection seemed to have sprung up between them.

2004 C. Unger–Hamilton in Slightly Foxed Autumn 32 The seeds of unrest were springing up among the underclass throughout the country.

29. intransitive. Of a person or (occasionally) an animal: to be born of; to descend or originate from. Frequently with from (formerly also †of, †out of). Also figurative.

a. In the perfect formed with to be or as a past participle.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use.

ΚΠ

OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1067 Of geleaffullan & æðelan cynne heo wæs asprungon, hire fæder wæs Eadward æþeling.]

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 560 An hird..off eleazar. Wass sprungenn & wass strenedd.

a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 175 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 225 Alle þo þe sprunge beð of adam and of eue.

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 8024 Þis deuelen felle Þat ben ysprongen out of helle.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxv. 4 Forsoþ of Madyan was sprongne Epha.

c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 2 Thys manne, sprongyng or boryne of lowe lynage..begane to haunte the housholdys of noble men.

c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich Mittelengl. Medizinbuch (1896) 214 Item drynk aissches mad of ey schelles, þat bryddes were sprong, in whyt wyn.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. viii. 41 The Mahomies..were the first gentlemen sprung out of the ancient stocke of Iustinian.

1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. C7^v The brats ysprong from Typhons loins.

1652 E. Benlowes Theophila vii. xxxi. 99 Sprung of Thy Self, or rather no way sprung! Chief Good!

1699 R. Barret Compan. for Midwives sig. A4 How Illustrious a Family ye're sprung of, how much ye retain, nay, add to the Honour of your Noble Ancestors.

1748 J. Thomson Castle of Indolence 54 From Heaven this Life ysprung, from Hell thy Glories vild!

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. xvi. 431 Under yon great city fight no few Sprung from Immortals whom thou shalt provoke.

1835 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 558 (note) Alcibiades, who, on the mother's side, was sprung from Cœsyra.

1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 36 Thou, sprung of the seed of the seas As an ear from a seed of corn.

1932 Strand Mag. Feb. 174/2 He is sprung from the black St. Huberts brought over by William the Conqueror.

2000 T. Crowley Politics of Lang. in Ireland iii. 71 The Scoitbhearla must have been the mother tongue of Neimhidh..and accordingly of every colony sprung from him or from his descendants.

b. In other constructions.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > descendant > be descended [verb (intransitive)]

comeOE

springa1200

ofspringc1300

to be descended (from, of)1399

to run of ——?a1400

descenda1413

proceed?a1439

issuea1450

to come downc1450

outspringa1547

decline1598

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) i. 186 Seo mægð asprang of Noes yltstan suna se wæs gehaten Sem.]

a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 153 (MED) Swo michel mankin sholde springen of him þat no man hit ne mihte tellen.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 337 Þer ssolle kinges come and springe of þi blod.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5599 Þe kinges kin i sal vn-do, O quam sprang of þe sauueur.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §761 Of swich seed as cherles spryngeth, of swich seed spryngen lordes.

1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) cii. sig. f3 Moche peple spronge and come of hem.

a1525 Ballat Our Lady in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 271 Our wicht Invinsable sampson sprang þe fra.

1547 tr. Herman V of Wied Simple & Relig. Consultation sig. c The sonne of God sprange out of the substaunce of the father.

1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies i. xxv. 80 From him sprang two families or linages.

1665 R. Howard & J. Dryden Indian-queen ii, in R. Howard Four New Plays 150 You grieve to see Your young Prince glorious, 'cause he sprang from me.

1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. i. 3 He consecrated it to the God of War, from whom he would have it thought he sprung.

1779 Mirror No. 32 His father having sprung nobody knows whence.

1840 W. Irving Oliver Goldsmith I. 10 He sprang from a respectable, but by no means a thrifty stock.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. ii. 14 His face was stamped with all the nobility of the Domitian race from which he sprang.

1904 Methodist Rev. Sept. 707 Back somewhere in eonic time his ancestral line sprang from an inarticulate germ.

1959 J. Cary Captive & Free 84 Hooper, son of a lorry driver.., had..a great contempt for the class from which he had sprung.

2015 Independent (Nexis) 27 Jan. 47 She sprang from a long-lived family, documented back to the 18th century.

30. transitive. To grow (a beard). Now rare and archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > hair > hair on lower part of face > [verb (transitive)] > grow beard

springc1330

c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) l. 1445 A ȝong kniȝt, þat sprong furst herd [read berd], Of no man he nas aferd.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 2042 (MED) Þis ȝonge lusty man..is to me most plesaunt and entere, With berd y-sprong, schy[n]ing liche gold were.

1968 Prairie Schooner 42 244 He Was only twenty and sprang A beard like a Union private That ran around his head a hot Halo of hair.

31.

a. intransitive. To increase in height or length; to extend or grow out from something in a curving upward direction. Sometimes with up.In later use chiefly in botanical contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > development, growth, or degeneration > [verb (intransitive)] > grow

waxc1000

thrivec1175

breeda1350

grow1382

springc1384

upgrowc1430

shoot1538

bud1566

eche1567

to start up1570

vegetate1605

excresce1691

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > become high(er) [verb (intransitive)]

astyc950

arisec1225

rise?a1400

rearc1400

heighten1567

stem1577

upclimb1582

taper1589

clamber?1611

shoot1648

relevate1661

ascend1667

spring1673

spear1822

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. vii. 20 Of ten hornes whiche it hadde in the hed, and of the tother that was sprungen vp [L. ortum fuerat].

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 3265 The spekes..The space of a spere lenghe springande full faire.

1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. cij Yet have I sene sum folkys take hem owte of mewe when the sarcell were bot halfe i spronge.

1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 273 A hawkes feather beeyng drawen out of the wyng or trayne, by violence and force,..a newe feather can by no meanes growe and spring vp in the place.

1673 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Words 115 The cake of Silver after it grows cold springs or rises up into branches.

1785 T. Martyn in tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. xx. 288 The stalks are closely covered with tubercles,..and from the sides of these spring many branches.

1845 Florist's Jrnl. 6 130 The central peduncle springs from the apex of the older branch.

1882 S. H. Vines tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. (ed. 2) 544 Three or five large broad protuberances..spring from the periphery of the floral axis.

1911 F. O. Bower Plant-life on Land iv. 64 The calyx sprang from bract-like leaves.

1974 S. Clapham Greenhouse Bk. xv. 152 The Bird's Nest Fern Asplenium nidus, which hardly looks like a fern at all with its erect undivided fronds springing from a central crown.

2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 11 July iv. 4/2 It is possible to prune smaller weeping side branches that spring from the large weeping branches.

b. intransitive. To attain a certain height or point of growth; to become fully grown. Also in figurative contexts. Now somewhat rare.Quot. 1661 may be influenced by sense 12.

ΚΠ

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 Howe you be spronge sythe I sawe you.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 51 According to the height that I woulde haue the Hedge to spring.

1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) vi. sig. K4 Corne as yet not sprong To the full height.

1661 J. Davies Civil Warres 365 They could not digest to see a young sprig..sprung up to be a commander.

1715 A. Pope Temple of Fame 41 When thus ripe Lyes are to perfection sprung.

1864 T. Woolner My Beautiful Lady (ed. 2) 102 Beholdest thou Thy babe, now sprung a man.

2005 D. Leon Blood from Stone vi. 49 The streets had instantly blossomed with Tamils, all carrying bouquets of collapsible umbrellas. All one had to do was add water, and they sprang to full size.

32.

a. transitive. To produce, bring forth (shoots, leaves, blossom, etc.). Also in figurative contexts. rare after 17th cent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > produce or bring forth

doeOE

makelOE

to bring forthc1175

farrow?c1225

childc1350

fodmec1390

raise1402

spring?1440

upbringc1440

breed1526

procreate1546

hatch1549

generate1556

product1577

deprompt1586

produce1587

spire1590

sprout1598

represent1601

effer1606

depromea1652

germinate1796

output1858

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) i. l. 823 And ther is cold [emended in ed. to In placis cold], thyn heruest seed bytyme Is best to haste, in springinge seed tabide [L. verna vero tardior].

c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) l. 1 (MED) In a moruenyng of Maye..Medowes sall spryng Blomes and blossomes of brighte colours.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xli^v There be trees woll..growe well and spring rotes of them selfe.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 545 The same fig trees when they begin to spring leaf and look green.

a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 94 A seed which will spring any thing in corrupt minds.

1692 J. Dryden Cleomenes iii. ii. 31 If as we dream, Ægyptian Earth Impregnated with Flame, Sprung the first man.

1812 W. Nicol Gardener's Kalendar (ed. 2) 239 From the established spurs of these trees, wood-buds will often shoot, and whenever they are ascertained to be such, by having sprung a few joints, they should be displaced.

2011 A. Forge Frugavore 72/2 You can throw a rotten tomato into a greenhouse basket and watch it spring tall shoots.

†b. transitive. In figurative contexts. Occasionally with up. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1475 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 485 Jff Sporle woode sprynge any syluer ore golde it is my wyll þat fyrst off alle ye [etc.].

1593 T. Lodge in R. S. Phœnix Nest 49 Striue no more, Forspoken ioyes to spring.

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiv. 494 Thy tears can spring no deeds To help thee, nor recall thy son.

1639 P. Massinger Unnaturall Combat iii. iii. sig. G1^v Nor shall the raine of your good counsell fall Upon the barren sands, but spring up fruit.

1695 J. Collier Misc. upon Moral Subj. 67 He that has such a burning Zeal, and springs such mighty Discoveries, must needs be an admirable Patriot.

33. intransitive. To come into existence; to suddenly appear or show signs of life. Also in to spring forth, to spring to life, to spring into being in the same sense.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > [verb (intransitive)] > come into existence

awakenc885

waxc888

arisec950

beOE

comeOE

aspringc1000

atspringOE

growOE

to come upOE

inrisea1300

breedc1385

upspringc1386

takec1391

to come in?c1430

engender?1440

uprise1471

braird?a1500

risea1513

insurde1521

insurge1523

spring1538

to start up1568

exsurge1578

upstart1580

become1605

born1609

1538 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Sarcerius Common Places of Script. f. lxii^v It is lauful to put of violence with violence, & such like, which lawes be sprong forth of the noughty affections of our nature.

1590 R. Hitchcock tr. F. Sansovino Quintesence of Wit f. 38 Affaires spring foorth of affaires, and Time dooth gouerne them.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 334 Mean while The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring New Heav'n and Earth.

1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 130 Springs a palace in its stead, But in a distant spot.

1813 T. Busby tr. Lucretius Nature of Things I. i. 1055 Nought that beneath the etherial concave grows, Had sprang to life, or to perfection rose.

1889 H. Zimmern Hansa Towns 92 The middle class sprang into full being..as a link between the nobility and the common people.

1919 Liverpool Jrnl. Commerce 20 Nov. 6/4 Within the past few months regular air post services have sprung into being.

1955 D. Eden Darling Clementine (1959) 8 A bundly shape in the corner moved and sprang to life.

2004 Q Sept. 159/2 Director Eve Wood's superb documentary explores the electronic scene that sprung to life in the Steel City during the late '70s.

34. intransitive. Of a female animal or an animal's udder: to swell with milk. Also (esp. of a cow): to show signs of giving birth, either by a swelling of the udders or a loosening of the pelvic bones. Chiefly English regional in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > [verb (intransitive)] > swell with milk or dry up

truss1552

spring1607

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice i. 5 It must be good ground, because it may make your Mares spring with milke.

1714 London Gaz. No. 5233/4 A brown Mare in Foal,..Springs for Foaling, and is 5 Years old.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 281 Two understanding farmers..observed a heifer's udder to spring much.

1819 Amer. Farmer 6 Aug. 149/2 She then springed very quick, and her milk became perfectly sweet and good for a week before she calved.

1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Spring, to relax or become flaccid in the parts about the Barren, or ‘shape’ when the time of calving is drawing close on; of a cow.

1907 Times 25 Feb. 14/3 It will be found that the udder springs a little.

1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Spring, this word is used in relation to the natural falling or relaxation in the hindquarters of a cow preliminary to calving, and to similar symptoms in mares and other animals.

35. intransitive. Of a sect, society, religious order, etc.: to arise or develop from a prominent thinker, or from a school of thought, religion, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > a civilization or culture > be or become a civilization or culture [verb (intransitive)]

spring1654

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > descendant > be descended [verb (intransitive)] > from a society

spring1654

1654 P. Heylyn Theologia Veterum iii. v. 432 Reckoning up the Sects which sprang from Luther.

1657 J. Spencer Questions Resol. Unlearned Protestants 57 The Protestant religion, or any sect whatsoever sprung from it.

1700 R. Jenkin Reasonableness & Certainty Christian Relig. (ed. 2) iii. v. 419 The Stoicks first sprang from the Cynicks.

1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 114 The Monophysites [were] a sect which sprung from the Eutychians.

1847 F. Prandi tr. C. Cantù Reform. Europe I. 214 From the Order of the Benedictines there sprang the Maurines.

1912 Catholic Encycl. XV. 761/1 The sect sprang from a Philadelphian society founded at Elberfeld in 1726.

1977 Listener 30 June 866/3 The Fabian Society..sprang from an idealistic society called the Fellowship of the New Life.

2014 J. McHugo Syria v. 180 Alawism springs from Shi'ism and incorporates elements of Neo-Platonism.

Phrases

P1. to spring one's (also a) rattle: to make a warning noise with a rattle or other implement; to give a warning of danger; (also, of an alarm) to emit a warning noise. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [verb (transitive)] > rattle

to shake upc1430

clitter1530

berattle1553

rattle1560

rail1770

to spring one's rattle1787

to tirl the sneck1800

1787 World, Fashionable Advertiser 13 Sept. Cooper was impudent, and was going to spring his rattle for being thus molested in his duty.

1812 Ann. Reg., Chron. 26 Mr. Johnston sprung a rattle.

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xix. 195 We made him [sc. the rattlesnake] spring his rattle again, and began another attack.

1887 R. L. Stevenson Misadv. J. Nicholson ii. 4 He heard the alarm spring its rattle in the lower story.

1916 Times 8 Dec. 4/5 (advt.) In the silence of the night he hears the top-hatted policeman spring his rattle.

2009 C. Emsley Great Brit. Bobby i. 17 He quickly struggled to his feet, sprung his rattle and set off in pursuit of the man carrying the bundle.

P2. to spring into action: to act with speed, suddenness, or alacrity after being still or inert. Also figurative.

ΚΠ

1820 J. H. B. Mountain Serm. Death Late Majesty 15 If a hand were raised to insult him, ten thousand arms sprung into action.

1841 Life & Times T. Cranmer 3/1 The power of being virtuous..comes in the form of conscience and principle, and, cherished, springs into action.

1940 A. F. Harlow Paper Chase xii. 206 The cheat and the fakir always spring into action under such circumstances.

1989 L. Zolf Scorpions for Sale x. 59 Bronfman's people in Winnipeg, who had studiously ignored Shtarker and his attacks, now sprung into action.

2012 Independent 28 Feb. 27/3 One enterprising user sprung into action and started the feed @AngiesRightLeg.

P3. colloquial. where did you (also he, she, etc.) spring from? and variants: addressed to a person who has appeared suddenly or unexpectedly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] > at appearance

hey or high jingo!1670

speak (also talk) of the devil1738

where did you (also he, she, etc.) spring from?1892

1833 London Lit. Gaz. 21 Dec. 804/3 Where did you spring from, colonel?

1892 I. Zangwill Children of Ghetto III. ii. vi. 109 ‘Hullo! where did you spring from?’ It was Raphael who had elicited the exclamation. He suddenly loomed upon the party.

1924 P. G. Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith ix. 181 ‘Wherever,’ she inquired, ‘did you spring from, Ed?’

1973 D. Coltman tr. R. Merle Malevil vi. 152 Where did she spring from, I'd like to know.

2014 B. T. Bradford Cavendon Hall i. 4 You startled me. Where did you spring from, Genevra?

P4. to spring a leak.

a. Nautical. To have a leak open or start in a vessel. Also figurative. Cf. sense 9b(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > let out > through a leak > have or make a leak open

to spring a leak1623

1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine iii. ii. sig. G3^v He hath sprung a leake too, Or I'me cousen'd.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 17 In an hours time, we were got off, without springing the least leak.

a1721 M. Prior Vicar of Bray & Sir T. More in Wks. (1907) II. 252 You would not have stopped that part of the Ship where the Leak was sprung.

1790 Analyt. Rev. Apr. 402 The bark..struck the vessel, which sprung a leak.

1804 Naval Chron. 12 146 She lost her rudder, sprung a leak, and was obliged to throw her guns overboard.

1894 Times (Weekly ed.) 2 Feb. 91/3 After she left Swansea she sprang a leak.

1927 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 62/1 ‘Blamed if the old craft ain't sprung a leak again!’ muttered Captain Home.

2005 Daily Tel. 17 Oct. 13/1 We saw from the clouds there would be gale-force winds from the south-east. Then the boat sprang a leak.

b. To urinate. slang.

ΚΠ

1839 W. McNally Evils & Abuses Naval & Merchant Service 119 A very pretty Spanish girl..swung over the hammocks suspended from the main yard, at which she was so excited as to spring a le— (I almost said it).

1995 J. Houston Confessions Igloo Dweller i. 10 I was given a battered enamel mug full of hot tea... That soon drove me outside, for I desperately needed to spring a leak.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

springv.²

Brit.

/sprɪŋ/, U.S.

/sprɪŋ/

Inflections: Past tense and past participle sprung, springed;

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring n.¹

Etymology: < spring n.¹The past tense and past participle form sprung in senses 1 and 2a (the only current sense) is apparently by analogy with the inflection of spring v.¹ (perhaps by association with spring v.¹ 32 and spring v.¹ 19, respectively); with sense 2a compare also sprung adj.² The past tense and past participle form springed (which is expected for a verb converted from a noun) is also attested in most senses, although in sense 2a it is the less common form. Individual senses. With sense 2a compare earlier springed adj. (derived directly from the noun). With sense 3 compare earlier summer v.¹ 1 and winter v. 1.

†1. transitive. To allow (ground containing stumps of felled trees) to produce new shoots. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [verb (transitive)] > allow to send up shoots

spring1690

respring1785

1690 L. Dobson Let. 11 June in E. Bateson Hist. Northumberland (1895) II. 259 I have ordered the workmen to hedg in two acres of ground allready sprung 2 yards high... I shall spring more if you require it.

a. transitive. To equip with one or more springs or devices which act in a similar manner to springs; esp. (in later use) to equip a vehicle with suspension. Cf. sprung adj.² 1. Somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > make pliable [verb (transitive)] > give elasticity to > provide with spring(s)

steel-spring1778

spring1905

1821 Philos. Mag. 57 315 In this case no master would be entitled to credit for his chronometers, as it is the general practice to employ workmen to spring them.

1905 Automobile Topics 27 May 491 (Cent. Dict. Suppl.) Having learned to properly spring horse-drawn and railway carriages.

2001 tr. J. Reimpell et al. Automotive Chassis v. 345 Cylindrical torsion bars made of round steel are used to spring the body and as anti-roll bars.

†b. transitive. To motivate, inspire (a person); to give spring or elasticity to (a thing). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > make pliable [verb (transitive)] > give elasticity to

spring1843

1843 E. Jones Stud. Sensation & Event 115 To measureless action spring'd by her in a moment.

1875 F. J. Bird Dyer's Hand-bk. 54 The wool will come out of this bath rather dirty and grey-looking. In order to spring it, it must be put as quickly as possible into water.

†3. intransitive. To pass or spend the season of spring; (of an animal) to find or receive sufficient food and shelter during the spring. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > year > season > [verb (intransitive)] > pass the spring, summer, or winter

winterc1384

summer1440

aestivate1623

perhiemate1623

summerize1797

hibernate1816

spring1835

December1845

overwinter1895

1835 Fraser's Mag. 11 507 Every third man has wintered at Naples, springed at Vienna.

1885 Canad. Bee Jrnl. 3 June 155 All [sc. the bees] wintered well and are springing well.

1907 J. G. Millais Newfoundland viii. 178 Humpbacks appear to spring in the northern waters, and often come close in shore.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

n.¹OE

n.²c1450

n.³1578

v.¹eOE

v.²1690

单词	spring
释义	springn.¹ Brit. /sprɪŋ/, U.S. /sprɪŋ/ Forms: Old English sprinc (rare), Old English sprync, Old English–early Middle English sprincg, Old English–1500s spreng, Old English–1500s spryng, Old English– spring, early Middle English spirngas (plural, probably transmission error), Middle English sprenge, Middle English sprung, Middle English–1500s sprynge, Middle English–1600s springe, 1500s spreing (Scottish), 1500s spryngges (plural), 1600s sprink (Scottish), 1900s sprang (U.S. regional (north midlands)). Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Perhaps also partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring v.¹ Etymology: A merger of two words of distinct but closely related origin. Partly (i) (as Old English spring , spreng ) cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian -spring (in spēdelspring salivation), Old Dutch spring (as a place name; Middle Dutch sprinc , Dutch spring ), Old Saxon -spring (in e.g. gispring source of water) (Middle Low German sprinc ), Middle High German spring (German Spring , now chiefly regional), all chiefly in sense ‘source of water’ (compare branch I.), and also Old Icelandic -springr (in afspringr progeny: see offspring n.), Old Swedish, Swedish spring , Old Danish, Danish spring , both chiefly in sense ‘act of leaping’ (compare branch II.; probably formed independently of the West Germanic forms) < an ablaut variant (e -grade) of the Germanic base of spring v.¹, apparently originally as the second element of compounds (see note). Partly (ii) (as Old English spryng ) cognate with Old Frisian -sprong (in ōrsprong origin; West Frisian sprong ), Old Dutch sprong (Middle Dutch spronc , Dutch sprong ), Middle Low German sprunc , Old High German sprung (Middle High German sprunc , German Sprung ), and ( < Middle Low German) Old Swedish, Swedish sprung (now rare), Old Danish -sprung (in afsprung origin; Danish sprung , now rare), all chiefly in sense ‘act of leaping’ (compare branch II.) < a different ablaut variant (zero-grade) of the same Germanic base, with the stem-forming suffix causing i-mutation in Old English. The reflexes of the two form types become indistinguishable in most varieties early in the Middle English period. Some uses may also show conversion directly < spring v.¹ Compare also spring n.²Further Germanic parallels. Compare German regional (Low German) Sprang act of leaping, Old Swedish sprang act of leaping (Swedish språng ) < another ablaut variant (o -grade) of the same Germanic base. Uses in Old English. In Old English the word is attested only with reference to sources of water and derived senses (see branch I.) and in medical uses (not exemplified here) which do not survive beyond Old English, such as ‘sprinkling (as treatment)’ and ‘flux’, or which do not survive beyond early Middle English, such as ‘ulcer’ (also in compounds, e.g. dēadspring malignant ulcer; compare Old High German gispring ulcer, pustule). The simplex is comparatively rare even with reference to sources of water, but compare more common use as the second element of compounds, as wellspring n. and water spring n. Compare also related formations with the same sense, as the prefixed -gespring in wiell-gespring (compare y- prefix and wellspring n., and also Old Saxon gispring ) and Old English ǣ-spring , ēa-spring (probably of more than one origin; compare both e- prefix¹ and ea n., and with the latter form compare also the Old Saxon parallel formation ahaspring ). Old English ǣ-spring , ēa-spring , and wiell-gespring are attested earlier in some senses in branch I. (compare quots. OE at sense 2b and eOE, OE at sense 1c). Compare further formations with prefixes in which the second element is more clearly of verbal origin (compare spring v.¹ and its prefixed forms), and which are not restricted to senses relating to water, such as offspring n., upspring n., and also Old English ǣ-spring in sense ‘dimming or setting of the sun’. The reflexes of the two ablaut grades cannot always be distinguished with certainty even in Old English. Specific senses. (a) Branch II.: With use denoting a spring tide (see sense 6) compare spring-flood n. 1 and later spring tide n. 2. Compare also Dutch spring (1627 in this sense). With use in architecture (see sense 9) compare Middle Low German spreng arch, vault. Compare earlier springer n.¹ 2. With nautical use denoting a split or crack (see sense 11, especially 11b) compare German Sprung , which has a general sense of ‘split, crack’ (1702). Perhaps compare also Old Icelandic sprunga crack, fissure (e.g. in a glacier). Compare earlier springing n.¹ 4. In use denoting a ship's sheer (see sense 15b) perhaps an extension of the specific architectural use denoting the curvature of an arch (see sense 9b). Compare Dutch sprong , German Spring , Sprung a ship's sheer (all 19th cent. or earlier). (b) Branch III.: With use denoting daybreak (see sense 16) compare earlier upspring n., day-spring n., and springing n.¹ 1a. With use denoting the season (see sense 17) compare earlier Lenten n. 1 and Lent n.¹ 1, which it supersedes in this sense, probably as a concomitant to the shift to a specialized religious sense in these words. Compare also springing n.¹ 1b and the loanwords prime temps n., ver n.¹, and vere n. (c) Branch IV.: Earlier currency denoting a copse of young trees (see sense 22) is probably implied by the place name Heselspring , Cumberland (1272, now Hazelspring) and also by the following:1299 in P. H. Reaney Place-names Essex (1935) 83 Bosci dict. Spryng..venella voc. Sprynges lane. Even earlier currency may be implied by the place name Worsprinc , Somerset (1086, now Woodspring), if the suggested explanation of the name as ‘copse where wood grouse are found’ is correct. (d) Branch V.: With use denoting a rope stabilizing an anchored or moored vessel (see sense 28) compare Dutch spring (1671). I. A flow of water and related senses. 1. a. A place where water emerges naturally from the ground; the source or head of a stream or river; the supply of water forming such a source. Now rare.In later use frequently difficult to distinguish from sense 1c. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > head or source headeOE wellspringOE springOE uptaking1241 head wella1325 wellheadc1330 sourcec1386 headspringa1398 headstreama1398 risinga1398 surge1523 springhead?a1560 head fountain1563 water head1567 fountainhead1585 headwater1612 fill1622 water source1651 urn1726 vomica1838 sponge-swamp1901 OE Bounds (Sawyer 179) in W. de G. Birch Cartularium Saxonicum (1885) I. 495 Æt þæs bernes ende æt ðæs wæteres sprynge. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 6239 (MED) With the Nimphes..Upon the spring of freisshe welles Sche schop to duelle. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1314 In middes þe land he sagh a spring Of a well. a1450 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xiv. xxxi In þeese hiȝe mounteyns is snowe alwey,..and heedes and springes of welles and of greete ryuers. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras xiii. E Y^e Hyest shall holde styll the sprynges of the streame agayne. 1555 R. Eden tr. P. Giovio Libellus de legatione Basilii in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 287 The Rhetians which inhabite the laundes abowte the sprynges of the ryuer Abdua. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill i. 4 Great riuers, whose mouthes are knowne, but not their springs. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis ii. 293 The Springs of the Well [might] be stopped, or at least intercepted. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Tides The Sea gradually swells; so that entering the Mouths of Rivers, it drives back the River-waters towards their Heads or Springs. 1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. vii. 228 The first spring of this water is..in the middle of a thick-set of shrubs. 1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 33 The sound Of the sweet brook that from the secret springs Of that dark fountain rose. 2015 H. A. Frambach in J. Backhaus Great Nations at Peril iii. 21 Prussia expanded its southern territories almost to the springs of the rivers Oder and Vistula. b. Something resembling a flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground, esp. in being refreshing or revitalizing. ΚΠ lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 138 Innen hire wæs se rihte spryng þære lifes welle, þær of flowð eall seo fullfremednysse þære twegre lifen. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 2 Þanne delve doun,..tyl þou fynde vij. sprynges of watyr of grace. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. vii He was a continual wellyng fountayne of eloquence,..a botomlesse spring of largesse and benignitie. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. ii. sig. B5^v Streames of bloud did rayle Adowne, as if their springs of life were spent. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. i. 72 Kennell,..whose filth and dirt Troubles the siluer Spring, where England drinkes. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 134 An ancient Legend I prepare to sing, And upward follow Fame's immortal Spring . View more context for this quotation 1751 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) ii. 7 Drink as deep as you can of these divine springs [sc. Homer and Virgil]. ?1768–9 Encycl. Brit. (1771) I. 644 When old age approaches,..the springs of life dry up. 1818 J. Keats Endymion ii. 88 And then there ran Two bubbling springs of talk from their sweet lips. 1851 F. D. Maurice Old Test.: Nineteen Serm. vii. 130 That he should open springs in hearts hitherto ice-bound! a1938 T. Wolfe You can't go Home Again (1940) i. vii. 127 He has returned to the springs of innocence and health from whence he came. 1975 R. P. Jhabvala Heat & Dust 118 It was as if there were a little spring welling up inside her that kept her fresh and gay. 2006 O. Moilanen Truth is in Dreams 97 Thus, the spring is a spring of sacrifice welling forth the water of life. c. A flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground; (also) a similar flow obtained by boring or other artificial means.In quots. eOE and OE showing Old English ǣ-spring and wiell-gespring in similar use. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > spring > [noun] welleOE walma897 spring?1316 spring wellc1340 water springc1450 source1477 fountain1490 quick-spring1530 eye1535 fountainhead1585 fount1594 springlet1661 keld1697 urn1726 spout head1733 spout1778 seep1824 eOE Metres of Boethius (partly from transcript of damaged MS) (2009) v. 12 Swa oft æspringe ut awealleð of clife harum col and hlutor. OE Phoenix 109 Of þam wilsuman wyllgespryngum brimcald beorgeð æt baða gehwylcum.] ?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) (2002) l. 195 Þe tuo sprunges vrneþ yfere. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 581 Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11699 Vnder þi rote þar es a spring, I wil þat vte þe water wring. 1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 356 A Sprynge of water, scatebra, scatirigo. 1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) iv. 20 A fountauyne..A noble sprynge a ryall conduyte hede. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxi. 58 A faire fountain..either of a natural spring or artificial. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 497 There are two little springs, the one fresh, the other somewhat brackish. 1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 386 It has also some Springs of good Water. 1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 142 For me, Health gushes from a thousand springs. 1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. xx. 136 If there are springs in all places,..it will be necessary to make drains at the sides. 1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 200 At Vaucluse, there is a spring of water yielding from thirteen to forty thousand cubic feet..per minute. 1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 25 Springs of this simple character, which issue at the junction of permeable and impermeable strata, are extremely common. 1912 H. Belloc This & That 139 There is no good drinking water in that land, save here and there at a rare spring, unless you dig a well. 1981 C. Priest Affirmation ix. 77 There was a spring in the rock, flowing across a flat surface, and trickling out over the edge were a number of tiny waterfalls. 2003 R. MacFarlane Mountains of Mind (2004) ii. 39 They pitch camp beside a spring. †d. to take one's spring from (also out of) and variants: to have one's origin in; to emerge or arise from. Obsolete.In early use only with reference to the emergence of rivers; in later use also figurative, and perhaps sometimes understood as showing sense 5a or sense 26a(a). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate or be a source of [verb (transitive)] > derive, come from, or originate in fet1393 to take one's spring from (also out of)c1440 to come out of ——1481 extract1490 deduct1530 fetch1552 desume1564 deduce1565 father1577 derive1600 traduce1615 raisea1631 originate1653 to be sourced in1941 c1440 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Rosenbach 1084/1) (1940) Prol. l. 49 Spryng [1542 Mount Vesulus..where as the Poo, out of a wel smal Taketh hys fyrst spring and hys sours; c1470 Coll. Phys. spryng, c1405 Hengwrt spryngyng]. 1568 T. Hacket tr. A. Thevet New Found Worlde ii. f. 3 Diuerse nauigable Riuers that bringeth greate riches, as one named Malue..another yet named Sala, taking his spring in Mountayne Dure. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xv. 129 The riuer of Salef, which takes her spring from [Fr. prend sa source du] the mount of Taur. 1608 B. Jonson Masque of Blacknesse in Characters Two Royall Masques A3^v This riuer taketh spring out of a certain Lake, east-ward. 1657 J. Tombes Anti-pædobaptism: 3rd Pt. lxxxvii. 752 Our present distractions cannot with any shew of truth be said to take their spring from Anabaptism. 1729 Thoughts True Brit. conc. Gibraltar 54 Within 15 Miles of the Place where the River Duero takes its Spring. 1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XV. xvi. iv. i. 36 Both these sides are bounded by the Nile, which, taking its spring at near the middle distance between them,..surrounds, and as it were intrenches it every way. 1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism v. 222 The spiritual power..taking its spring from Christianity. 1845 New Monthly Mag. & Humorist Apr. 574 These early volumes..taking their spring out of the reeking fires of the revolution. 2. a. A person or personification regarded as a source, beginning, or origin. Chiefly with of. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun] > person as source of something wellOE springc1225 seedsman1587 the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] ordeOE thresholdeOE frumthc950 anginOE frumeOE worthOE beginninga1225 springc1225 springc1225 commencementc1250 ginninga1300 comsingc1325 entryc1330 aginning1340 alphac1384 incomea1400 formec1400 ingressc1420 birtha1425 principlea1449 comsementa1450 resultancec1450 inition1463 inceptiona1483 entering1526 originala1529 inchoation1530 opening1531 starting1541 principium1550 entrance1553 onset1561 rise1589 begin1590 ingate1591 overture1595 budding1601 initiationa1607 starting off1616 dawninga1631 dawn1633 impriminga1639 start1644 fall1647 initial1656 outset1664 outsettinga1698 going off1714 offsetting1782 offset1791 commence1794 aurora1806 incipiency1817 set-out1821 set-in1826 throw-off1828 go-off1830 outstart1844 start1857 incipience1864 oncome1865 kick-off1875 off-go1886 off1896 get-go1960 lift-off1967 the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun] welleOE mothereOE ordeOE wellspringeOE fathereOE headeOE oreOE wellspringOE rootc1175 morea1200 beginningc1200 head wella1325 sourcec1374 principlea1382 risinga1382 springinga1382 fountain14.. springerc1410 nativity?a1425 racinea1425 spring1435 headspring?a1439 seminaryc1440 originationc1443 spring wellc1450 sourdre1477 primordialc1487 naissance1490 wellhead?1492 offspringa1500 conduit-head1517 damc1540 springhead1547 principium1550 mint1555 principal1555 centre1557 head fountain1563 parentage1581 rise1589 spawna1591 fount1594 parent1597 taproot1601 origin1604 fountainhead1606 radix1607 springa1616 abundary1622 rist1622 primitive1628 primary1632 land-spring1642 extraction1655 upstart1669 progenerator1692 fontala1711 well-eye1826 first birth1838 ancestry1880 Quelle1893 c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 474 Of al þet uuel iþe world..ich am of þe sprunges þe an þet hit meast of springeð. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 1710 Þouȝ he [sc. Ovid] of poetis was þe spring & welle. ?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 88 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 55 Of al vertu, thow art the spryng & welle! 1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xliii. 214 And thus I fame am euer magnyfyed..The sprynge of honoure, and of famous clerkes. ?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. E Eacus..Of whome this sayd Pyrrus, had his byrth and spryng. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. iii. 98 Macb. The Spring, the Head, the Fountaine of your Blood Is stopt... Macd. Your Royall Father's murther'd. View more context for this quotation 1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. John i. 9 As the Lord and Spring of Nature, he giveth all men their Intellectual Natural Light. 1707 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs ii. 127 My God, the Spring of all my Joys, The Life of my Delights. 1795 J. J. C. Timaeus tr. F. Schiller Cabal & Love v. i. 94 To whom should it [sc. a letter] be but to Ferdinand, the spring of my every thought. 1830 J. Galt Southennan lix. 205 He considered him as the spring of all his domestic misfortunes. 1876 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids xii. 352 Father Æneas, spring of the Roman weal. 1958 N. Abercrombie tr. J. Daniélou Lord of Hist. v. 82 There is no superseding Christ, he is..the last end of the world as he is the spring of its eternal youth. 1983 F. Warner Moving Refl. I. vii. 20 There will rise up, beyond our Jewish race.., A new humanity beloved of Christ. We are its birth, its spring. b. Something regarded as a source, beginning, or origin. Chiefly with of. Cf. wellspring n. 2.In quot. OE showing Old English ǣ-spring in similar use. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun] welleOE mothereOE ordeOE wellspringeOE fathereOE headeOE oreOE wellspringOE rootc1175 morea1200 beginningc1200 head wella1325 sourcec1374 principlea1382 risinga1382 springinga1382 fountain14.. springerc1410 nativity?a1425 racinea1425 spring1435 headspring?a1439 seminaryc1440 originationc1443 spring wellc1450 sourdre1477 primordialc1487 naissance1490 wellhead?1492 offspringa1500 conduit-head1517 damc1540 springhead1547 principium1550 mint1555 principal1555 centre1557 head fountain1563 parentage1581 rise1589 spawna1591 fount1594 parent1597 taproot1601 origin1604 fountainhead1606 radix1607 springa1616 abundary1622 rist1622 primitive1628 primary1632 land-spring1642 extraction1655 upstart1669 progenerator1692 fontala1711 well-eye1826 first birth1838 ancestry1880 Quelle1893 OE Blickling Homilies 29 Ealle þas god cumaþ of þæm æsprenge Godes mildheortnesse, & beoð atogen of þæm mægene þære Halgan þrynesse.] R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 97 Not to heuy bot to Ioy he is takyn &, teris as wer wyp away, in þe spryngis of endles & tru Ioy is myrthyd. c1450 ( H. Daniel Liber Uricrisiarum (Gloucester Cathedral 19) No. 1 f. 3^v, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Wel(le He [sc. the heart] is ground & welle & spryng of kynde hete in..the body. 1523 T. Cromwell Speech to Parl. in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) I. 30 Suche yerely reuenues and wellyng spryngges as [read of] treasure as shuld..be browght into this Realme. 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 48 Theare mount Ide resteth, thee springe of progenye Troian. 1612 J. Sylvester tr. Tropheis sig. Eee4, in E. Grimeston tr. P. Matthieu Heroyk Life Henry IV This noble Spirit doth to his Spring re-mount, This Bounties Flood retireth to his Fount. 1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. ii. 29 The true Spring and Source of the lively Idea of Pantheology. 1718 W. Wood Surv. Trade 193 I have discoursed on the African Trade, by reason it is the Spring and Parent whence the others flow. 1790 Monthly Rev. Apr. 362 That principle, which is the first spring of all useful exertions in education, viz. parental love. 1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 516 It was not one spring alone of dissension which distracted the government of Madras. 1892 B. F. Westcott Gospel of Life 106 Language reveals the deepest springs of thought. 1954 H. M. Kallen Secularism is Will of God iii. 30 The origin and spring of religious liberty. 2001 C. K. Bellinger Geneal. of Violence viii. 130 The ultimate springs of evil will always remain a mystery. 3. a. A flow of water emerging naturally out of the ground and possessing special properties, esp. of a medicinal or healing nature. Usually with a modifying adjective, as healing, mineral, thermal, etc.See also hot spring n. at hot adj. and n.¹ Compounds 3. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > spring > [noun] > miraculous or healing spring1567 chalybeate1667 the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments using water > [noun] > taking medicinal waters > a medicinal spring bath864 baina1552 spring1567 spa1626 well1632 onsen1896 1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. f. 114^v A christall Well there is than shining Glasse more sheere, A holy spring [L. fons sacer], some demen that some sacred Saint is there. 1580 Breif Descr. Well of Woman Hil sig. A.4 The qualiteis of the maist ancient Bathis and springis of Medicinall watteris. 1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion iii. 44 That Bathonian Spring, Which from the Sulphury Mines her med'cinall force doth bring. 1663 J. Beale Let. 2 Nov. in R. Boyle Corr. (2001) II. 156 My second remarke is of a healing Spring... This Water I tryed often. 1748 G. Washington Diary 18 Mar. (1976) 12 We this day call'd to see the Fam'd Warm Springs. 1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 187 About two leagues to the east of this mass I discovered a brackish mineral spring. 1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall xv. 517 Chalybeate springs are very common. 1855 H. Miller First Impr. Eng. (rev. ed.) xi. 232 The underground history of the mineral springs of Great Britain. 1917 Rep. 14th Ann. Meeting S. Afr. Assoc. for Advancement Sci. 1916 532 All these are practically unknown as medicinal springs. 1988 J. H. Bain Spas iii. 11 Bad Mittemdorf spa offers Acratic thermal springs, curative mud, and pure Alpine climate. 2012 B. Campbell Rivers & Power Anc. Rome ix. 356 Existing roads..helped in the expansion of the site of some curative springs. b. In plural. With the. A place or locality which has springs of this kind. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > place to which invalids resort > spa bath1562 balneary1646 wells1673 spa1781 springs1849 Kurort1868 society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > [noun] > health resort > with curative springs springs1849 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 347 In his younger days the gentlemen who visited the springs slept in rooms hardly as good as the garrets which he lived to see occupied by footmen. 1861 J. G. Saxe Money-king & Other Poems in Poems Compl. in One Volume 286 Pray, what do they do at the Springs? 1878 I. L. Bird Let. 28 Oct. in Lady's Life Rocky Mts. (1879) x. 180 Many go to the Springs in the last stage of consumption, thinking that the Colorado climate will cure them. 1937 Charleston (W. Virginia) Daily Mail 4 July 2/3 When a president of the United States paid a visit to the Springs there was invariably such a party at which he was guest of honor. 1989 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 5 Nov. 1 f Perhaps the nicest time to visit the springs is after supper. 2016 Sarasota (Florida) Herald-Tribune (Nexis) 27 May b 5 A new pass—which will allow residents to visit the springs 30 times in a year—will be sold to Sarasota County adults for $150. †4. A jet or spray of water. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > fountain > [noun] > jet or spout waterspout1607 jettoa1660 girandolac1660 jet d'eau1669 gerbe1699 jetteau1710 grille1712 spirt1716 water jet1727 spurt1775 girandole1813 spring1818 water-bow1855 sea-spout1867 1818 Lady Morgan in Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 111 All appeared silence and desolation; neither the grands nor petits eaux threw up their diamond springs in the sunshine. II. An energetic upward or forward movement, and related senses. †5. a. The first appearance or beginning of something; the moment at which something emerges or arises. Obsolete.Cf. senses 1d, 2b, and 26a, from which uses are sometimes difficult to distinguish. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] ordeOE thresholdeOE frumthc950 anginOE frumeOE worthOE beginninga1225 springc1225 springc1225 commencementc1250 ginninga1300 comsingc1325 entryc1330 aginning1340 alphac1384 incomea1400 formec1400 ingressc1420 birtha1425 principlea1449 comsementa1450 resultancec1450 inition1463 inceptiona1483 entering1526 originala1529 inchoation1530 opening1531 starting1541 principium1550 entrance1553 onset1561 rise1589 begin1590 ingate1591 overture1595 budding1601 initiationa1607 starting off1616 dawninga1631 dawn1633 impriminga1639 start1644 fall1647 initial1656 outset1664 outsettinga1698 going off1714 offsetting1782 offset1791 commence1794 aurora1806 incipiency1817 set-out1821 set-in1826 throw-off1828 go-off1830 outstart1844 start1857 incipience1864 oncome1865 kick-off1875 off-go1886 off1896 get-go1960 lift-off1967 c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) 146 Ah witen wel þeture lahen, ure bileaue, & ure ley, hefde lahe [perhaps read lahet] sprung [L. primordiis]. 1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 1st Pt. f. 14 The verye sprynge or fyrst goynge forth of the Gospell. a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 58^v The Latin tong,..from the spring, to the decay of the same. 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. vi. 58 Men if wee view them in their spring, are at the first without vnderstanding or knowledge at all. 1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy 262 Ever since the first spring of the Arian heresy, the Church had then suffered so much by the preaching of Arius the Presbyter, that they made a Law not to suffer any Presbyter to preach at all. 1682 N. Grew Idea Philos. Hist. Plants 3 in Anat. Plants Plants have their set and peculiar Seasons for their Spring or Birth. 1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. Introd. 67 Nothing being more difficult than to ascertain the precise beginning and first spring of an antient and long established custom. b. Perhaps: a yolk. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > eggs > [noun] > egg-yolk yelloweOE yolkeOE spring1600 the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [noun] > ovum or ootid > yolk yolkeOE spring1600 vitellary1650 vitellus1728 food-yolk1850 vitellin1857 trophoblast1886 vitelline1891 ovovitellin1906 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xii. 54 Stampe them all togither with the spring [Fr. germe] of an egge. 6. a. Originally: (the rising of the sea at) a high tide. In later use spec.: a tide, esp. a high tide, occurring shortly after the full or new moon and having a greater height, range, or extent than at other times; = spring tide n. 2. Frequently in plural. Often contrasted with neap. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > motive achesounc1230 encheason1297 quarrel1340 occasionc1384 springa1398 motive?a1439 motionc1475 springa1500 respect1528 regard1579 moment1611 movent1651 umbrage1664 what makes (someone) tick1931 the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > spring springa1398 spring-floodc1405 spring tide1548 high tide1609 sea-spring1627 overloup1710 stream-tide1789 overleap1795 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xiii. xxi. 668 When þe mone is fourtene daies olde and atte þe ful, þan efte is þe see ful in his hiest springe [L. augmento]. 1470 W. Worcester in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 585 At hye spryngys the see brekyth yn to the pasturs and destroyeth the pasture. ?a1500 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Ld. Montagu of Beaulieu (1900) 2 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 283) XLV. 685 Wytheinne haven. Wher so evere hit be one the prym eve, the spryng ys at the hyest. 1584 in J. J. Cartwright Chapter Hist. Yorks. (1872) 268 We say that there ryseth at the sprynge 18 foott water, and at the nepe eleaven foot water. 1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea lii. 123 It seemeth an Iland, and in high springes, I judge, that the sea goeth round about it. 1641 J. Taylor Last Voy. B 6 b The trade..is at the least two hundred Tunnes of all commodities, every spring, which is every fortnight or lesse. 1751 Anc. & Present State Navigation Lyn, Wisbeach 25 The tides then generally run high, by Reason of the Springs putting in. 1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 15 The tide rises six feet on the springs. 1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 147 The rise of tide may be stated at about six feet during the springs. 1858 Mercantile Marine Mag. 5 366 The stream runs 5 knots at springs, and 3 knots at neaps. 1892 G. R. Lowndes Camping Sketches 211 Only the highest ‘springs’ could touch us. 1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 111 It had twelve feet of water or more when the tides were at full springs. 2000 C. Little Biol. Soft Shores & Estuaries (2009) ii. 32 When springs change to neap tides (those of low amplitude), current velocities fall. †b. spring of the sea: the rising of the sea at high tide; an instance of this, a high tide. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > change in level of water > [noun] > rise in level of water > of sea spring of the seaa1398 storm surge1929 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xvii. 490 Alwey in þe newe mone þe spring of þe see is hiest [L. est mare plenissimum], and also in þe fulle mone. 1539 Act 31 Henry VIII c. 4 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 720 Overflowinge..of..groundes lienge by the saide river, with the high springes of the Sea. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxiv. 65 All the whole length of the Citie is washed with the springs of the Sea. c. at spring: at a spring tide, when the water level at high tide is highest (opposed to at neap). ΚΠ 1850 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 140 227 Half the difference of the height at spring and neaps. 1883 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 353 The difference between the intervals is greater at spring than at neap. 1891 Proc. Royal Soc. 1890–91 49 130 The tidal information supplied by the Admiralty for such places consists of rough means of the rise and interval at spring and neap, modified by the important warning that the tide is affected by diurnal inequality. 2012 D. Fan in R. A. Davis & R. W. Dalrymple Princ. Tidal Sedimentol. 204/2 The semidiurnal tidal range varies from 2.3 m at neap to 5.5 m at spring. 7. A flock of teal.The term may derive from the springing motion with which a flock of teal rise into air when disturbed. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > member of genus Anas (miscellaneous) > anas crecca (teal) > collective or group of springa1450 a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 603 (MED) A Sprynge of teles. ?1477 in Lydgate’s Horse, Ghoos, & Sheep (Caxton) A Spryng of teeles. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 78 The following Terms are in Use among Wildfowl-shooters:—A flock..of teal, ‘a spring’. 1892 Cornhill Mag. Aug. 152 Further out we notice a ‘spring’ of nine teal. 1935 Irish Naturalists' Jrnl. 5 219 In olden days there were nouns of multitude used for the various kinds of birds. Such were 'a herd of Swan,' 'a gaggle of Geese,' 'a pack of Grouse,' 'a wisp of Snipe,' 'a spring of Teal'. 1964 Times 15 Oct. 14/7 Eagles circled overhead while now and again a spring of teal flashed low across the lake. 2016 Sunday Times (Nexis) 8 May 7 The bubbling trill of whimbrel, an egret fishing, shelduck, a spring of teal. 8. a. An energetic or lively movement, esp. in a forward direction; a bound, a jump, a leap. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > a leap, spring, or jump leapOE startc1330 saulta1350 lope14.. launchc1440 sprenting?a1475 loup1487 springa1500 stenda1500 benda1522 sprenta1522 bounce1523 jump1552 sally1589 rise1600 bound1667 vault1728 sprinta1800 spang1817 spend1825 upleap1876 sprit1880 bunny hop1950 bunny-hop1969 a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 15 As she sodenly made a sprynge, the childe fill oute of hir arme. a1500 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 309 Thy spryngys, thy quarters, thy rabetis also. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Fvi An holy monke, whiche in the point of his dethe, sodaynly gaue a great spryng vp warde. 1674 tr. P. M. de la Martinière New Voy. Northern Countries 40 Upon which they [sc. reindeer] gave such a spring, we thought we had so many Divels in our Sledges. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 111 They carry the Leopards on Hackeries..to give them the advantage of their Spring. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 167 Altho' his Adversary's Horse make a Spring, and run past him. 1764 J. Wesley Jrnl. 16 Jan. (1914) V. 44 My mare lost both her fore feet, but she gave a spring, and recovered the causeway. 1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 294 I made a spring towards a boat..and caught hold of the gunwale. 1875 B. Stewart & P. G. Tait Unseen Universe (ed. 2) i. 38 When Science was pausing for the spring she has since made. 1934 P. Lynch Turf-cutter's Donkey xiv. 124 The squirrel..gave a spring, and landed on Eileen's knee. 1964 L. B. Honwana in R. Rive Mod. Afr. Prose 112 The mamba abandoned him immediately, and with a spring disappeared between the pipes. 2003 Re: Joyful Quadrille Here! in alt.drwho.creative (Usenet newsgroup) 25 Aug. As she hit the fifth flight..she made a great spring down onto the very steps in front of them. †b. The greatest distance a person or thing can cover by a bound or leap. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > [noun] > limit of distance or reach > which can be covered by a leap spring1817 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna ii. xxix. 46 Her spirit..far wandering, on the wing Of visions that were mine, beyond its utmost spring. 1875 C. H. Eden Twin Brothers Elfvedale iii. 100 An enormous lynx..was within spring of the unconscious Eric. 1912 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 605/1 Having fought his way over broken ground.., till seemingly within spring of the castle. c. slang (originally U.S.). An escape or rescue from prison. Cf. spring v.¹ 26. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > [noun] > from prison spring1900 the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > from restraint or confinement > from prison prison breach1657 spring1900 bust-out1930 1900 ‘J. Flynt’ & ‘F. Walton’ Powers that Prey 64 We only had to make one spring, an' that didn't cost us over six hundred. 1923 A. Stringer Diamond Thieves xx. 385 I did wait. But his swell friends didn't come across wit' any spring. 1968 ‘B. Mather’ Springers xv. 161 We just..waited for what we knew would eventually come. A spring. 1977 F. Ross Dead Runner i. 41 You can't pull a spring like that without help on the inside. 9. Architecture. a. The point at which an arch or vault rises from a support or impost (impost n.² 1); the commencement of curvature in an arch. Also attributive, esp. in spring stone. Cf. springer n.¹ 2, spring v.¹ 17b. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of coin1350 pendant1359 voussoir1359 springer1435 spandrel1477 spring?1553 pitch1615 kneeler1617 gimmalsa1652 face1664 of the third point1672 turn1677 sweep1685 hance1700 skew-back1700 summering1700 springing1703 tympan1704 hip1726 reins1726 rib1726 third point1728 quoin1730 archivolt1731 opening1739 soffit1739 shoulder1744 extrados1772 intrados1772 haunch1793 arch-stone1828 twist1840 coign1843 architrave1849 escoinçon1867 pulvino1907 pin1928 ?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) 92 in Shorter Poems (1967) l. 1437 Suttyl muldry wrocht..On buttres, Ialmys, pilleris, and plesand spryngis. 1723 E. Chambers tr. S. Le Clerc Treat. Archit. I. 102 Coach-Gates..have a Dormant (i.e. the upper part of the Gate that does not open), which Dormant, where the Gate is arch'd, commences from the Spring of the Arch. 1735 J. Price Some Considerations Stone-bridge Thames 4 The Piers,..under the Chaptrel, or Spring Stones, have a Square Course. 1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 63 When the arch stones only are laid, and the pier built no higher than the spring. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 539 The supports of an arch are called the spring walls. 1871 Brit. Q. Rev. Jan. 46/1 The spring stones of an arch discovered by Robinson in the western wall. 1875 C. Merivale Gen. Hist. Rome lxxix. 670 There remain on the face of the Palatine some indications of what may have been the spring of the first arch. 1917 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1916–7 C. 33 128 The wrong spring-stone was put into the inner order of the doorway on the south side. 2000 N.Y. Times 19 Mar. (Real Estate section) 7/1 An unnamed critic..didn't like the placement of the mezzanine floor at the midpoint of the columns rather than at the spring of the arches. †b. The curvature or rise of an arch; the ascent or slope of a bridge. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > manner of construction summering1700 spring1726 surbasement1833 encorbellment1886 the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > a sloping object, surface, etc. > of a bridge spring1886 society > travel > means of travel > route or way > other means of passage or access > [noun] > bridge > parts of > the rise of an arch bridge arch1677 versed sine1838 spring1886 1726 E. Chambers tr. J. Dubreuil Pract. of Perspective 64 Then taking in your Compasses the Breadth of the Spring of the Arch, as PO, set it off on the little Parallels Q. 1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 422/1 The arch..was fifty-five feet wide, and had but eight feet of spring. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxvi. 262 An old, hobbling woman..set forth again up the steep spring of the bridge. 10. A cut or joint of pork from the belly, lower forequarter, or foreleg.The term may derive from the fact that this cut is taken from a part of the pig used for springing upwards. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > cuts or parts pig's footc1475 hog's foot1561 hog's cheek1573 bald-rib1598 spring1598 list1623 griskin1699 chine1712 pork griskin1725 rearing1736 pork chop?1752 hand1794 faggot1815 hog round1819 sweet-bone1826 butt1845 pig trotter1851 pork belly1863 Hodge1879 fore-end1906 fore-hock1923 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Bambetti, that ioynt of meate we call a spring or pestle of porke. a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse i. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Dddd^v/2 Can you be such an asse..to think these Springs of Pork will shoot up Cæsars? 1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. iv. 96 Pray hand the Spring of Porke to me. 1708 J. Wilson et al. tr. Petronius Satyrical Wks. 97 He shall, if you please, make you..a Turtle of a Spring of Pork. a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 20 The fore-quarter contains the spring and the fore-loin. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 240 The belly or spring [of pork], also fit for pickling, or for rolling up,..for brawn. 1881 Mid-Surrey Times 17 Dec. Henry and George Webb..were charged on remand with having in their possession a hand and spring of pork.., supposed to have been stolen from High-street, Kingston. 1978 D. Smith Cookery Course I. 133 Ask the butcher—giving him a bit of notice—to bone out a hand and spring of pork for this recipe. 2012 Times (Nexis) 16 Feb. t2 7 Tim Sheehan..slow roasts hand and spring of pork for 7 hours with cider and fennel heads. †11. Nautical. a. A breach or opening in a vessel caused by the splitting or buckling of a plank or seam. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > opening caused by splitting seam or plank spring1611 1611 B. Jonson Catiline iii. sig. E4^v Each pettie hand Can steere a ship becalm'd; but he that will Gouerne, and carry her to her endes, must know..Where her springs are, her leaks; & how to stop 'hem. View more context for this quotation b. A crack or split in a mast or spar, esp. one which makes it unsafe to carry the usual amount of sail. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > split in mast or spar spring1744 1744 J. Philips Authentic Jrnl. Exped. Anson 157 We..discover'd a great Spring in the Foremast. 1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 212 An accident by a shot, a spring, a rottenness. 1846 A. Young Naut. Dict. 292 A spar is said to be sprung, when it is cracked or split,..and the crack is called a spring. 12. a. (a) Elasticity or energy shown by a person, or by a person's limb, muscles, etc.; vigour or liveliness of movement. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > loose or stiff condition > [noun] starknessOE lithenessa1464 mobility1528 leathwakeness1548 stiffness1552 supplement1583 suppleness1603 spring1641 limber1786 lubricity1809 limberness1835 lissomness1857 the world > movement > bodily movement > [noun] > qualities of bodily movement > elasticity spring1641 springiness1735 1641 W. Stokes Vaulting Master sig. C2 Being thus elevated, let goe your right hand, which you may safely doe, for the spring of your arme in the going off, will send you with much ease to the ground. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 551 Heav'ns what a spring was in his Arm, to throw. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 85. ⁋5 They have always a peculiar Spring in their Arms, a Riggle in their Bodies. 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 8 Th' elastic spring of an unwearied foot That mounts the stile with ease. 1825 W. Hazlitt Table-talk (new ed.) II. 271 Do nothing to take away..the spring and elasticity of your muscles. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 678 At first the patient finds that he is losing his spring in walking. 1956 G. C. Kunzle & B. W. Thomas Freestanding i. 25 Spring is nearly always associated with the legs. 2010 Guardian (Nexis) 29 Jan. 2 As the match unfolded you could see the Croat's long legs were losing their spring. (b) a spring in one's step: a vigour or liveliness in the way one moves (esp. in the way one walks), suggestive of confidence or happiness. ΚΠ 1722 R. Steele Conscious Lovers iii. 48 What a Spring in her Step! 1748 P. Hiffernan Refl. Struct. & Passions Man ii. 64 In one it is the smart Cock of his Hat. In another an alert Spring in his Step. 1844 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 2 May There is a good spring in their step..that reminds one of sailors on shore upon a frolic. 1887 H. R. Haggard She xxvi. 293 It seemed to me that there was no spring in her step. 1923 A. Rogers & C. L. Roberts Go-Go Bug (song) Keeps that spring in your step Puts that ping in your pep. 1981 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 18 Apr. (Late City Final ed.) a18/2 A warm wind swept across the rolling hills and rich bottomlands here in eastern Iowa.., and farmers walked with a renewed spring in their steps. 2006 Metro (Toronto) 13 Apr. 42/3 This season's trendiest shoe shapes are sure to put a little spring in your step. †b. Energy, vigour, liveliness of mind, temperament, etc. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > mental or moral vigour spirita1382 spritec1540 fire edgea1572 mettle1581 vigour1587 springa1682 peppiness1921 Schwung1930 a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) iii. 109 Persons vitiously inclined..having the Elater and Spring of their own Natures to facilitate their Iniquities. 1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 116 If the mind be too long bent upon one thing, twill lose its spring and activity. 1742 D. Hume Ess. Moral & Polit. II. ix. 172 A selfish Villain may possess a Spring and Alacrity of Temper. 1831 W. Scott Count Robert iii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 63 Ere he has..recovered, in some degree, the spring of his mind, and the powers of his body. 1886 J. Ruskin Præterita II. ii. 41 Happy journey by the Eastern Riviera began to restore my spring of heart. 13. The power to spring back into shape or position after compression, bending, etc.; the quality of having this power; elasticity. a. With reference to the resistance to compression exhibited by air and its tendency to expand back forcefully to its original volume.rare after the late 18th cent. and chiefly in accounts of the work of Robert Boyle (1627–91) and Robert Hooke (1635–1703).In quot. 1674 applied to the earth, by analogy with the resistance of the air to compression. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > [noun] > elasticity of air air spring1660 spring1660 compressibilitya1691 1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall i. 24 There is yet another way to explicate the Spring of the Air. 1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 72 The spring of the earth over-ballancing the weight of it as to power. 1687 D. Abercromby Academia Scientiarum App. iv. 4 By the help whereof [sc. the air-pump] he proves the Elastic Power and Spring of the Air. 1719 J. Quincy Lexicon Physico-medicum (1722) 9 The Air..hath been found..by the Force of its own Spring, to possess 13000 times the space it does when pressed by the incumbent Atmosphere. a1774 O. Goldsmith Surv. Exper. Philos. (1776) II. 84 This pressure is increased by another cause, I mean the air's spring or elasticity. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 6 The operation is continued till the spring of the air in the receiver is no longer sufficient to lift the valves a b. 1918 Math. Gaz. 9 286 Boyle's experiments in confirmation of Pascal; leading to notion of the ‘spring’ of the air and to Boyle's Law. 2009 A. C. Chalmers Scientist's Atom vii. 127 Newton..appealed to gravity without being able to explain it in much the same way that Boyle appealed to the spring of the air without being able to justify an explanation of it by appeal to experiment. b. With reference to the elasticity of an object or solid substance. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [noun] > elasticity restitution1656 tensility1659 springiness1662 spring power1662 elasticity1664 bearing1674 spring1683 resiliency1712 resilience1807 1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 282 Pieces of Felt..will Squeeze and retain their Spring for a considerable time. 1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. x. 219 There is in all Animal Fibres..an original Mechanism of Elasticity or Spring. 1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty x. 60 A small wire that has lost its spring, and so will retain every shape it is twisted into. 1789 Trans. Soc. Arts 7 159 There is a spring in the whalebone, which prevents it turning steady. 1857 Ulster Jrnl. Archæol. 5 248 It is retained in its place by the spring of the metal. 1874 A. L. F. Pitt-Rivers Evol. Culture, Princ. Classif. (1906) 16 Yielding few..woods that have sufficient spring for the construction of the bow. 1911 Amer. Co-operative Jrnl. Aug. 1005/2 He is getting each year more like an old rubber band that has lost its spring. 1955 Pop. Mech. Oct. 232/2 If the metal of the contact point has lost its spring, place a small amount of cement behind the metal to stiffen it. 2006 Prevention Apr. 172 Don't skimp on your feet. Once the interior padding has lost its spring, it's time for a new pair. 14. a. An instance of rebounding or recoiling; a release of tension resulting in motion. ΚΠ 1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 184 Unless with every Spring of the Pole, they should lift their Treading Leg so high as [etc.]. 1738 tr. D. Vairasse d'Allais Hist. Sevarambians ii. 83 They [sc. the Fish] continued struggling and beating themselves under Water for some time; but, as soon as they were tir'd, the Spring of the Rod drew them out. 1782 W. Cowper Human Frailty in Poems 312 The bow well bent, and smart the spring, Vice seems already slain. 1854 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xxiv. 196 A startling sensation, resembling the spring of a well-drawn bow. 1899 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 51 112 When I cut the string with the point of a scissors, the branch flew upwards with a sudden spring. 1965 Amer. Midland Naturalist 73 350 The tension is released with a sudden spring when an insect strikes the web. 2007 Star (Shelby, N. Carolina) (Nexis) 5 July The spring of the diving board and splash of bodies hitting the water could be heard. †b. A sudden flexible motion made by a part of a plant or animal, esp. as a result of a release of tension. Obsolete.Cf. sense 27. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > [noun] > spasmodic movement or twitching > by plant or animal depositing seed or eggs spring1707 1707 H. Sloane Voy. Islands I. 150 When any wet touches the end of the Seed Vessel, with a smart noise, and sudden leap it opens its self, and with a spring scatters its Seed to a pretty distance round it. 1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 162 When the germen becomes stronger, and the carina more open, it obtains its liberty by a sudden spring, in consequence of which the pollen is plentifully scattered about the stigma. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 451 I took some of the flies,..and pressing them a little, they quitted several eggs, which they quit one by one, with a sudden spring. 1816 P. Keith Syst. Physiol. Bot. II. iv. vii. 351 The elastic spring with which the anther flies open will generally be sufficient to disperse the pollen. 1842 B. F. Taylor Attractions Lang. ii. i. 69 No sooner than he alights, it closes with a spring, and the hapless fly becomes a prisoner for life. 1881 P. Henderson Henderson's Handbk. Plants 71/1 When the hairs are touched by a fly or other insect, the sides of the leaf are brought together with a sudden spring, imprisoning the intruder. 1911 B. Miall tr. J. H. Fabre Social Life in Insect World (1914) vi. 81 Then one of the grappling-hooks with a sudden spring flies out and strikes the rival. 15. †a. The angle by which a bevelled edge of a plank, rail, etc., deviates from a right angle. More fully spring bevel. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > an inclination bevel1678 skew1688 sklent1768 spring1793 snape1794 cant1881 1793 P. Nicholson Carpenter's New Guide 14 The bevel at No. 1, figure 4, represents the spring of the plank. 1845 S. De Graff Mod. Geom. Stair-builder's Guide 15 Fig. 5 shows the manner of forming the face mould to the spring of the plank, when the upper side and edge of the plank form an obtuse angle, as at fig. 8. 1913 Building Age May 220/2 The edge of the plank requires bevelling to the spring bevel, shown in plan. †b. Nautical. The curvature or rise of the deck or bulwarks at the fore and aft of a vessel; the sheer (sheer n.² 1). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > upwards curvature hance1637 sheer1691 sny1711 spring1799 1799 Vocab. Sea Phrases II. 219 Relèvement du pont. The sheer of a ship's deck, or the gradual spring of the deck afore and abaft. 1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 353/1 The reason why she has such an extraordinary sheer or spring in the fore part of her upper deck. 1881 Standard 9 Aug. 6/3 The boat is high at the bow and stern, being built with what is known as a good spring. c. Shoemaking. Curvature or rise in the toe of a last (last n.¹ 2a) which creates elevation of the toe of a shoe or boot; a steel support within the sole of a shoe or boot which creates this curvature (now rare). Formerly also: †arch or curvature of the instep (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > instep > arch or curvature in spring1885 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > other speckc1440 under-leather1569 rand1598 tongue1598 ruffle1600 underlay1612 tap1688 jump1712 bottom1768 boot-garter1824 yarking1825 range1840 counter1841 insole1851 sock1851 galosh1853 heel plate1862 lift1862 foxing1865 spring1885 saddle1930 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > [noun] > equipment or materials for > equipment > last > rise of toe above ground line spring1885 1885 J. B. Leno Art of Boot- & Shoe-making xix. 145 The spring is attached to the inner sole... Instances have occurred in which the spring, through being inadequately shielded, has pierced through the inner sole to the foot. 1902 F. Y. Golding Manuf. Boots & Shoes 107 If the substance of the sole be light very little spring is required. 1902 F. Y. Golding Manuf. Boots & Shoes 107 Sometimes the term ‘spring’ is used to describe the hollowness or arch of the waist. 1916 F. Plucknett Introd. Boot & Shoe Manuf. ii. 17 It is advisable to put spring into the forepart of the last, equal to the amount which the boot would probably acquire in wear. 1935 J. Ball in F. Y. Golding Boots & Shoes VI. xi. vi. 39 The stouter and stiffer the sole the greater the amount of spring. III. The season and related senses. 16. a. The appearance or first sign of morning, day, daylight, etc.; dawn. Also: the beginning of a season. Chiefly poetic from the 18th cent. (now rare). Cf. day-spring n., upspring n. 1.Frequently in (the) spring of (the) day. ΘΚΠ the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > dawn > [noun] aristc825 dawingc900 dayeOE day-rimOE day-redOE mornOE lightOE lightingOE dawning1297 day-rowa1300 grekinga1300 uprista1300 dayninga1325 uprisingc1330 sun arisingc1350 springc1380 springingc1380 day-springa1382 morrowingc1384 dayingc1400 daylighta1425 upspring1471 aurora1483 sky1515 orienta1522 breaking of the day1523 daybreak1530 day-peep1530 morrow dayc1530 peep of the morning1530 prick of the day?1533 morning1535 day-breaking1565 creek1567 sunup1572 breach of the day1579 break of day or morn1584 peep of day1587 uprise1594 dawna1616 day-dawn1616 peep of dawn1751 strike of day1790 skreigh1802 sunbreak1822 day-daw1823 screech1829 dayclean1835 sun dawn1835 first light1838 morning-red1843 piccaninny sun1846 piccaninny daylightc1860 gloaming1873 glooming1877 sparrow-fart1886 crack1887 sun-spring1900 piccaninny dawn1936 the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > coming or beginning of a season spring1600 coming1651 c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 3513 To-morȝe on þe spryng of þe day..to þe pauyllouns take þe way. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Judith x. 11 She cam doun þe hil aboute spring [L.V. a1425 Royal the risynge, a1450 Corpus Cambr. 147 spryngyng; L. ortum] of þe day. c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §6. 20 To knowe the spring of the dawyng & the ende of the euenyng. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cv. 141 At the sprynge of the daye they were at the monument. ?1531 W. Tyndale tr. Prophet Ionas Jonah iv. sig. C viij The lorde ordeyned a worme agenst the springe of y^e morow morninge. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxii To the intent at the springe of the daye..they might inuade the City. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 82 Neuer, since the middle Sommers spring, Met we. View more context for this quotation 1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric Saxon Treat. Old & New Test. sig. ¶3^v Extend thy fame from Set to Spring of day. 1729 B. Lacy Misc. Poems compos'd at Newfoundland 45 I rise by spring of Day, and on my Knee, With humble Soul adore the Deity. 1770 Coll. Poems Several Hands (ed. 2) III. 200 Wait, at spring of fragrant morn, The opening hound, and cheering horn. 1842 Ld. Tennyson St. Simeon Stylites in Poems (new ed.) II. 58 I, 'tween the spring and downfall of the light, Bow down one thousand and two hundred times. 1890 R. H. Stoddard Lion's Cub 73 By the Morning's bow of fire, I cleave my way To the spring of Day. 1916 K. Tynan Holy War 30 His youth unwithered, smiling all the way, Into the land of youth, the Spring of Day. 1961 D. Levertov Jacob's Ladder 29 Breathe deep of the freshly gray morning air, mild spring of the day. b. (the) spring of the leaf: the time when trees begin to burst into leaf; springtime. Now rare and archaic. Cf. (the) fall of the leaf at fall n.² Phrases 4. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring LenteneOE LentlOE warea1300 verec1325 vera1382 vere-time1382 springing timea1387 springinga1398 springa1400 prime tempsa1425 the spring of the year1481 grass1485 springtime1495 prime time1503 sap-time?1523 spring tide1530 (the) spring of the leaf1538 prime1541 prime tide1549 voar1629 vernal season1644 vernal1654 outcome1672 Lent term1691 blossom-time1713 open water1759 rabi1783 budding-timea1807 ware-time1820 growing season1845 1538 R. Warner Let. 21 Nov. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 98 Whiche I thynke shalbe about the spryng of the lefe. 1587 T. Dawson Good Huswifes Iewell (new ed.) sig. E8^v When they feele themselues troubled with the Rewme, at the fall and spring of the leafe is best taking therof, and by the grace of God they shall finde ease. 1613 G. Markham Eng. Husbandman: 1st Pt. ii. vii. 63 You shall also euery spring and fall of the leafe clense your fruit trees from mosse. 1684 R. Johnson Enchiridion Medicum iii. xxvi. 282 The Cure is easiest effected in the Spring, or Fall of the Leaf. 1978 R. Kelly Convections 72 He very rarely went to bed till two or three of the clock..especially at spring and fall of the leaf. †c. An outburst or fresh development. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] > a fresh or new beginning rebeginning1598 spring1605 new departure1839 restart1858 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. H4 At one and the same time, it [sc. the Reformation] was ordayned by the diuine prouidence, that there should attend withall a renouation, and new spring of all other knowledges. View more context for this quotation 17. a. The season between winter and summer (now generally regarded as lasting from March to May in the northern hemisphere and from September to November in the southern hemisphere), during which leaves come out on deciduous trees, many flowers are in bloom, the days lengthen, and the weather typically becomes warmer.Cf. earlier Lent n.¹ 1, Lenten n. 1. There has been some variation in the months regarded as comprising spring; in early use summer sometimes denoted all of the warm half of the year, including much or all of the period now called spring (see discussion at summer n.¹). In astronomy, spring is the period from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice.There has long been considerable variation between use with and without definite article, especially after prepositions; use with definite article sometimes distinguishes reference to the spring of a particular year (see sense 17c). ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring LenteneOE LentlOE warea1300 verec1325 vera1382 vere-time1382 springing timea1387 springinga1398 springa1400 prime tempsa1425 the spring of the year1481 grass1485 springtime1495 prime time1503 sap-time?1523 spring tide1530 (the) spring of the leaf1538 prime1541 prime tide1549 voar1629 vernal season1644 vernal1654 outcome1672 Lent term1691 blossom-time1713 open water1759 rabi1783 budding-timea1807 ware-time1820 growing season1845 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 9927 (MED) Þe thrid colour..As Rose rede es in spring, And semes als a brinand thing. 1527 Prymer of Salysbury Use f. iij^v The other .vj. yeres is lyke February In the ende ther of begynneth the sprynge. 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 43^v At spring (for the sommer) sowe garden ye shal. 1609 T. Dekker Rauens Almanacke sig. C1^v Let vs now trye if the spring will proue any more cheerefull. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 Alone he tempts..Th' unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known. View more context for this quotation 1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 59 The Wheat will have the Benefit of them earlier in the Spring. 1779 Mirror No. 16 The effects of the return of Spring have been frequently remarked. 1820 P. B. Shelley Ode to West Wind v, in Prometheus Unbound 192 O, wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? 1854 H. D. Thoreau Walden 96 There are probably words addressed to our condition exactly, which..would be more salutary than the morning or the spring to our lives. 1901 Times 30 Dec. 12/6 Pelts of bears caught in the spring..are worth more than those secured later in the year. 1957 F. H. Forrester 1001 Questions answered about Weather (1964) iii. 140 From early spring till the end of summer, these gale-force winds form each day in the Gobi desert. 2014 J. Al-Khalili & J. McFadden Life on Edge vi. 173 The monarchs undertake the reverse journey in the spring to return to their summer feeding grounds. b. the spring of the year: the first season of the year; springtime. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring LenteneOE LentlOE warea1300 verec1325 vera1382 vere-time1382 springing timea1387 springinga1398 springa1400 prime tempsa1425 the spring of the year1481 grass1485 springtime1495 prime time1503 sap-time?1523 spring tide1530 (the) spring of the leaf1538 prime1541 prime tide1549 voar1629 vernal season1644 vernal1654 outcome1672 Lent term1691 blossom-time1713 open water1759 rabi1783 budding-timea1807 ware-time1820 growing season1845 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) xxxviii. 76 I myself, yf it please god, assone as the sprynge of the yere [Fr. li soues tens] cometh, shal come and hast to meue. 1506 tr. Kalender of Shepherdes sig. A. iii^v These be the foure seasons in the yere. as Prymetyme is the sprynge of the yere. 1548 W. Turner Names of Herbes sig. G.viij In the sprynge of the yere, it hath yealowe floures. 1637 T. Morton New Eng. Canaan ii. 89 There is a Fish (by some called shadds, by some allizes) that in the spring of the yeare..spaune in the ponds. 1665 R. Boyle Disc. iv. iii, in Occas. Refl. sig. E7 If then, in the Spring of the Year, our Reflector see the Gardener pruning a Fruit-tree. 1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Brassica In the Spring of the Year these Cabbages will shoot out strongly. 1794 B. Rush Med. Inq. & Observ.: Acct. of Bilious Remitting Yellow Fever III. 277 In pneumonies which affect whole neighbourhoods in the spring of the year, bleeding is the universal remedy. 1815 Lit. Panorama Mar. 827/1 A nobleman in the spring of the year has not thought it worth his while to re-stack his corn. 1866 Rural Amer. (Utica, N.Y.) 1 Jan. 2/2 One has, for instance, 10 to 20 hives in the spring of the year, all in good condition, strong in numbers and not short of honey. 1931 G. A. Garratt Mech. Properties Wood ii. 115 That [wood] originally nearest the pith, which was formed in the spring of the year..is consequently known as springwood or early wood. 1975 F. Mowat Snow Walker 132 My father followed him in the spring of the year. 2013 Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 22 Mar. a 5 In the spring of the year..the water is quite high. c. The season between winter and summer in a particular year; an instance of spring. Also (with modifier, as delightful, chilly, mild, etc.): a particular spring characterized by the weather, conditions, etc., prevailing or experienced during that time. ΚΠ 1537 Sir T. Wyatt Let. in Eng. Stud. 58 (1977) 407 The kyng shold take no preiudice as his faythfull frend the proroging theroff to the spryng. 1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1865/1 The wynde contynued North, and East, till after the Ascention day,..whereby followed a late spring. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies ii. xiii. 111 Those which inhabite there, take it for a delightfull spring. 1677 H. Prideaux Let. 2 Feb. (1875) 59 We shall goe on buildeing to, as soon as spring begins. 1711 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 24 Mar. (1965) I. 96 I am going to the same place I went last Spring. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 465 There can be no scarcity of that grain before the Spring. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 659 (note) Ferguson..was excluded by name from the general pardon published in the following spring. 1871 M. E. Braddon Fenton's Quest II. xix. 260 He didn't want to be ruined by his coal-merchant's bill if it was a chilly spring. 1954 Dalgety's Ann. Wool Rev. for Austral. & N.Z. 31 Over practically all of this extensive and important district a good spring was followed by a dry summer. 1970 ‘A. Cross’ Poetic Justice vii. 106 He had, since the spring, acquired a reputation for devoted radicalism. 2015 Irish Times 15 Aug. 9/1 The mild spring and summer had boosted the grouse numbers. d. figurative. A period or state of newness, boundless energy, or innocence; spec. the period of life when a person is young. Usually with of. Cf. summer n.¹ 5, autumn n. 3, winter n.¹ 1d. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > youth > [noun] youthc897 youngheada1300 youngthc1330 juvent1377 juventy1377 first youtha1387 youthheada1400 joyfnesc1400 junessec1430 young daysa1464 juventudec1470 younga1475 youngness?1505 flower?1507 juventute1541 prime tide1549 spring1553 April1583 springtime1583 nonage1584 prime1584 flowering youth1586 primrose1590 greenc1595 dancing-days1599 primrose-time1606 leaping timea1616 salad daysa1616 minority1632 juvenency1656 coltagec1720 youdith1723 veal-bones1785 whelphood1847 colthood1865 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique i. f. 8^v Beyng in their primetide, & spryng of their age. 1590 R. Greene Mourning Garment 2 Sophonos..carryed graue thoughts, and in the spring of his youth such ripe fruites, as are found in the Autum of age. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 84 Oh, how this spring of loue resembleth The vncertaine glory of an Aprill day. View more context for this quotation a1661 R. Bargrave Trav. Diary (1999) 210 Whiles I was yet..in the Spring Of Youth, my Primavera blossoming. 1748 T. Gray Ode in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems II. 267 On hasty wings thy youth is flown; Thy sun is set, thy spring is gone. 1781 E. Burke Corr. (1963) IV. 373 A storm came upon us in the early spring of our toleration. 1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last Days of Pompeii I. i. vi. 101 Apæcides was in the spring of his years. 1861 Sat. Rev. 14 Dec. 612 There is a large mass who..boat, and ride, and enjoy the sweet spring of their life. a1908 L. C. Moulton Poems & Sonnets (1909) 176 Defying wintry weather, We, too, will wait our spring. 2002 Tel. Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) (Nexis) 22 Apr. a 4 In the spring of my life I was capable of such a graceful act. e. The season of spring personified, esp. as a woman. ΚΠ 1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. K4^v And whatso other hearb of louely hew The ioyous Spring out of the ground brings forth, To cloath her selfe in colours fresh and new. a1629 T. Wilson tr. J. de Montemayor Diana in Revue Hispanique (1920) 50 375 Att the tyme when the springe with his chearefull dewes of the New yeare spredd it self ouer all. 1658 H. Crompton Pierides 25 When the spring Her plant-reviving bell shall ring. a1737 E. Rowe Misc. Wks. (1739) I. 219 In vain to me the beauteous spring Her blooming sweets diffuses thro' the air. 1786 H. More Florio 24 When blushing Spring leads on the hours, And May is prodigal of flow'rs. 1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xvi. 12 The young Spring..threw down Her kindling buds, as if she Autumn were, Or they dead leaves. 1848 L. Hunt Jar of Honey vii. 84 Thou still..art the same blithe, sweet thing Thou ever wast, O Spring. 1928 I. Gershwin Chirp-Chirp in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 123/3 When Spring puts on her gay apparel What is it the songbirds carol Neatly, So sweetly, Tweet-tweetly? 1969 A. Cordell Song of Earth (1972) iii. 20 I do love the spring and her bright colours. 2010 R. E. Ondov Horse Tales Heaven i. 9 Spring was unfolding her leaves. f. In plural. With a numeral or other quantifier, as four springs, sixteen springs, etc.: used to measure a duration or lapse of time containing the specified number of springs; esp. used to denote a (young) person's age. Now chiefly literary and rhetorical. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [noun] eldOE yearsOE oldc1175 statea1350 agea1387 springs1597 seniority1776 standing1789 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. iii. 207 Foure lagging winters and foure wanton springes, End in a word. View more context for this quotation 1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. M6^v Ere I had twice foure Springs, renewed seene, The force of Beautie I began to proue. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 105 When to four full Springs his years advance. View more context for this quotation 1745 T. Gibbons Britannia's Alarm 26 Time roll'd his Hours serene, and gay For almost twenty Springs. 1815 W. Gillespie Consolation & Other Poems 17 Twice fifteen springs Have greened the dewy fields, and oped the flower. 1869 New Monthly Mag. Apr. 367 She who could now count nineteen springs arose betimes on that bright auspicious morn. 1928 Asia Apr. 312/1 One would get the impression that she had seen more than merely twenty springs. 2003 L. N. Glenn All Perfect Disguises 19 Turning cartwheels through the town.., sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone. †18. The increase or waxing of the moon. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > moon > phase > [noun] > crescent moon > waxing springc1440 springing?1440 increase1555 increment1610 c1440 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Thornton) (1965) l. 1176 (MED) Ane ouirsyb maryage hafe we made In þe sprynge of þis mone. 1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 116 Gather the Plantes..in faire weather, in the spring of the mone [L. Luna crescente & iam fere plena]. 1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft ix. iii. 170 Also they have noted, that one borne in the spring of the moone, shalbe healthie. 19. Spring wheat (see spring wheat n. at Compounds 3e(b)); a variety of this. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > wheat > types of wheat grain or plant spelta1000 farc1420 ador?1440 flaxen wheat?1523 Peak-wheat?1523 red wheat?1523 white wheat?1523 duck-bill wheat1553 zea1562 alica1565 buck1577 amelcorn1578 horse-flower1578 tiphe1578 pollard1580 rivet1580 Saracen's corn1585 French wheat1593 Lammas-wheat1594 starch corn1597 St. Peter's corn1597 frumenty1600 secourgeon1600 polwheat1601 duck-wheat1611 kidneys of wheat1611 ograve wheat1616 soft wheat1640 cone-wheat1677 Lammas1677 Poland wheat1686 Saracen corn1687 pole rivet1707 Smyrna wheat1735 hard wheat1757 hen corn1765 velvet wheat1771 white straw1771 nonpareil1805 thick-set wheat1808 cone1826 farro1828 Polish wheat1832 velvet-ear wheat1837 sarrasin1840 mummy wheat1842 snowdrop1844 Red Fife1857 flint-wheat1859 dinkel1866 thick-set1875 spring1884 macaroni wheat1901 einkorn1904 marquis1906 durum1908 emmer1908 hedgehog wheat1909 speltoid1939 1884 Bradstreet's 6 Dec. 362/1 There was more demand for foreign wheat, and American springs and red winters felt the influence. 1896 Daily News 30 Nov. 2/7 Wheat to-day is very firmly held... English reds, 36s.; American springs, 37s. 1948 H. K. Wilson Grain Crops ix. 180 The suture is more open, resembling that of the hard red springs except that the cheeks are rounded in the soft red winters. 1977 V. A. Johnson & H. L. Beemer Wheat in People's Republic China ix. 118 Springs and strong winters also are grown in the northwestern region. 2002 Canad. Geographic Jan. 76/1 Stangl has dedicated 570 hectares to wheat this year—red spring mostly, the hardy kind that ends up in export shipments and in the bread on the table of Canadian consumers. 20. A spring salmon (see spring salmon n. at Compounds 3e(c)(ii)). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Salmoniformes (salmon or trout) > family Salmonidae (salmon) > [noun] > member of genus Oncorhyncus (chinook) red fish1763 spring salmon1776 gorbuscha1784 keta1824 quinnat1829 Chinook salmon1851 coho1869 king salmon1871 silver trout1873 kokanee1875 salmon1884 sockeye1888 chisel-mouth1889 pink salmon1899 spring1900 tyee1902 pink1905 blackmouth1906 chum1908 greenback cut-throat1989 1900 Diplomatic & Consular Rep.: U.S. 1899: Trade & Agric. Oregon 46 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 352-6) XCVII. 461 Red springs or tyees, 1 lb. talls, 4s. 5d. 1913 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 729/2 Next in value comes the ‘spring’, the largest fish often weighing sixty-five pounds. 1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 222/1 Some men hand trolled springs during the winter. 2006 Human Ecol. 34 508 Any of the salmon can be caught in the reefnet device, but sockeye and springs are the two most generally sought. 21. The initial stages of a period of political liberalization; the first steps in a programme of political and economic reform. Usually with modifying word.In the second half of the 20th cent. the term was typically applied to Communist states, especially (after the events of 1968) in Prague Spring (see Prague Spring n. at Prague n. 3). More recently it has been used (especially in Arab spring) with reference to a series of popular revolutionary movements and uprisings in the Middle East which began in 2010 (see Arab spring n. 2).In quots. 1905, 1917¹, and 1917² referring to events in Russia in 1904 that preceded the revolution of 1905. [Perhaps originally after similar political uses of German Frühling, lit. ‘season of spring’ (1798 or earlier with reference to political liberation in the wake of the French Revolution), and Völkerfrühling, lit. ‘spring of the peoples, springtime of nations’ (1818, originally with reference to early movements towards the formation of democratic nation states, subsequently often used specifically with reference to the revolutions of 1848).] ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > [noun] > a time of jubileec1584 spring1917 1905 G. Gapon Story of my Life x. 133 That temporary change in the attitude of the Government and the educated class toward each other which has been called the political spring-time of Russia, and which began [in 1904].] 1917 M. J. Olgin Soul Russ. Revol. ix. 98 The second half of 1904, known as ‘Spring’, was..marked by a strong Liberal movement. 1917 M. J. Olgin Soul Russ. Revol. ix. 101 December 12th..was the end of the ‘Spring’... The semi-official Moscow Courier hailed the end of the ‘notorious Spring’. 1956 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 2: Eastern Europe (B.B.C.) 25 Oct. a. 15 The great rehabilitation of truth, the break with political lies—this is the first essential characteristic of the Polish spring in October. 1968 Probl. of Communism Nov. 1 Czechoslovakia. The brief spring of 1968. 1982 Time 11 Jan. 25/2 The church has no illusions about restoring the ‘Polish Spring’ of Solidarity, but it is seeking to make life under martial law as bearable as possible for the Polish people. 1988 Lit. Rev. Aug. 61/3 In 1979, President Chung-hee was assassinated and the short-lived ‘Seoul Spring’ erupted. 2015 Post (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 16 Dec. 17 Many of these movements describe their goal as revolution, inviting grand comparisons with another Spring witnessed in Prague, Tunisia and Egypt. IV. A young growth on a plant, and related senses. 22. a. (a) A copse, grove, or wood consisting of young trees growing naturally from the stumps of old ones; (also) a plantation of young trees, esp. one enclosed and used for rearing game; a spinney. Also figurative. Now rare (chiefly English regional in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > planted, cultivated, or valued > coppice or grove hurst822 grove889 wood bough?c1225 wood lay?c1225 wood lind?c1225 wood rise?c1225 spring1396 firth?a1400 berwec1440 spring?c1475 grovet1504 coppice1538 copsewood1543 sherwood1562 hewt1575 copse1578 grove-crop1582 berrie1591 low wood1591 spinney1597 spinet1604 spring wood1607 roughet1616 oart1690 toft1706 under-grove1731 bosket1737 busket1803 1396–7 Account Rolls Great Totham (Essex) in Middle Eng. Dict. (at cited word) [Farmer of manor has destroyed] la spryng ejusdem subbosci. 1399 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 132 Pro xxj rodis de hegyng circa le spring in Langwath. 1468–9 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 155 Pro factura 53 rod. fossat. circa unam parcellam terre juxta parcum de Shynkcley pro salvacione de le Spryng ibidem..13s. 9d. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xliiii So is a spring best kept where ther is nother man nor fourfoted beestes within the hedge. 1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xxi. 81 In small groues or hewts,..priuily enclosed within the greater springs in the Forests and strong couerts. 1591 J. Lyly Endimion v. ii. sig. H4 Tophas Howe shall I bee troubled, when this younge springe shall growe to a great wood? Epi. O sir your chinne is but a quyller yet. 1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver xxii. 129 Although much dry,..hungry Land doth not many times afford a thick Coppice, or good Spring. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew at Ring-walks They go drawing in their Springs at Hart-Hunting. 1736 Compl. Family-piece ii. i. 209 The Huntsman..must..beat the Outside of the Springs or Thickets. 1773 G. Fitzgerald Acad. Sportsman 15 Be mine the Care, to range this ample Field, Try what its Springs, and what its Thickets yield. 1839 Sporting Rev. Oct. 262 The outline of a practical system for drawing springs and coppices, will not be an unprofitable study for an autumn evening. 1948 M. Carbery & E. Grey Herts. Heritage 137 Spring, also Coupiss, coppice. Hertfordshire was at one time noted for its ‘coupisses’. 1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Spring, a wood ‘raised from the stools’ of felled trees. †(b) With of. A copse or grove of young trees or plants. Chiefly in spring of wood (cf. wood n.¹ 2a). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > planted, cultivated, or valued > coppice or grove hurst822 grove889 wood bough?c1225 wood lay?c1225 wood lind?c1225 wood rise?c1225 spring1396 firth?a1400 berwec1440 spring?c1475 grovet1504 coppice1538 copsewood1543 sherwood1562 hewt1575 copse1578 grove-crop1582 berrie1591 low wood1591 spinney1597 spinet1604 spring wood1607 roughet1616 oart1690 toft1706 under-grove1731 bosket1737 busket1803 ?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 119 A Sprynge of wode, virgultum. 1614 Minutes Archdeaconry Essex (MS.) He had cattle broke into a yonge springe of wood. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 218 I In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon. View more context for this quotation 1690 in E. Bateson Hist. Northumberland (1895) II. 259 A parcell of ground, whereon there is a new spring of oakes growne 3 and 4 yards high. 1745 W. Ellis Agric. Improv'd II. July iv. 18 A Spinny, or Spring of Underwood. 1780 Newcastle Courant 8 July 3/3 Two fine Springs of Wood..are growing on the..Estate. b. Young growth, shoots, or sprouts, esp. the lower growth of shrubs or trees; undergrowth. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > [noun] > that which has grown springc1450 growth1580 flush1773 c1450 (?a1370) Wynnere & Wastoure (1990) l. 398 Ȝe sellyn wodd aftir wodde..Bothe þe oke and þe assche and alle þat þer growes. Þe spyres and þe ȝonge sprynge ȝe spare to ȝour children. 1483 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1483 §31. m. 1 The same spryng hath be in tyme passed, and daily ys distroyed. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxix^v Ley thy small trouse or thornes..ouer thy quyckesettes that shepe do nat eate the spring nor buddes of thy settes. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June f. 23^v The byrds, which in the lower spring Did shroude in shady leaues. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xvii. xii. 514 The Pine tree also with her shaddow nippeth and killeth the yong spring of all plants within the reach thereof. 1670 J. Evelyn Sylva (ed. 2) xxxiv. 220 When the Spring is of two years growth, draw part of it for Quicksets. 1767 Compl. Grazier xii. 75 If the cattle were left long enough to nip or bite the young spring of the grass, it would weaken and spoil the summer crop. 1796 R. Burroughes Farming Jrnl. 12 Jan. (1995) 74 Money paid for hedging & ditching exclusive of spring with which it was all new filled. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words 388 Spring, young white-thorn quick—called spring, perhaps, from the usual season for planting. 1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 281 Spring, the first and second year's growth of underwood in a coppice after it has been cut. 1985 Birds Summer 47/3 In coppices..the ‘spring’ which sprouted abundantly from the stumps was harvested every 20 years or so. 1991 J. S. Rodwell et al. Brit. Plant Communities I. 128/1 Beneath the young spring, there often develops a thick underscrub of Rubus fruticosus agg. 23. †a. A young growth on a tree, plant, or root; a shoot, sprout, or sucker; a small branch, sprig, or twig; the rudimentary shoot from a seed. Obsolete.In frequent use c1560–1650.In quot. a1400 figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > shoot, sprout, or branch > [noun] sproteeOE wiseOE spronkOE wrideOE brodc1175 wanda1300 breerc1320 scion?c1335 spraya1387 spriga1398 springa1400 sprouta1400 spiringc1400 shoota1450 youngling1559 forth-growing1562 spirk1565 sprouting1578 surcle1578 chive1583 chit1601 spurt1601 sprit1622 germen1628 spurge1630 spirt1634 brairding1637 springet1640 set1658 shrubble1674 underling1688 sobolesa1722 branchlet1731 springlet1749 sproutling1749 sprang1847 shootlet1889 the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > [noun] > parts of > plumule or rudimentary shoot spirec1374 springa1400 sprout?1548 plume1578 spear1647 germen1651 acrospire1675 sprit1682 mistressa1722 plumula1727 plumule1727 plumelet1783 gemmule1844 stem-bud1877 epicotyl1880 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27737 Vnheind talking,..Hurtes grett, and sclander and tene; Þir ar þe springes o wreth fythtene. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 470 Sprynge, of a tre or plante [1499 Pynson springe or yonge tre], planta, plantula. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. lxij^v/2 Yf thou wylt plante an Almaunde tree..putte many kyrnels togyder in the erth or seuerelly and..whan the sprynge is growen oute [etc.]. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 4 The roote..putting foorth on every side much encrease of new springs. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 369 Thymelæa hath many smal springs or branches, of the length of a cubite. 1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 117 A spring of scarce discernable growth may serve as a foundation to the pedal of the blossom. 1890 Ann. Rep. State Board Hort. Calif. 1890 460 The [olive] plant must be cut off near the ground so that new springs will grow therefrom, some of which will take the place of the dead plant. b. A piece cut or taken from a plant, esp. for planting or for culinary use; a rod, a switch; a cutting, a set, a slip. Also figurative.rare after 17th cent., and in later instances possibly an error for sprig n.² (Variation between the two words is shown already by manuscripts of Piers Plowman: see quot. c1400.) ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by cuttings > cutting or slip planteOE plantingeOE quickwoodc1383 graffa1393 sarmenta1398 slivingc1400 springc1400 clavec1420 sleavingc1440 talionc1440 quick1456 quicking1469 graft1483 quickset1484 slip1495 setlingc1503 set1513 pitchset1519 slaving?1523 truncheon1572 stallon1587 crosset1600 marquot1600 sliver1604 secta1616 offset1629 slipping1638 side-slip1651 slift1657 cutting1691 pitcher1707 mallet-shoot1745 root cutting1784 stowing1788 stool1789 pitch1808 heel1822 cutling1834 piping1851 cutback1897 stump plant1953 c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. l. 41 (MED) Who-so spareth þe sprynge [c1400 Huntington HM 143 spryg, a1450 Bodl. ȝerde] spilleth his children. a1475 N. Bollard Bk. Planting & Grafting (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 67 There is moste connabylle tyme for sedys, graynys, and pepyns, and Autumpe for spryngys, and plantys. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclx The first thing thou muste set thy werke on grounde syker and good, accordaunt to thy springes. 1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 304 Wet the end of a fether or other lyke thing, as some yong and tender spring of a trie. 1563 T. Hill Arte Gardening (1593) 85 Between the old plants set yong springs, slipped off from the old. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 196 The same yong springs eaten alone by themselues in a salad, in maner of the tender crops and spurts of the Colewort,..do fasten the teeth. 1657 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees (ed. 2) 60 After a yeare, or two, divers young springs may be drawne from the Roots. 1872 R. K. Philp Take my Advice ii. 87/2 To one gallon of water put two ounces of salt, one spring of lemon thyme, one of mint, and a bayleaf. 2014 D. Wallace French House xiv. 178 Barbecued baby lamb chops with springs of fresh rosemary, garden potatoes and carrots. †c. A young tree, esp. one growing from a set or slip; a sapling. Obsolete.In quot. ?1532 figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > characterized by age or life cycle > [noun] > young tree or sapling spire1392 sapling1415 springa1450 sipling1513 spear1543 gelding1562 saple1589 tiller1664 treeling1847 timberline1867 treelet1874 pole1882 a1450 (c1400) in D. M. Grisdale 3 Middle Eng. Serm. (1939) 36 (MED) Þer stonde a litil spryng in a place, whoyþer it be of an ok [or] of ani oþer tre. 1499 Promptorium Parvulorum (Pynson) sig. piv/2 Springe or younge tre [1440 Harl. 221 sprynge, of a tre or plant]. ?1532 T. Elyot tr. Plutarch Educ. Children (new ed.) iiii. sig. Biiii Good aduertisementes, and preceptes, wherby the yonge spryng of vertuous maners shall growe streyghte. 1545 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Court of Requests (1898) 85 To fell & cutt down viij yong Sprynges abowte Allhaloutyd. 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Arboure or place made with quicke springes. 1563 T. Hill Arte Gardening (1593) 6 That ground..which naturally bringeth forth of his own accord, both elms and wilde young springs. 1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 21 Their houses are built like our Arbors of small young springs bowed and tyed. †d. figurative. A young man, a youth; (also) an offspring or descendent (cf. offspring n. 1b). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > young person > youth or young man > [noun] frumberdlingc1000 young manOE childc1225 hind1297 pagec1300 youtha1325 fawnc1369 swainc1386 stripling1398 boy1440 springaldc1450 jovencel1490 younkera1522 speara1529 gorrel1530 lad1535 hobbledehoy1540 cockerel1547 waga1556 spring1559 loonc1560 hensure1568 youngster1577 imp1578 pigsney1581 cocklinga1586 demy1589 muchacho1591 shaver1592 snipper-snappera1593 callant1597 spaught1598 stubble boy1598 ghillie1603 codling1612 cuba1616 skippera1616 man-boy1637 sprig1646 callow1651 halflang1660 stubbed boy1683 gossoon1684 gilpie1718 stirraha1722 young lion1792 halfling1794 pubescent1795 young man1810 sixteener1824 señorito1843 tad1845 boysie1846 shaveling1854 ephebe1880 boychick1921 lightie1946 young blood1967 studmuffin1986 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Northumberland f. xxv^v I had a son..That being yong, and but a very spring Syr Henry Hotspur they gave him to name. 1591 E. Spenser Muiopotmos in Complaints sig. V3^v Winged Loue, With his yong brother Sport;..The one his bowe and shafts, the other Spring A burning Teade about his head did moue. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cv. 73 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 165 Their eldest-borne, that Countries hopefull spring. 1612 R. Johnson Remembrance Robert Earle of Salisbury sig. B1^v William Lord Burleigh..was the first spring of this house graced. †24. A growing or bursting forth of plants, vegetation, etc.; a growth or crop. Also (in early use): a race, the descendants of a common ancestor (cf. stock n.¹ 3c). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > race > [noun] strindc900 bloodOE gest13.. strainc1330 nationa1382 kindc1390 markc1395 prosapy?a1475 stock1549 stem?c1550 caste1555 spring1597 race1612 issue1620 nationality1832 the world > plants > by growth or development > [noun] > sprouting or germination shutea1300 springinga1387 bearinga1398 germination?1440 springing1531 sprouting1547 blading1548 shoot1572 sprout1586 spring1597 putting1623 eruption1626 spindling1626 germinating1644 spearing1707 spiring1733 flushing1810 plantulation1819 germing1832 germinance1841 stooling1854 coming up1908 1597 J. Gerard Herball Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v A goodly spring of flowers, when abroad a leafe is not to be seene. ?1624 G. Chapman tr. Hymn to Apollo in tr. Crowne Homers Wks. 39 A most dreadfull, and pernicious thing, Call'd Typhon; who on all the humane Spring Confer'd confusion. a1652 R. Brome Love-sick Court iv. ii. 141 in Five New Playes (1659) By a perpetual spring of more procere And bigger bladed grass. 1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep ii. i. 126 Having no Turnips nor Rapes to feed his Sheep with, they were forced to live, almost wholly on Straw, and before the Spring of Grass came on, many of them pined and died. 1761 J. Mordant Compl. Steward I. 53 Cut two or three notches in it [sc. a branch] to make it yield the better spring of shoots. 1800 London Packet 16 June The spring of grass is great in every part of the Empire, beyond all precedent. 1822 W. J. Napier Pract. Store-farming 58 Upon the part particularly alluded to, there appears to have arisen a great spring of natural fiorin. V. A mechanical device and related senses. 25. A device consisting of a largely rigid material (typically metal) bent or moulded into a form (esp. that of a coil) that can return into shape after being compressed or extended.Springs are typically used to exert constant tension (as in a spring release mechanism), to communicate motion (as in a clockwork mechanism), or to absorb movement (as in sprung furniture or in the suspension of vehicles).Frequently with distinguishing word, as leaf spring, coil spring, etc.: see first element. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [noun] > elasticity > a spring spring1428 sprint1645 steel spring1680 society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [noun] > part of > spring spring1428 sprent1511 gin1591 resort1598 worm1724 worm-spring1730 scape-spring1825 leaf spring1855 blade-spring1863 nest spring1866 tension spring1877 coil spring1890 society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > steering, suspension, or wheels > springs, etc., supporting chassis spring1665 suspension1912 1428 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1834) III. 289 Item for amendyng of the spryng of the barell [of a clock] vj^s viij^d. 1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. diiij^v Clockes with spryng. 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Molla, a wheele of a clocke that mooueth all the rest called the spring. 1665 S. Pepys Diary 5 Sept. (1972) VI. 213 After dinner comes Collonell Blunt in his new Charriott made with Springs. 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ii. 28 The spring h forces the Bolt forwards when it is shot back with the key. 1713 London Gaz. No. 5155/4 A Gold Watch,..going with a Spring, Without Fusey, Chain or String. 1771 Encycl. Brit. III. 936 The quickness or slowness of the vibrations of the balance depend not solely upon the action of the great spring, but chiefly upon the action of the springa, b, c, called the spiral spring. 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 117 What is technically understood in carriages by the term ‘spring’ is a plate or plates of tempered steel properly shaped to play in any required mode. 1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2275/2 A helical spring has coils of decreasing diameter as they approach the center. 1945 C. E. Balleisen Princ. Firearms x. 109 While all types of springs are used in guns, the helical compression spring is most common. 2010 Contra Costa (Calif.) Times (Nexis) 2 Sept. (My Town section) There's a squeak of a mattress spring from down the hall. 26. figurative and in figurative contexts. a. (a) That which causes, impels, or inspires action; an instigating cause, agency, or force; a motive. Cf. mainspring n. 2.Sometimes influenced by and not clearly distinguished from senses 2b and 1d. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] thingOE cause?c1225 why1303 casec1325 chesounc1330 skillc1340 mannerc1390 reasona1398 springa1500 impulsion1605 vicissitude1605 whereforea1616 hoti1646 dioti1651 secret1738 the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > motive achesounc1230 encheason1297 quarrel1340 occasionc1384 springa1398 motive?a1439 motionc1475 springa1500 respect1528 regard1579 moment1611 movent1651 umbrage1664 what makes (someone) tick1931 a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 115 Freelte and diffaulte ben the mocions of thi prayer; power and perfeccion ben the sprynges of His yeftis. 1615 S. Ward Coal from Altar 39 They ascribe it either to vaine glory, or couetousnesse; the onely springs that set their wheeles on going. 1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 16 By these the Springs of Property were bent, And wound so high, they Crack'd the Government. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 207 A strange Impression upon the Mind, from we know not what Springs, and by we know not what Power. 1774 B. Franklin & G. Whately Princ. Trade 1 The Spring, or Movement of such Intercours, is..Gain, or the Hopes of Gain. 1810 S. Smith in Edinb. Rev. 15 309 Instead of hanging the understanding of a woman upon walls,..we would make it the first spring and ornament of society. 1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiv. 243 Morny..prepared to touch the springs of that wondrous machinery by which a clerk can dictate to a nation. a1928 B. King Seven Torches Char. (1929) iv. 93 The idea touches the springs of character. 1994 G. Prasad I. A. Richards & Indian Theory of Rasa iii. 78 Emotion is the essential spring or motive power behind all thought and action. (b) spec. in spring of action (also conduct) and variants. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground achesounc1230 anchesouna1250 reasona1250 groundc1275 matter1340 purposec1350 cause1413 quarrel1476 actiona1500 subject1577 spring of action1583 qualitya1586 inducement1593 place1593 theme1594 instance1597 motive1605 impulsivea1628 justifiera1635 foundation1641 rise1641 plummet1679 mainspring1695 1583 A. Marten tr. P. M. Vermigli Common Places ii. i. 241/2 Those affections, which be the springs and beginnings of actions. 1591 J. Penry tr. T. de Bèze Propositions & Princ. Diuinitie xi. 20 Among those second causes..we are to consider two, vz. the vnderstanding, and the will, as the spring of the actions of men. 1680 tr. P. Nicole Moral Ess. vi. 305 There needs nothing but to suffer the two main springs of mens Rule and Conduct, Idleness and Vanity to act. 1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 173 The springs of all human actions. 1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 285 It is difficult..to come at the true springs of action. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. vi. 174 Whether public zeal and patriotic motives, were the springs of his lordship's conduct. 1885 J. Martineau Types Ethical Theory II. ii. iii. 518 Numerous springs of action and modes of feeling which neither interest nor reason could be shown to evolve. 1958 W. Plomer At Home (1961) 117 The springs of action, as Lowes Dickinson once said, lie deep in ignorance and madness. 2001 Australian (Nexis) 21 Mar. 40 Modern liberalism, which puts freedom first, provides a moving principle and a spring of action. (c) springs of life: that which gives, motivates, or inspires liveliness or an enthusiasm for life.Frequently influenced by sense 1a or sense 1c. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun] souleOE lifeOE spiritusOE bloodOE ghostOE life and soulOE quickship?c1225 quicknessc1230 breatha1300 spirita1325 spark1382 naturec1385 sparkle1388 livelinessa1398 rational soula1398 spiracle1398 animal spirit?a1425 vital spiritc1450 soul of the world1525 candle1535 fire1576 three souls1587 vitality?1592 candlelight1596 substance1605 vivacity1611 animality1615 vividity1616 animals1628 life spring1649 archeus1651 vital1670 spirituosity1677 springs of life1681 microcosmetor1684 vital force1702 vital spark (also flame)1704 stamen1718 vis vitae1752 prana1785 Purusha1785 jiva1807 vital force1822 heartbeat1828 world-soul1828 world-spirit1828 life energy1838 life force1848 ghost soul1869 will to live1871 biogen1882 ki1893 mauri1897 élan vital1907 orgone1942 the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > causes or reasons springs of life1681 1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar v. ii. 73 Every slackn'd fiber drops its hold, Like Nature letting down the Springs of Life. 1728 J. Thomson Spring 21 While sickly Damps, and cold Autumnal Fogs Sat not pernicious on the Springs of Life. 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 112 A body jaded and wrack'd off to the lees by constant repeated over-draughts of pleasure, which had done the work of sixty winters on his springs of life. 1819 W. Scott Let. 6 May (1933) V. 376 A grief of that calm and concentrated kind which..gradually wasted the springs of life. 1883 P. Johnson Epitome Life Late Prince Consort v. 91 'Twould break the springs of life were it revealed. 1986 J. F. Gracey Meat Hygiene (ed. 8) vii. 129/1 Mental functions, rightly viewed, are but the servants of the impulses and emotions by which we live, and these, the springs of life, are surely diencephalic in their neurological location. 2003 Daily Tel. 8 July 21 For her, cerebralism denied ‘the sacred springs of life, which are the imagination and the heart.’ †b. A trick, an artifice. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception wrenchc888 swikec893 braida1000 craftOE wile1154 crookc1175 trokingc1175 guile?c1225 hocket1276 blink1303 errorc1320 guileryc1330 sleightc1340 knackc1369 deceitc1380 japec1380 gaudc1386 syllogism1387 mazec1390 mowa1393 train?a1400 trantc1400 abusionc1405 creekc1405 trickc1412 trayc1430 lirtc1440 quaint?a1450 touch1481 pawka1522 false point?1528 practice1533 crink1534 flim-flamc1538 bobc1540 fetcha1547 abuse1551 block1553 wrinklec1555 far-fetch?a1562 blirre1570 slampant1577 ruse1581 forgery1582 crank1588 plait1589 crossbite1591 cozenage1592 lock1598 quiblin1605 foist1607 junt1608 firk1611 overreach?1615 fob1622 ludification1623 knick-knacka1625 flam1632 dodge1638 gimcrack1639 fourbe1654 juggle1664 strategy1672 jilt1683 disingenuity1691 fun1699 jugglementa1708 spring1753 shavie1767 rig?1775 deception1794 Yorkshire bite1795 fakement1811 fake1829 practical1833 deceptivity1843 tread-behind1844 fly1861 schlenter1864 Sinonism1864 racket1869 have1885 ficelle1890 wheeze1903 fast one1912 roughie1914 spun-yarn trick1916 fastie1931 phoney baloney1933 fake-out1955 okey-doke1964 mind-fuck1971 1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting ii. iii. 169 This method of granting favours in a disgustful manner, is one of our chief springs, and must be practised in as many connexions as you possibly can introduce it. 27. A structure in a plant that causes seed dispersal by forcefully ejecting seeds away from the plant.Cf. sense 14b. ΚΠ 1682 N. Grew Anat. Plants Explication of Tables sig. Ccc1^v/1 The Seed and Seed-Case of Harts Tongue, opened with a Spring. And other contrivances both for the Motion, and Arrest of other Seeds. 1746 G. Adams Micrographia Illustrata xxxv. 173 Every Seed Case stands upon a little Pedicle..; it is girded about with a strong Tendon or Spring. ?1841 W. Rhind Hist. Veg. Kingdom xvi. 98/2 This spiral arm, or spring.., possesses the property of contracting by means of drought, and of expanding by means of moisture. 1881 Pop. Sci. Monthly June 165 The seeds when ripe are flung to a distance which is surprising when we consider how small the spring is. 1920 T. A. Dymes Nature-study Plants ix. 143 At exactly the right time, while the spring is curling up, the hairs give and the seed is shot out. 1955 Boys' Life Nov. 55/2 These springs are lightly glued at the edges and enclose a core with five, evenly spaced seeds. 2006 Observer (Nexis) 6 Aug. 57 The cranesbills do it [sc. seed-dispersal] by forming a structure like a medieval catapult, which hurls the seed away from the parent plant on a coiled spring. 28. Nautical. a. A rope or hawser laid out from the end or side of an anchored vessel and secured to the anchor cable in order to prevent movement or assist manoeuvring. Also more fully spring cable, spring rope. ΚΠ 1694 Marquis of Carmarthen Jrnl. Brest-Expedition 40 He very readily clap'd a Spring upon Her Cable, by that means to bring Her Broad-side to bear on the Enemies Fort. 1744 J. Philips Authentic Jrnl. Exped. Anson 156 We clapt a Spring on the Sheet-cable to prevent her from swinging. 1747 Penny London Post 11 Feb. She was obliged to come to an Anchor by Spring Cable. 1800 E. Pellew Let. in Hull Advertiser 16 Aug. 1/4 A gun-brig..moored with springs on her cables. 1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy III. iv. 72 He had warped round with the springs on his cable, and had recommenced his fire upon the Aurora. 1933 H. Allen Anthony Adverse xlvi. 681 He noted with some satisfaction that the Unicorn was..safe in the precise spot where he had moored her bow-and-stern with springs on her cables. 1962 D. Perkins & G. G. Van Deusen U.S.A. I. xii. 282 Macdonough had anchored with spring cables that enabled him to warp his ships about and bring fresh batteries to bear on the enemy. 2010 Sunday Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 28 Feb. 75 The normal bow, stern and spring ropes safely allow Toy Box to float and move gently at her mooring. b. A rope or hawser laid out diagonally aft from a vessel's bow or forward from a vessel's stern and secured to a fixed point, or to another vessel, in order to prevent movement or assist manoeuvring; cf. spring line n. 1. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > for securing vessel > diagonal spring1769 spring line1801 society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > for securing vessel > diagonal > to another ship spring1769 1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Spring is likewise a rope reaching diagonally from the stern of a ship to the head of another which lies along-side or a-breast of her. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Spring, a hawser laid out to some fixed object to slue a vessel proceeding to sea. 1919 Mariner's Mirror 5 93/2 The various ropes and springs required to warp the vessel into her ultimate berth alongside the discharging wharf. 1991 S. Winchester Pacific (1992) 180 He will..make further adjustments before starting his main engines, weighing anchor, easing hawsers, slipping springs and casting off. 2007 Business Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 26 Jan. 'Springs' are the ropes used on a ship that is alongside a berth to prevent fore and aft movements. †29. A panel of flexible or elastic material at the side of a boot or shoe, allowing it to be pulled on and off easily. See also springside adj. and n. at Compounds 5e. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > elastic sides of boots spring1834 side spring1844 gusset1881 boot-gusset1882 1834 E. E. Perkins Treat. Haberdashery & Hosiery (ed. 3) App. 123 Superior Spring ditto, with springs at sides. 1885 J. B. Leno Art of Boot- & Shoe-making i. 11 Boots with springs in them are known to have their disadvantages; but from the fact that they are self-fastening, they are certain to remain popular. Phrases Spring and Autumn n. a period of Chinese history corresponding to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (approximately 771–464 bc); often attributive, as Spring and Autumn era, Spring and Autumn period, etc. [After Chinese chūnqiū, transferred use of chūnqiū, the name of a book of annals covering most of this period (both senses already found in Old Chinese, where the word could also be used to refer to historical writings more generally; compare chūn spring + qiū autumn); compare also chūnqiū shí, lit. ‘time of the springs and autumns’, denoting this period (already in Old Chinese)] . ΚΠ 1843 G. N. Wright China III. 61 Historians make the first foundations of Hoo-chow co-eval with the Chun-tsew, or spring and autumn of the Chinese historical æra. 1880 North-China Herald 20 July 57/3 Modern international politics are regarded by the Chinese of the Interstatal strife of the spring and autumn period. 1934 China Press (Shanghai) 10 Sept. ii. 9/4 Emperors and famous scholars of the seven kingdoms or Spring and Autumn dynasty. 1959 Arch. Chinese Art Soc. Amer. 13 86/2 Kung-sun Chiao, late 6th century B.C., one of the great statesmen active during the time of the Spring and Autumn era. 2004 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Aug. 17/1 Ornamental jade burial rings from the Spring and Autumn period. spring and fall n. the season of spring and the season of autumn; (as adverb) during these seasons; also figurative, with reference to the contrasting nature of these seasons. Now rare (poetic in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > contrariety [phrase] > the two sides or one thing and its opposite chalk1393 cross and pilec1450 spring and fall1578 light and shade1733 1578 W. Darell Short Disc. Life Seruingmen sig. E.iv^v There is nothing but it hath a spring and a fal, a Winter and a Summer, an ebbe and a flowe. 1586 T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xl. 277 Especially the spring and fall craue this emptying at large. 1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. i. 171 So great oddes there is betweene the Spring and Fall of Fortune. c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. ii. 153 Parliaments are to sit frequently... I do not say, as often as you take Physick (Spring and Fall at least). 1753 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery xix. 163 This disease..in some horses shews itself spring and fall. 1764 Bp. W. Warburton Lett. (1809) 354 I do not wonder that any studious man should in England want physic at Spring and Fall. 1826 W. Scott Malachi Malagrowther i. 10 She has been bled and purged, spring and fall. 1850 J. Montgomery Poet. Wks. 363 The blade, the stem, the bud, the flower.., Like day and night, like spring and fall, Alternate, on the abbey-wall. 1909 E. W. Wilcox Poems of Progress 173 Dawn and sunset, Spring and Fall, Held raptures for her, one and all. 1991 A. Atik Offshore 35 Spring and fall, dune and lawn on different hangers. Compounds C1. In senses of branch I. a. General attributive.Some of the more established compounds of this type are treated separately at Compounds 1c.Recorded earliest in spring-tooth n. at Compounds 1c. ΚΠ 1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 172 I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampsons tune... But the spring-tooth in the iawe, will do vs no horme [sic]. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 402 As for spring-veines [L. fontium..venae] there are none to bee found. a1652 I. Jones Most Notable Antiq. called Stone-Heng (1655) 93 Spring veins being not there to be found, unlesse by sinking wells or pits very deep. 1711 London Gaz. No. 4887/4 All well water'd with Spring Ponds. 1778 F. Burney Let. 26 Sept. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 172 I believe I should try the depth of Mrs. Thrale's spring pond. 1895 A. C. Wilson After Five Years in India 261 It costs a large sum to make a well where the spring-level is so deep. 1897 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 458 The Danaid spring-nymphs had to carry water in a sieve to prove their virginity. 1924 A. Mawer & F. M. Stenton Introd. Surv. Eng. Place-names viii. 145 Such ponds are known as Spring Ponds in Wessex. 2015 M. Watson Touring Springs of Florida 10 Emerald-green water greets you, and a small wooden deck overlooks the inviting spring pool. b. Instrumental. spring-fed adj. ΚΠ 1640 J. Gower tr. Ovid Festivalls vi. 124 Nor those that shew'd themselves to Priam's Sonne In spring-fed Ida [L. aquosae..Idae]. 1883 Cent. Mag. Sept. 651 These ponds are, of course, spring-fed. 2016 Times (Nexis) 16 July (Weekend section) The location takes some beating—on the edge of a spring-fed lake in the midst of Bodmin Moor. spring-watered adj. ΚΠ 1855 Calcutta Rev. 24 357 Here are mountains covered with forests.., spring-watered vallies, and low alluvial lands. 1884 Mag. of Art Mar. 215/2 The velvety green of spring-watered field-plots. 2009 Independent Traveller (Nexis) 2 May 4 We swished and swashed through knee-high meadows, past spring-watered orchards of olive, fig and pomegranate. c. spring branch n. North American a stream fed by or flowing directly from a spring. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > other well streamOE letch1138 well strandc1429 pow1481 black water1483 wash1530 gravel-brook1591 spring branch1650 pour1790 water splash1820 chalk stream1829 understream1830 water feeder1831 quebrada1833 black spring1847 weir-stream1889 obsequent1895 anti-dip1900 resequent1901 misfit1910 1650 in Amer. Speech 15 396/1 Bounded on the North East with a Spring branch or cove. 1795 T. Jefferson Inquest 18 Sept. in Papers (2000) XXVIII. 471 He proposes now to rebuild the said mill..in the same spot at the mouth of a Spring branch. 1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters II. iv. 48 Deer and antelopes..came to the spring-branch to drink. 2004 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Disp. (Nexis) 19 Sept. t 1 The spring branch within the park was lined with anglers stalking the rainbow trout. spring hole n. North American a hole, cavity, or pond formed by a spring where it rises; cf. spring pit n. (a). ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > caused by erosion or water > specifically by spring or geyser spring pit?1757 spring hole1835 bore1863 1835 Globe (Washington, D.C.) 8 June One of the gentlemen, observing a muddy spring hole at a short distance, thrust his hand in and pulled up a bag of spurious Haytien coin. 1956 K. M. Wells By Jumping Cat Bridge xiv. 83 We followed it, up to the spring hole on the edge of the flat land, a no-good bit of bog hole on the edge of arable land. 2016 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 15 May c 11 Striped bass and hybrid stripers are available in spring holes feeding the St. Johns. spring house n. North American an outhouse built over a spring or stream and used as a larder or dairy. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > place for storing food > [noun] cellar?c1225 larderc1305 pantrya1325 butleryc1325 spencec1386 larder-house1390 aumbrya1398 lardinera1400 meatfettle1440 spinde1481 selyer1483 pantyr?a1500 vault1500 eschansonnery1514 lardrya1552 lard-house1555 coveyc1593 brine-house1594 dispense1622 reservatory1647 provedore1694 ice cellar1735 spring house1755 provision house1787 futtah1834 pataka1842 society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > outhouse(s) > [noun] > types of skilling1389 haghouse1400 hovel1435 back shed1535 cot-house1606 boorachc1660 linhay1695 spring house1755 woodshed1764 cookhouse1802 tool-house1817 shed1855 drive shed1869 1755 in L. Chalkley Chron. Scotch-Irish Settlement Virginia (1912) I. 445 1 spring house, 18 feet long and 12 feet wide. 1894 Outing 24 382/2 To see her at her best was at the butter-making down at the old spring-house. 2014 Wisconsin State Jrnl. (Nexis) 9 Feb. f1 The owners began using the spring and spring house for more than chilling cans of milk. spring-keeper n. U.S. (now rare) any of various salamanders found in springs. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > amphibians > order Urodela or Caudata > [noun] > member of amphipneust1831 urodele1842 perennibranchiate1848 spring-keeper1859 urodelan1872 perennibranch1878 1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 438 Spring-Keeper, a salamander, or small lizard-shaped animal, found in springs and fresh water rivulets. 1945 Amer. Speech 20 230/1 While collecting salamanders near Munson Hill, Virginia, years ago, I was informed by a colored woman that the red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) which I caught in her presence was called a spring-keeper. spring pit n. †(a) a hole or cavity formed by a spring where it rises; (formerly also) a well (obsolete); (b) (in later use) a small hole or crater formed on a lake beach by water which percolates into the sand and then ascends. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > caused by erosion or water > specifically by spring or geyser spring pit?1757 spring hole1835 bore1863 ?1757 G. S. Green Life J. Van II. x. 162 This..made him cry aloud for Help, to search the Spring-pit. 1862 A. Newton Zool. Anc. Europe 21 These [fresh-water tortoises] were found..in a peat bog, by the side of a spring-pit, at East Wretham, about seven feet below the surface. 1930 in Jrnl. Geol. (Chicago) 38 90 A group of spring pits... Most of these pits are about a foot in diameter and up to 6 inches deep. 1987 R. R. Elliott Hist. Nevada (ed. 2) ii. 17 Animal bones were found in the three main layers, with the oldest level showing bones of bison and predatory animals in a spring pit. 2003 E. Draganits et al. in P. Van Rensbergen et al. Subsurface Sediment Mobilization 117/2 A rare combined occurrence of spring pits and their conduits below. spring salt n. now rare common salt deposited by or obtained from the waters of a saltwater spring. ΚΠ 1694 R. Blome tr. A. Le Grand Entire Body Philos. ii. v. iii. 117/1 The last is Spring or Fountain-Salt [L. [sal] fontanus], which proceeds from Salt Springs or Well-water, and is boiled into Salt. 1799 J. Girvin Impolicy prohib. Export. Rock Salt 5 Salt is very properly distinguished by Mineralogists into Fossile-Salt, Spring-Salt, and Sea-Salt. 2010 Brit. Jrnl. Hist. Sci. 43 590 They regarded the production of the spring salt as an exceptionally threatening peril for their own economic existence. spring swamp n. originally U.S. an area of waterlogged ground fed by a spring. ΚΠ 1636 Patents 1 in G. D. McJimsey Topogr. Terms in Virginia (1940) 124/2 Downe the maine river into the Spring Swamp. 1747 Northumberland County Rec. Bk. in G. D. McJimsey Topogr. Terms in Virginia (1940) 124/2 Thence along the said Mill pon to the Mouth of my Spring Swamp. 1839 Corsair 17 Aug. 354/2 Where are we to try first, on Rocky hill, or in the Spring swamps? 1942 Washington Post 26 Apr. 6/6 Red army cavalry units, scorning the spring swamps which have bogged down other ground forces, have taken a number of German-occupied villages. 2011 Folia Geobotanica 46 52 The species [of fern] is rare here and local populations are mainly found in spring swamps. † spring-teller n. Obsolete a person who searches for underground sources of water using a divining rod or similar technique. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > the paranormal > [noun] > detection of radiation > detecting subterraneous springs, etc. > rhabdomancy > one who practises water-finder1656 hydrophantic1729 spring-teller1785 water witch1808 rhabdomancer1817 water diviner1825 rhabdomantist1832 dowser1835 jowser1840 witch1843 water witcher1868 water dowser1873 hydroscopist1885 1785 tr. H. Decremps Conjurer Unmasked xxiv. 58 If any one perceives your motion when you perform the trick..answer them as the spring tellers do [Fr. comme les sourciers], that the metallick emanation, or the vapours of the subterranean waters, occasion the stick to turn. 1871 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 56 The method used by the ‘spring-tellers’ or ‘water-finders’ was simple enough. † spring-tooth n. Obsolete rare a tooth or part of a jawbone from which water rises.In allusion to Judges 15:19 in which God causes water to rise from a jawbone in order to refresh Samson. ΚΠ 1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 172 I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampsons tune... But the spring-tooth in the iawe, will do vs no horme [sic]. C2. In sense 6 (branch II.). General attributive.See also spring-flood n., spring tide n. 2. ΚΠ 1727 R. Greene Princ. Philos. Expansive & Contractive Forces i. v. 101 The greatest Spring Flow is, when the Waters are under the perpendicular Influence of the Sun and Moon. 1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 66 There is a bar outside the entrance; but as it has about 13 feet water over it even at the lowest spring ebbs, it [etc.]. 1991 Motor Boat & Yachting June 46/3 It was dusk with a full spring ebb and a westerly six to seven. 2006 G. Brown Sea Kayak xviii. 166 A good rule of thumb is that the neap range is half that of the spring and as a result the neap rate is half the spring flow. C3. In senses of branch III. a. attributive. (a) With the sense ‘of or relating to springtime; appearing or occurring in the spring’.Some of the more established compounds of this type are treated separately at Compounds 3e. ΚΠ 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 97 The same tyme also in the spring season king Iohn sayled into Normandy. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xi. vii. 313 This Erithace commeth of the Spring-dew. 1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew ii. sig. D4^v For a spring-trick of youth, now, in the season. 1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 49 That long Interval betwixt Autumn and Spring Seed-times. 1760 T. Smith Jrnl. 30 Mar. in Extracts (1821) 137 The robbin and spring birds came a week or ten days sooner than usual. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 279 The springlitters [of pigs] stand greatly in need of the milk and whey. 1817 Lady Morgan France I. 52 The morning light of an early spring day. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. vi. 138 To be concerting measures for the spring Campaign. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 482 There is found little or nothing to do till the burst of spring-work comes. 1870 H. Smart Race for Wife i. 18 The first spring meeting became his assizes. 1925 Auckland Star 8 Oct. 11/2 To wake up these fine spring mornings..makes one feel good to be alive. 1978 L. A. Loubère Red & White vi. 78 Everywhere save in the deep South vines were threatened with spring frost. 2016 Daily Illini (Univ. Illinois) 21 Jan. 1 At the start of the spring semester.., students still had not received any reassurance that their grants will be repaid. (b) With the first element in the genitive (spring's). ΚΠ 1826 Dublin & London Mag. Feb. 81 'Twas a spring's day, not warm though fine. 1874 Methodist New Connexion Mag. Nov. 670 Autumn's gloom and winter's drear darkness are relieved by the memories of spring's flowers and summer's golden light. 1918 J. McMillan Mocking Bird's Breed Prol. 11 It was about five o'clock of a spring's morning that Archie Morven..came out of his cabin. 2011 S. Leaf Lady & Sea xxxvi. 208 Spring's sunshine began to touch the March air and melt the snow. b. Modifying verbal nouns, with the sense ‘occurring or taking place in the spring’, as spring planting, spring ploughing, spring sowing, etc. ΚΠ 1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 15 Those Plants of the Spring sowing, that you sow later than ordinary, require to be the more watered and shadowed from the heat. 1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 59 This thus pulveriz'd Surface turn'd in, in the Spring-Hoing, enriches the Earth. 1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 351 After each spring digging,..the same care and management of the vines..must be continued. 1795 D. Walker Gen. View Agric. Hertford 39 The spring or top dressings are the leading features of the Hertfordshire farming. 1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 164 Soon after the spring racking,..the casks may be gradually stopped. 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 439 A top-dressing of putrescent manure may be..left on the surface till the spring-stirring. 1967 Sputnik Monthly Digest Nov. 145/1 Not only was food sorely needed, but also seed grain for the spring sowing. 2016 Advertiser (Austral.) (Nexis) 6 Feb. 62 Prior to spring planting, spread the recommended rate of a granulated vegetable fertiliser. c. Forming adjectives with present participles, with the sense ‘in the spring, during the spring’, as spring-flowering, spring peering, spring-spawning, etc. ΚΠ 1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 117 The Spring-delighting bird we call the Cuckow. 1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Colchicum Spring-flowering Meadow-Saffron. 1817 J. Keats Poems 33 What is it that hangs from thy shoulder, so brave, Embroidered with many a springpeering flower? 1852 W. Wickenden Hunchback's Chest x. 281 In the spring-budding meadows. 1927 Dunstan Times (N.Z.) 1 Aug. 2/5 The cathedral grounds are full of..azaleas and lilacs, and of all the other lovely spring-blossoming shrubs. 1972 H. Heckman Island Year 79 The spring-burgeoning forest canopy shuts out sunlight. 2006 R. Hannesson in R. Hannesson et al. Climate Change & Econ. World's Fisheries iii. 68 The story of the Norwegian spring-spawning herring over the past 50 or so years is a dramatic one. d. Forming adjectives with past participles, with the sense ‘in the spring; of or by the spring’, as spring born, spring gathered, spring sown, etc. ΚΠ 1600 D. Lodge in R. Allott Englands Parnassus 413 Fiue louely sprigs..which featly sprout in length like spring borne friends whose prety tops, with fiue sweet roses ends. a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry IV ccxlviii, in Poems (1878) IV. 63 Northumberland, who like a Spring-taught Snayle Was crauling to haue Nibbled the fresh leafe. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 304 The spring-made cheese was tarter. 1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 128 Plant out spring-raised cabbages. 1855 J. C. Stretton Woman's Devotion II. 299 The fair shadowing green of the spring-touched larch. 1857 G. W. Thornbury Songs of Cavaliers & Roundheads 53 The sweet spring-gather'd flowers fall before his feet in showers. 1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 101 Winter's wan daughter Leaves lowland and lawn Spring-stricken. 1881 O. Wilde Poems 178 Each spring-impassioned tree Flames into green. 1925 G. Greene Babbling April 25 She waits without fear that spring-scented day. 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August vii. 138 Into the bleak, clean room the springfilled air blew in fainting gusts. 1976 Arkansas City (Kansas) Daily Traveler 9 June 16/2 Spring-planted crops are not likely to make up the losses of winter grain. 2016 Farmers Weekly (Nexis) 3 June We..will seek to increase our spring-sown areas of seed peas, borage and radish crops. e. (a) spring ague n. now historical a mild intermittent fever occurring in the spring. ΚΠ 1681 J. Warner Vindic. Eng. Catholiks (ed. 2) i. 21 I sayd, Papists Rebellions were like spring Agues, painfull; not dangerous. 1708 Ld. Shaftesbury Let. conc. Enthusiasm 22 They might, instead of making a cure,..turn a spring-ague or an autumn-surfeit into an epidemical malignant fever. 1827 T. J. Graham Mod. Domest. Med. (ed. 3) 213 Spring agues are, in general, less severe and obstinate, and less liable to be followed by dangerous consequences, than the autumnal. 1904 J. F. Payne Eng. Med. Anglo-Saxon Times 43 There is also lent-adle, or spring disease, which must refer to spring agues or tertians. 2000 O. Reiss Med. in Colonial Amer. 153 Spring agues were shorter and milder. † spring-blood n. Obsolete blood which is generated anew by the body, esp. (supposedly) in the spring. ΚΠ 1641 A. Streater Ague 1 The liver for obstruction sake cannot send his vitall and Spring bloud. 1773 R. Farmer in S. Johnson & G. Steevens Plays of Shakespeare (rev. ed.) X. App. sig. Pp5 The first folio has ‘the winter's pale’; and the meaning is, the red, the spring blood now reigns o'er the parts lately under the dominion of winter. spring break n. originally and chiefly North American a vacation taking place in the spring; spec. a university vacation during which students gather in large numbers at beaches and resorts and behave hedonistically. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > [noun] > a period of > holidays > specific type summer vacation1507 public holiday1736 summer holiday1746 school holiday1777 Cook's tour1856 alcoholiday1877 busman's holiday1893 caravan holiday1899 caravanning holiday1924 staycation1944 spring break1956 farm stay1957 charter1959 ski pack1969 staycation2008 1956 Washington Post 1 Apr. f10/2 The spring break is the longest of the London University year. 1978 A. Buchwald Buchwald stops Here iii. 75 George is coming home for spring break two weeks after Easter. 1990 Time 23 Apr. 61/1 The alcohol-fueled rites of spring break are sparking fresh criticism of aggressive college marketing by brewers. 2012 Atlantic Sept. 56/2 On spring break they had played a game called ‘dirty rounds’. spring breaker n. originally and chiefly North American a person who is on spring break, esp. a university student who has joined others at a beach or resort and is behaving hedonistically. ΚΠ 1982 H. Jacobsen & R. Riggs Rites of Spring 48 The rooftop pool at the Holiday Inn attracts some of the best-looking Spring-Breakers. 2007 Metro (Toronto) 28 Feb. 17/1 It has a plethora of eco-friendly and historic sites for those who want to get away from Cancun's spring breakers. spring cabbage n. any variety of cabbage that is sown in the autumn for harvesting in the spring; a cabbage of such a variety. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > cabbage or kale > [noun] > cabbage > spring cabbage spring cabbage1728 spring greens1773 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > cabbage or kale > cabbage > types of > spring cabbage spring cabbage1728 spring greens1773 1728 R. Bradley Dict. Botanicum at Brassica All these are raised from Seed either sown in the Spring if they are design'd for winter Cabbages, or about the Middle of September if we design them Spring Cabbages, that are to bring good Heads in May. 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist iii. v. 629 This [sc. tying up the leaves] may be usefully practised with the earliest spring cabbages. 1979 P. J. Salter et al. Know & grow Veg. iv. 104 Spring cabbage..may be short of nitrogen. 2004 C. Foley Allotment Handbk. (2007) 104/1 Spring cabbage will be ready to eat as early greens. spring crop n. a crop or harvest that matures in the spring. ΚΠ 1718 R. Bradley New Improvem. Planting & Gardening: Pt. 3 127 The Radishes will soon be fit to draw, and the Carrots be ready for the Table about May, when the Spring Crop is gone. 1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 255/1 The remainder may be ready for spring crop with very little labour. 2009 New Scientist 11 Apr. 9/1 The cacao swollen shoot virus..threatens to slash this year's spring crop by a third. spring eruption n. a skin condition occurring in spring or early summer, esp. inflammation and itching caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to increasing levels of sunlight. ΚΠ 1791 P. Russell Treat. Plague App. p. xxxviii The mother persisted in asserting that the eruptions were all gone, except the one on the neck, and this she, with seeming reluctance, confessed was a little more inflamed since yesterday; but that it gave her no pain, and was certainly nothing else than her usual spring eruption. 1871 R. O. Pringle Purdon's Vet. Hand-bk. (ed. 2) v. 105 Spring eruption in the skin. Causes.—Change of keep, especially when cows have been poorly kept during the winter. 2014 J. L. M. Hawk in M. R. Hamblin & Y.-Y. Huang Handbk. Photomed. viii. 82/1 Juvenile spring eruption, affecting mainly boys in spring, is an apparent extreme example of this [sc. PMLE = polymorphous light eruption], manifesting itchy papules and vesicles of just the ear helices. spring feed n. animal feed available in the spring; a feed of this type. ΚΠ 1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman Aug. xi. 38 It [sc. Rye] is only a Spring-feed for Sheep, that dresses, not impairs the Ground. 1789 T. Wright Acct. Advantages & Method Watering Meadows 2 Between March and May we are sure of Spring Feed. 2016 Farm Weekly (Nexis) 13 July 56 The Reynolds family has bucked this trend, being one of the few to capitalise on the abundance of spring feed. spring fever n. [in sense (a) after post-classical Latin febris vernalis ( T. Sydenham Methodus curandi febres (1666) 33)] (a) a fever occurring in the spring, a spring ague (now historical); (b) an emotional state supposedly occurring as a result of the arrival of spring, variously characterized as a feeling of listlessness, or of restlessness, excitement, inclination to romance, etc. (cf. spring fret n.). ΚΠ 1696 J. Pechey tr. T. Sydenham Whole Wks. i. iv. 27 But it is to be noted, that purging is not altogether so necessary after Spring-Fevers [L. post febres vernales], as after Fevers in the Fall. 1843 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last of Barons II. vi. vii. 256 The love of Sibyll was no common girl's spring-fever of sighs and blushes. 1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 438 Spring fever, the listless feeling caused by the first sudden increase of temperature in spring. It is often said of a lazy fellow, ‘He has got the spring fever’. 1943 National Geographic Mag. Dec. 668/2 That feeling of lassitude we call ‘spring fever’. 1997 R. Porter Greatest Benefit to Mankind iii. 60 When spring came, blood increased in quantity, and diseases would follow from a plethora of blood, including spring fever outbreaks (primarily benign tertian malaria), dysentery and nose-bleeds. 2015 Providence (Rhode Island) Jrnl. (Nexis) 3 May h4 Whether it is real or simply a happy time that enlivens us, here are some ways to take advantage of spring fever with someone special in your life. spring flower n. a flower that comes out in the spring. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > other flowers spring flowera1586 globe-daisy1597 sceptre-flower1866 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Ii6 Poesies of the spring flowers were wrapt vp in a litle grene silke. 1884 R. C. Praed Zéro I. iv. 71 The floor was carpeted with moss and spring flowers. 2015 Saga Mag. Apr. 68/3 Red peacock anemones, wild purple stock, magenta Calabrian soapwort and other spring flowers thrive on the rocky slopes. spring fowl n. a young fowl; young poultry. ΚΠ 1735 J. Moore Columbarium 42 Their young ones..were full as large as middling spring Fowls. 1885 Poultry World Sept. 140/2 You should have a separate yard for the spring fowls that they may not be ‘bossed’ around by the older ones. 2014 F. Serafin Wicked Phenix City i. 64 Many of the soldiers dismissed the unusual sounds as overactive spring fowl, perhaps mating or fighting. spring fret n. now chiefly historical a sense of restlessness or desire to wander, felt by humans or animals in the spring. ΚΠ 1897 R. Kipling in Scribner's Mag. Dec. 679 Send your road is clear before you when the old Spring-fret comes o'er you. 1920 To-day Apr. 45 Let us not be supercilious about whims like the spring-fret, for it, I firmly believe, is Nature's summons to growth. 1995 J. M. Myers Bravos of West li. 276 ‘The spring fret,’ or the primal urge to respond to the rebirth of life by moving, was a cogent force among a people still generally close to nature. † spring-froth n. Obsolete rare a frothy secretion exuded by certain insects on the leaves, axils, or other parts of plants; = cuckoo-spit n.² 1. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > suborder Homoptera > member of family Cercopidae (spit-insects) > frothy secretion wood-sear1585 cuckoo-spit1592 cuckoo-spittle1646 toad-spittle1658 spring-frotha1722 toad-spit1751 froth-spit1753 frog spittle1811 frog-spit1823 cuckoo-froth1872 a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 449 An account of the cuckow-spit, or spring-froth. 1900 Appletons' Pop. Sci. Monthly May 23 This substance is commonly known as frog spittle or cuckoo spit, and, being found in the spring, is known in France as ‘spring froth’. spring grass n. (a) grass which grows or sprouts in the spring; (b) sweet vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > other grasses feather-top grass1597 hooded matweed1597 millet grass1597 spring grass1643 moor grass1749 melic1762 finger grass1767 feather-grass1776 aegilops1777 oat-grass1802 prairie grass1812 oat-grass1814 tansy mustard1856 purple moor grass1859 whorl-grass1861 Molinia1866 onion grass1868 káns1874 Turk's-head grass1882 Pangola finger-grass1947 tor grass1954 bush-grass- the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture windlestrawc1000 red grass1582 spring grass1643 sweet-grass1709 herd-grass1747 Guinea grass1756 vernal grass1762 vernal1771 Paspalum1772 buffalo grass1784 Rhode Island bent1790 red-top1792 finetop1824 kangaroo-grass1827 gamagrass1831 sweet vernal grass1839 yellow-top1839 grama1844 sesame grass1845 sacate1848 Para grass1850 Hungarian1859 alfilaria1860 sacaton1865 Mitchell grass1867 teosinte1877 Landsborough grass1883 turnip-grass1889 brown top1891 ichu1891 manna1897 Rhodes grass1903 Sudan1911 Kikuyu grass1913 never-fail1923 buffel grass1955 1643 His Maiesties Last Speech, & Protestation 7 He findes them [sc. Papists] (for all their pretences of assisting Him) as noysome and infectious weedes in the Common-Wealth, to eate up and choak the sweete flowers and the spring-grasse. 1714 Philos. Trans. 1713 (Royal Soc.) 28 179 Soft Crested Grass..is thicker, softer, and more loose than our common Crested Grass, and in spike more nearly resembles our yellow Spring Grass. 1796 W. Pitt Gen. View Agric. Stafford (new ed.) viii. 84 Cattle thus fatted are generally sold to the butcher during the winter, and before the coming on of the spring grass. 1892 Proc. 18th Ann. Meeting Iowa State Stock-breeders' Assoc. 1891 54 I think the green spring grass is eighteen per cent protein, while there is only eight per cent in the dead grass. 1994 Off our Backs 24 17/3 The smell of new spring grass and just-opening hyacinths. 2006 M. A. Shiffman in M. A. Shiffman & A. Di Giuseppe Liposuction xvii. 103/2 (table) Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum, spring grass): Anticoagulant effect from coumarin constituent. spring green (a) n. light green colour; (b) adj. light green; of a light green colour. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [adjective] > light green beryl1594 spring green1735 water-green1757 berylline1847 chlorinea1849 peppermint1868 reseda1873 absinthe1963 lily-green1965 pepperminty1981 1735 J. Barrow Dict. Polygraphicum I. sig. M2 Blue and yellow mixt together compose a yellow-green, spring-green, grass-green, [etc.]. 1891 M. E. Wilkins Humble Romance 46 The cottages were painted uniformly white, and had blinds of a bright Spring-green colour! 2015 S. J. Maas Court Thorns & Roses xlvi. 415 Both of us emerged onto the spring-green grass that covered the bumps and hollows of his lands. spring greens n. the young leaves of cabbages or other varieties of brassica, used as a vegetable, esp. in spring; a variety of brassica whose leaves are suitable for eating in spring (cf. winter greens: see wintergreen n. 3). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > cabbage or kale > [noun] > cabbage > spring cabbage spring cabbage1728 spring greens1773 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > cabbage or kale > cabbage > types of > spring cabbage spring cabbage1728 spring greens1773 1773 W. Hanbury Compl. Body Planting & Gardening II. 715/2 (heading) Of Scotch Cole, and other Sorts of Borecole, and Spring Greens. 1806 B. McMahon Amer. Gardener's Cal. 184 Borecole is extremely valuable for winter and spring greens where the winter frost is not too powerful for it. 1919 D. C. Peel Daily Mail Cookery Bk. (ed. 2) vii. 134 Vegetables which can be cooked in this manner—cauliflowers, brussels sprouts, spring greens, broccoli tops, [etc.]. 1972 Y. Lovelock Veg. Bk. i. 69 Spring greens, either hearted or leafy, are gradually superseding the tougher British coleworts. 2014 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 3 May 10 Spring greens and purple broccoli add garden-fresh bite to any plate. spring growth n. plant growth that takes place in the spring. ΚΠ 1754 Brit. Legacy 155 When you observe the Buds form'd at the Extremity of the same Year's Shoots, which is a Sign of their having finish'd their Spring Growth. 1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows ii. xxii. 129 Until it loose The clammy clods and let out the spring-growth. 2004 Nat. New Eng. Winter 9/1 Its early spring growth..and tolerance of shade allow it to outcompete and displace spring wildflowers. spring juices n. now historical a preparation made from various plant extracts, used as a tonic and to prevent scurvy. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > decoction or infusion > [noun] > specific decoction or infusion sabras?c1225 tisanea1398 tamarisk1597 wort1694 sage tea?1706 poppy tea1709 yapon tea1723 herb-tea1744 spring juices1751 balm-tea1752 camomile-tea1753 uva ursi1753 nettle tea1758 bush tea1768 quassia1778 majo bitters1866 Mexican tea1866 1751 J. Hill Gen. Nat. Hist. II. 166 The water brooklime is also one of the antiscorbutics of the shops, and it's juice is always made a part of the spring juices, given against those complaints. 1831 W. Patrick Pop. Descr. Plants Lanarkshire 46 Leaves [of Brooklime]..; generally gathered for medical purposes, and together with scurvy-grass, an ingredient in that nauseous composition called Spring juices. 1863 J. T. B. Syme Sowerby's Eng. Bot. (ed. 3) I. 178 Formerly the Water-Cress was in high repute for its medicinal qualities, and boiled with brooklime, scurvy-grass, and Seville oranges, formed the ‘spring juices’ so much esteemed by our grandmothers as a health-giving draught for children. 1976 M. Jordan Guide to Wild Plants iii. 107 Brooklime..was once widely recommended as an anti-scorbutic, being included in the ‘spring juices’.., before standards of living improved sufficiently to eliminate such deficiencies as scurvy. spring lamb n. (a) a milk-fed lamb born in the late winter or early spring, typically being sold by the age of five months; (b) the meat of such a lamb used as food. ΚΠ 1777 J. Whitfeld Conjectures on Tyndaris of Horace 21 My simple hunger can appease, like Beet, or cooling Water-cress; Or a Spring-Lamb, when Lambs abound. 1846 Punch 22 Aug. 75/1 Thoughts of Michaelmas goose, of Christmas beef, of spring lamb. 1890 National Stockman & Farmer 1 Aug. 3/2 Spring lambs are selling for $2.25. 1940 Sun (Baltimore) 16 Apr. 15/5 Offerings..in the sheep pens consisted of a few lots of..native spring lambs. 1975 J. McCourt Mawrdew Czgowchwz (2002) i. 14 Racks of spring lamb were turning over Sherry's coals. 2009 Atlantic Monthly May 22/2 Lean spring lamb, naturally lower in fat than the big animals.., has less of the marbling that accounts for the ‘lamby’ flavor many people find objectionable. spring leaf n. a new leaf produced by a plant in the spring. ΚΠ 1673 N. Grew Idea Phytol. Hist. i. 23 The first Spring-leaves of all kinds of Docks. 1818 in J. Keats Life, Lett., & Lit. Remains (1848) I. 116 I've gather'd young spring-leaves, and flowers gay Of periwinkle and wild strawberry. 1999 Canberra Times (Nexis) 1 Aug. a 25 The spring leaves that appear about flowering time are thinner and larger than the summer leaves. spring lily n. a lily that flowers in the spring. ΚΠ 1784 J. Abercrombie Propagation & Bot. Arrangem. Plants & Trees II. 392 [Atamasco] or Virginian Spring Lily. 1872 J. A. Symonds Introd. Study Dante 175 Like one of the white spring-lilies of the Alps. 2015 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 3 Apr. Spring lilies always add a dramatic touch to gardens and homes this time of year, but cat owners need to be careful. spring onion n. any of various varieties of onion which do not form bulbs (also called scallion) or are harvested as young plants before the bulb has fully developed. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > other types of onion hollekec1000 chibol1362 scallion1393 oniona1398 chesbollc1410 oinet?1440 red onionc1450 sybow1574 green onion1577 Strasbourg onion1629 cibol1632 Portugal onion1647 Spanish onion1706 Welsh onion1731 spring onion1758 Reading1784 rareripe1788 yellow onion1816 onionet1820 potato onion1822 tripoli1822 escalion1847 stone-leek1861 Egyptian onion1880 ramp1885 multiplier1907 ramps1939 Vidalia1969 tree onion- 1758 J. Hill Gardener's New Kal. 265 Dig a well shelter'd piece of ground for the spring onions. 1924 L. H. Bailey Man. Cultivated Plants 161 A[llium] fistulosum, L. Welsh Onion. Spring Onion. Scape short and thick, hollow,..arising from bulbous base little thicker than st[em]. 2008 BBC Good Food Sept. 55/2 Cut the ends from the spring onions, and cut the green and white of the onion lengthways. spring pottage n. now rare pottage or soup made from fresh green vegetables. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup joutes1377 leek-pottagec1440 kalea1480 colea1500 nettle broth1652 spring pottage1661 minestra1673 spring soup1744 onion soup1747 shchi1824 Palestine soup1834 potato soup1834 tomato soup1840 julienne1841 gazpacho1845 printanier1867 minestrone1871 vichyssoise1939 pistou1979 1661 W. Rabisha Whole Body Cookery 32 (heading) To make Spring Pottage. 1774 Ann. Reg. 1773 87 After eating a hearty breakfast of Spring-pottage. 1958 Country Life 23 Oct. 937/2 Thistles..had plenty of medical uses and could, at least one variety, be used as spring pottage, to clear the blood. spring roll n. (in Chinese cookery) a small pancake or similar base filled with vegetables (and sometimes also meat), rolled into a cylinder, and deep-fried. [After Chinese chūnjuǎn ( < chūn spring, with connotations of newness and freshness + juǎn to roll), probably originally so called because vegetable snacks were associated with the spring festival (Chinese New Year).] ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > pancake, tortilla, or oatcake > [noun] > pancake froise1338 pancakea1400 flawnc1400 crust-rollc1430 pancake wisea1500 flapjack1620 torteau1625 egg-fraise1693 wafer pancake1769 flamm1819 blini1842 leather-jacket1846 round robin1847 Pfannkuchen1856 palacinka1884 blintz1903 latke1909 crêpe Suzette1922 Dutch baby1927 spring roll1927 Palatschinken1929 egg roll1938 tostada1945 crêpe1951 ploye1959 palacsinta1964 pancake roll1967 appam1972 popiah1975 uthappam1976 1927 N. C. Wong Chinese Recipes 16 The spring rolls should always be sliced slantwise and served hot. 1972 D. Bloodworth Any Number can Play xxii. 219 Helping himself to a spring roll from a trolley of hot Chinese delicacies. 2015 Forever Sports July 57/1 Starters or mains, spring rolls don't have to be the crispy cylinders of saturated fat that you get from your local takeaway. spring root n. rare a root newly grown by a plant in the spring. ΚΠ a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 299 Strike fresh sap-roots, or buds preparative to the ensuing spring, and which will the next year be the spring-roots. 2009 J. Bruton-Seal & M. Seal Backyard Med. 20/1 The other advantage is that you will know where to dig for spring roots, as the [burdock] leaves die back to very little in the winter and the plants can be difficult to find. spring shoot n. †(a) the time of rapid and plentiful growth in the spring (obsolete); (b) a shoot or young plant that grows in the spring. ΚΠ 1676 M. Cook Manner of raising Forrest-trees xxxiv. 116 If you cut off the head of the shoots as soon as ever the Spring-shoot is over. a1746 E. Holdsworth Remarks & Diss. Virgil (1768) 35 Scarce any tree growing faster than a young Alder,..especially in the spring-shoot. 1763 Museum Rusticum (1764) 1 141 When the ground is properly prepared, it should be planted with sets, being the spring shoots pulled up in a madder-plot. 2016 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 24 Mar. 4 Just as winter fades and the first spring shoots break through, Atkins' kitchen garden comes to life. spring shower n. a shower of rain occurring in the spring, esp. one that is brief or sudden. ΚΠ 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1005 Now the Spring showers and raines [Fr. les pluyes de la primeuere] are most necessarie for seeds and herbs. 1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 365 Immediately after a hasty spring-shower. 1910 Atlantic Educ. Jrnl. Apr. 14/1 How does the sky look after a spring shower? It is fresh and clear like a window glass. 1979 V. Canning Satan Sampler ix. 183 A fierce spring shower was pock-marking the surface of the lake. spring soup n. a pottage or soup made from fresh green vegetables. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup joutes1377 leek-pottagec1440 kalea1480 colea1500 nettle broth1652 spring pottage1661 minestra1673 spring soup1744 onion soup1747 shchi1824 Palestine soup1834 potato soup1834 tomato soup1840 julienne1841 gazpacho1845 printanier1867 minestrone1871 vichyssoise1939 pistou1979 1744 Adam's Luxury 183 (heading) A good Spring Soup. 1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 195 He took remarkably good care of himself during dinner time, had twice spring soup, and twice salmon and cucumber. 2016 Toronto Star (Nexis) 25 May e 6 Green garlic can stand alone in a spring soup or pair it with green peas or asparagus. spring suit n. chiefly Surfing a wet suit that only partially covers the arms and legs, usually worn in warmer water. ΚΠ 1974 Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.) 28 July (Southland Sunday section) 20/2 The wet suit..is what made surfing possible during any weather. The suits, from just jacket sleeves and vests to Long Johns (overalls without sleeves), Short Johns and short spring suits, are not cheap. 1990 Surfer Aug. 180/2 Overhead sets, water temps in the sixties and air in the eighties had surfers at North Carolina's Frisco Pier shedding their fullsuits in favor of springsuits and even vests. 2010 News-Jrnl. (Daytona Beach, Florida) (Nexis) 26 Feb. 1 c Surf dudes in spring suits, which are lighter than full wet suits, so it can't be all that wintry. spring term n. (a) (the name of) the session of a court of law which follows the winter vacation and precedes the spring vacation; (b) (the name, at some universities and schools, of) the academic term which follows the winter vacation and precedes the spring vacation. ΚΠ 1771 H. Pelham Let. 15 Aug. in Lett. & Papers Copley & Pelham (Mass. Hist. Soc.) (1914) 139 If the tryal is put off till November, and anything should prevent its being then tryed, it must go to the spring term. 1864 Weekly New Mexican 24 June 2/2 The fines..during the past spring terms, amounted to Eleven hundred and Fifteen dollars. 1918 W. Cather My Ántonia (1988) ii. i. 94 Before the spring term of school was over, I could fight..and use forbidden words as well as any boy in my class. 1940 R. Arthur in Thrilling Wonder Stories Jan. 120/2 [Trying] to get Tommy into school there for the Spring term. 1983 Platt's Oilgram News (Nexis) 28 Feb. A nearly-filled hearing calendar for the remainder of the spring term may prevent the U.S. Supreme Court from scheduling oral argument [in the appeal]. 2015 P. Murphy Is there Honey still for tea? xxi. 128 In the spring term I devoted myself mostly to my studies and to chess. spring tiller n. a tiller (tiller n.³) that grows in the spring. ΚΠ a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 138 The spring-tillows..do arise from the foot of the root of the winter-stems or shoots. 1921 Take-all of Wheat & its Control (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 1226) 7 Spring tillers become evident in excessive numbers, giving the diseased plants a ‘bunchy’ appearance. 2012 W. Zegada-Lizarazu et al. in A. Monti Switchgrass iii. 65 Leaf formation in spring tillers..continues until environmental conditions induce floral development. spring training n. physical fitness training taking place in the spring; (occasionally also) a period of such training; (chiefly Baseball) pre-season fitness and skills training taking place in the spring. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > training spring training1828 1828 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 27 Feb. Medley is a sorrel of great promise as a racer, and is now in preparation for a spring training. 1888 Boston Daily Globe 26 Feb. 19 (heading) The big captain's system of spring training. Some points for managers of base ball teams. 1928 G. H. Ruth Babe Ruth's Own Bk. Baseball i. 17 When I collapsed..during the spring training trip, a lot of people figured I'd never put on a uniform again. 2013 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Mar. d6/3 Stretch fit caps..that are used in spring training. spring vacation n. a springtime vacation during which institutions such as universities, courts of law, parliament, etc., are closed. ΚΠ 1761 T. Mortimer Every Man his own Broker ii. 95 The spring vacation generally begins in March. 1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott II. 243 As soon as the spring vacation began, Scott followed him by sea. 2003 D. Lipsky Absolutely Amer. iii. 229 This year, the pinched days between January and spring vacation have been one unbroken snowfall. spring vegetable n. (often in plural) a vegetable that is typically in season and available during the spring. ΚΠ 1724 G. Cheyne Ess. Health ii. 22 Thus the Spring vegetables, as asparagus, strawberries, and some sorts of sallading, are more easily digested than pears, apples, peaches, and nectarines. 1847 Leeds Mercury 28 Aug. 5/4 In the future we may depend on the potato as a spring vegetable. 2011 Time Out N.Y. 24 Mar. 23/1 Yogurt-marinated chicken cooked on a tawa (a cast-iron griddle) with spring vegetables. spring violet n. (a) a violet that blooms in spring, as the sweet violet, Viola odorata; †(b) English regional = spring gentian n. at Compounds 3e(c)(i) (obsolete). ΚΠ 1612 J. Webster White Divel ii. i. 166 Neglected cassia or the naturall sweetes Of the Spring-violet. 1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Spring violet, Gentiana verna, L.—Durh. (Teesdale). 2013 Mouse River (Towner, N. Dakota) Jrnl. (Nexis) 8 May Be on the lookout for the spring violets. They will provide some much needed color to the bland spring landscape. spring wind n. a wind occurring in the spring, esp. one that is warm, soft, or fresh. ΚΠ 1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 63 Greene Hearbes, still freshe and flowering, a sweete ayre, warme and spring windes [It veriferi venti], with a confused charme of singing and chirping birdes. 1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 233 The Spring winds, which nips the young Buds. 1835 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 785 (note) The ἄνεμοι ὀρνιθίαι, or spring-winds, which bring with them the birds of passage. 2010 Carmarthen Jrnl. (Nexis) 21 July 36 The spring winds whisper at the trees. (b) With the sense ‘sown or suitable for sowing in the spring’ or (in the case of some vegetables) ‘harvested or suitable for harvesting in the spring’; see also spring cabbage n. at Compounds 3e(a). spring barley n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > sowing > [adjective] > sown > in spring spring barley1730 vernal1792 1730 G. Rye Considerations Agric. p. xi The Mention made of Barley therein, and the preparing the Ground, is designed for Spring Barley, being flat Eared, with two rows of Corn. 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 699 H[ordeum] vulgare, Bere, Bigg, Four-rowed or Spring Barley. 2009 Classic Tractor Sept. 80/2 Our land is too heavy for spring barley. spring corn n. [compare earlier Lenten corn n. at Lenten n. and adj. Compounds and lent corn n. at Lent n.¹ Compounds 1a] ΚΠ 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xviii. vii. 557 Some there be who take for Spring-corne [Fr. blez de caresme, L. frumenti genera..verna], Millet, Panicke, Lentils, cich Pease, and the graine wherof Fourmentie is made. 1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xi. 49 Wheat..hence having about Thrice the time to be maintain'd that Spring Corn hath. 1973 J. Thirsk in A. R. H. Baker & R. A. Butlin Stud. Field Syst. Brit. Isles vi. 248 Almost certainly..Medbourne farmers observed a three-course rotation of legumes or fallow, spring corn, and winter corn. 2003 Farmers Guardian 14 Mar. 8/2 Spring corn and beans are all drilled and shouldn't be long before they are through. spring kale n. ΚΠ 1699 Ld. Belhaven Countrey-mans Rudim. 33 Your Cabbage may be preserved in the same manner, till your spring Kail come in. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 637 Of the various sorts of cabbage, fit for field culture, the Scotch gray, the open green or spring kale, and the turnip-rooted, are the hardiest. 2015 Lancaster Evening Post (Nexis) 23 Feb. The farmer has recently been developing his own sweeter varieties of spring kale. spring lettuce n. ΚΠ 1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. vi. iii. 157 We replant Spring Lettuce [Fr. des Laituës du Printemps], to Cabbage. 1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 252 More..on warm borders to stand for spring lettuces. 2012 Mod. Baking (Nexis) 10 Apr. The Mediterranean Mozzarella salad is built on a bed of spring lettuce. spring rye n. ΚΠ 1755 A. Berthelson tr. E. Pontoppidan Nat. Hist. Norway i. iv. 104 They likewise sow vœrling or spring-rye [Dan. Værling eller Vaar-Rug]. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 226 It seems adviseable to delay the sowing of spring-rye as long as can be. 2008 Osiris 23 172 Spring rye and spring wheat are normal annual plants completing a whole life cycle within the same year (growth season). spring seed n. ΚΠ 1672 T. Crane Isagoge ad Dei Providentiam iv. 344 There is a Winter-grain; and Spring-seed, as Oats, Barley, which are earthed after the former. 1794 A. Bruce in A. Lowe Gen. View Agric. Berwick 132 The kail..is so hardy as to resist our severest winters, and answer well for a spring seed. 1896 H. M. Stringfellow New Hort. x. 53 Since the introduction of the Triumph potato, with its peculiarity of making a good fall crop from home-grown spring seed, the Irish potato is likely to come more prominently to the front. 2016 Farmers Weekly (Nexis) 22 Aug. Seed traders say demand for spring seed has been delayed by the wet conditions. spring wheat n. ΚΠ 1762 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry I. 359 A little rye is found in winter wheat, and a little barley in spring wheat. 1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. 244 A discrimination is highly necessary between winter wheat sown in the spring, and the Siberian, or real spring wheat. 1913 J. E. Rogers Bk. Useful Plants 26 Hard spring wheat culture centres in the Red River Valley. Kansas is the centre of the hard winter wheat district. 2011 A. R. Gehring Back to Basics Handbk. iii. 154/1 Spring wheat will not survive the winter if planted in fall. (c) In the names of other plant and animal species, typically flowering, emerging, arriving as migrants, or otherwise prominent in the spring. (i) In the names of plants. spring beauty n. any of various small bulbiferous plants with white to pink flowers opening in the spring (genus Claytonia, esp. C. virginica, family Montiaceae), found mainly in North America; (also) North American regional any of several other small spring-flowering plants, as trilliums. ΚΠ 1818 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 2) i. 42 Claytonia..(spring beauty). 1915 M. Armstrong Field Bk. Western Wild Flowers 122 This charming little flower resembles the Spring Beauty of the East, Claytonia Virginica, and blooms in late spring, among the ferns and wet grasses near the Yosemite waterfalls. 2009 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 4 Apr. 6 c Spring beauties began to open their pink striped petals and look about. spring bell n. the satinflower, a bulbiferous North American plant with bell-shaped purple flowers, Olsynium douglasii (family Iridaceae). ΚΠ 1874 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. (rev. ed.) Suppl. 1344 Springbell, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum. 1924 J. Weathers My Garden Bk. xx. 370/1 Sisyrinchium..grandiflorum (Spring Bell) is a beautiful N. American perennial with a somewhat creeping root-stock, and erect sword-like leaves. 1972 Gardeners Chron. 14 Apr. 42/2 Vast areas of open country in North America are populated by the spring bell, or grass widow, as it is variously known by the children. spring crocus n. a crocus that blooms in the spring (cf. autumn crocus n. at autumn n. Compounds 5). [After post-classical Latin crocus vernus (late 16th cent.).] ΚΠ 1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 169 (caption) Crocus vernus luteus vulgaris. The common yellow spring Crocus. 1850 G. Glenny Hand-bk. Flower Garden 236 The spring crocuses come into bloom some time in February, and continue more or less in bloom until the beginning of April. 2009 Observer (Nexis) 8 Mar. (Escape section) 3 My lasting childhood memory of Harrogate was the endless carpets of spring crocuses. spring gentian n. a small gentian found in high mountain meadows in Eurasia, esp. in central and southern Europe, Gentiana verna. [After post-classical Latin gentianella verna ( C. Clusius Rariorum Plantarum Historia (1601) I. 315), and (in later use) scientific Latin Gentiana verna (1753 in Linnaeus; 1724 or earlier in post-classical Latin).] ΚΠ 1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. Index Latinus Cantabrica, Gentianella minor verna, The smaller Spring Gentian. 2012 Irish Times (Nexis) 7 July (Travel section) 36 Early purple orchids and spring gentians were in bloom. (ii) In the names of animals. spring herring n. (a) North American the alewife (alewife n.²), Alosa pseudoharengus (now rare); (b) an Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) of a variety or subspecies which spawns in the spring, esp. as caught in inshore waters during or after the spawning stage. [In sense (b) probably after Norwegian vårsild kind of herring caught in spring (18th cent. or earlier; the work cited in quot. 1876 summarizes a debate on the nature of these fish conducted in a Norwegian journal over several issues in the early 1870s).] ΚΠ 1815 Trans. N.Y. Lit. & Philos. Soc. 1 454 Spring Herring, or Alewife. 1876 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Fish & Fisheries 205 We have advanced some steps in understanding..by proving that the summer-herring only represents different stages in the life of the spring-herring. 1884 M. MacDonald in G. B. Goode et al. Fisheries U.S.: Sect. I 579 The ‘Spring’ Herring or ‘Alewife’, Clupea vernalis. 1973 J. Seymour & S. Seymour Self-sufficiency xvi. 216 Spring herring are generally spent. 1991 I. Dore New Fresh Seafood Buyer's Guide 4 Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus. River herring is an alternative market name. Gaspareau, gaspergoo and gray, white or spring herring are not legally acceptable names. 2017 E. Ojaveer Ecosyst. & Living Resources Baltic Sea iii. 104 The experiments..showed no normal descendants hatched from the spring herring eggs fertilized with autumn herring sperm. spring peeper n. a small frog of the forests and woodlands of eastern North America, Pseudacris crucifer, the male of which has a loud, high pitched mating call considered to mark the beginning of spring. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > amphibians > order Anura or Salienta (frogs and toads) > [noun] > types of frog or toad > suborder Procoela > family Hylidae > spring peeper rain frog1827 peeper1851 spring peeper1855 1855 Putnam's Monthly Mag. July 38/2 The deep bass of the bullfrog, the sharp whistle of the ‘spring-peepers’, and the cheerful, bird-like twitter of the tree-frog. 1950 Chicago Tribune 28 Mar. 14/3 Then there are those who listen for choruses of spring peepers. 2002 Northern Woodlands Spring 4/2 Spring peepers begin peeping in earnest. Isolated peepers will peep until November, but only now is there a big deafening chorus of them. spring salmon n. North American any of various North American salmon that return from the sea to the river in spring. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Salmoniformes (salmon or trout) > family Salmonidae (salmon) > [noun] > member of genus Oncorhyncus (chinook) red fish1763 spring salmon1776 gorbuscha1784 keta1824 quinnat1829 Chinook salmon1851 coho1869 king salmon1871 silver trout1873 kokanee1875 salmon1884 sockeye1888 chisel-mouth1889 pink salmon1899 spring1900 tyee1902 pink1905 blackmouth1906 chum1908 greenback cut-throat1989 the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > salmon salmona1387 nerka1764 spring salmon1776 truff1818 1776 G. Cartwright Jrnl. Resid. Coast Labrador 18 June (1792) II. 180 He saw some spring salmon. 1905 D. S. Jordan Guide Study of Fishes II. 80 The economic value of any species depends in great part on its being a ‘spring salmon’. 2006 Canad. Geographic Sept. 52/1 There is where they caught spring salmon in December. spring usher n. a Palaearctic geometrid moth, Agriopis leucophaearia, which emerges from its pupa in February and March, the female being wingless. ΚΠ 1766 M. Harris Aurelian 79 (heading) Spring Usher. 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 102 The Spring Usher (Anisopteryx leucophearia..) appears in oak woods the end of February and March. 2001 Independent (Nexis) 8 Dec. (Features section) 14 After New Year comes the Early moth, the Spring Usher and the March moth. † spring wagtail n. British Obsolete the yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava.A migrant in Great Britain in the spring and summer, so called in contrast to the similar but resident grey wagtail, M. cinera (also called the winter wagtail). ΚΠ 1802 G. Montagu Ornithol. Dict. at Wagtail Spring, or Summer Wagtail. 1834 Field Naturalist 14 Mar. 144 The spring wagtail (Budytes flava) goes under the name of the yellow wagtail with us hereabout. 1907 K. P. Wormeley tr. G. De Voogt Our Domest. Animals xi. 279 (caption) The Spring Wagtail. C4. In senses of branch IV. See also spring wood n. † spring-shaw n. Obsolete rare a low strip of young wood forming the border of a field; cf. shaw n.¹ 2. ΚΠ 1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Spring-shaw, a strip of the young undergrowth of wood, from two to three rods wide. C5. In senses of branch V. a. attributive. (a) (i) Designating a device or implement, with the sense ‘equipped with a spring or springs’, ‘acting on or by means of a spring or springs’, or ‘acting like a spring’.Earliest in spring clock n. at Compounds 5a(a)(ii).See also defined compounds at Compounds 5e. ΚΠ 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Clavette, the Cannell bone, or Craw-bone; also, a Spring-pinne; the little peece of yron wherwith tradesmen keepe in the yron pinnes of their shop-windowes. 1634 in Archaeologia (1853) 35 199 One two-leaf wyndowe with longe boult, springe boult, and staples. 1694 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 18 103 Its shape is not very unlike to a sort of Spring-Purse (as they are called) which many People use. 1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 224. ⁋5 Little cuts and figures, the invention of which we must ascribe to the Author of Spring-Trusses. ?1750 M. Allison, Bookseller in Falmouth (advt.) Mathematical Instruments... Sweeps with spring Joints. ?1785 J. Imison School of Arts 216 At the top of the spring-arbor, is the endless-screw, and its wheel. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 325 With the mortar and levigating stone, a spring-knife is very useful. 1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 408/1 I claim, as my invention or improvement in carriages,..the peculiar adaptation of spring buffers and spring fastenings. 1888 F. Rutley Rock-forming Minerals 18 The most generally useful contrivances are spring clips. 1894 T. W. Fox Mechanism Weaving ix. 259 Sprincords..consist of two wooden end-pieces..into which two wires..are driven. 1905 U.S. Patent 793,332 1/1 Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the spring-tab detached from the card. 1934 Cassell's Home Encycl. 86/2 Automatic or springblinds are made with a hollow roller. 2000 Irish World 2 June 33/1 Fix a few small cross pieces down the inside and screw in spring clips known as terry clips (available from your DIY centre). 2014 E. Robens et al. Balances iv. 141 Elastic forces as applied in spring balances strongly depend on the position of the balance beam, which must be accurately observed. (ii) spring clock n. ΚΠ 1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. E4 Spring clocks that seeme to goe of themselues. 1829 Chapters Physical Sci. 92 The wheels in the spring clocks and in watches are urged on by the force of a spiral spring. 2008 Intelligencer Jrnl. (Lancaster, Pa.) (Nexis) 2 Feb. a1 There's spring clocks and novelty clocks and watches. spring gauge n. ΚΠ 1836 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 21 225 The piston of the spring gauge was bent. 1927 Pop. Mech. June 1053/2 After the plugs are turned, they are pushed against a small spring gauge attached to the side of the motor. 2013 Arthroscopy 29 1472/1 The force to displace the hand from the shoulder was measured with a spring gauge. spring mattress n. ΚΠ 1828 Morning Post 25 Oct. 1/2 (advt.) Spring Mattresses, Carriage Seats, &c. on the most improved principle. 1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Spring-mattress, one having metallic springs beneath the hair or moss filling. 2006 Strait Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 22 Apr. Ms Sangeeta Hiranand..was fed up with her 15-year-old spring mattress. spring plate n. ΚΠ 1742 J. Martyn & E. Chambers tr. Philos. Hist. & Mem. Royal Acad. Sci. Paris II. 102 I made some remarks..on those [inequalities] which may come from a little spring plate, which I had put instead of silk, to sustain the pendulum. 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 123 The elasticity of a spring plate somewhat resembles the elasticity of a common cane. 2006 P. Shakespeare Building Dune Buggy xiv. 79 It should be easy to see that the spring plate is being asked to flex in two directions at once. spring roller n. ΚΠ 1786 Daily Advertiser 10 Oct. (advt.) Venetian Spring Blinds, and green Silk Curtains on Spring Rollers. 1821 P. Egan Life in London ii. iv. 266 A fine collection of maps, concealed by the cornices of the book-cases, on spring rollers, can be referred to without the least trouble. 2013 Chicago Daily Herald (Nexis) 14 June 3 Built-in spring rollers, like the ones rolling shades use, work pretty well and usually don't break down much. spring seat n. now historical ΚΠ 1744 Daily Advertiser 15 May (advt.) A Handsome second-hand Landau, lin'd with light Colour Cloth, with a Set of Lanthorn Springs, a Spring Seat, and four Harness. 1853 Heal & Son Catal.: Bedsteads Sofas and Couches..with squab or spring seats. 2001 C. H. Wendel Encycl. Antique Tools & Machinery 75/1 Today, a good spring seat will likely sell for well over $100. spring tool n. ΚΠ 1765 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 3 July (advt.) A large parcel of Lancashire and Sheffield files, turn benches, brass turn saws, spring tools. 1859 R. Hunt Guide Mus. Pract. Geol. (ed. 2) 103 Several of the tools [for glass-making] are exhibited,..the spring tool, the shears, &c. 2009 Missouri Lawyers Media (Nexis) 26 Oct. The main hand tool is called jacks or jack tool. It's a spring tool with a long blade and a handle. spring trap n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun] grinc825 trapa1000 snarea1100 swikea1100 granea1250 springec1275 gina1300 gnarea1325 stringc1325 trebuchet1362 latch?a1366 leashc1374 snarlc1380 foot gina1382 foot-grina1382 traina1393 sinewa1400 snatcha1400 foot trapa1425 haucepyc1425 slingc1425 engine1481 swar1488 frame1509 brakea1529 fang1535 fall trap1570 spring1578 box-trapa1589 spring trapa1589 sprint1599 noosec1600 springle1602 springe1607 toil1607 plage1608 deadfall1631 puppy snatch1650 snickle1681 steel trap1735 figure (of) four1743 gun-trap1749 stamp1788 stell1801 springer1813 sprent1822 livetrap1823 snaphance1831 catch pole1838 twitch-up1841 basket-trap1866 pole trap1879 steel fall1895 tread-trap1952 conibear trap1957 conibear1958 a1589 L. Mascall Bk. Engines in Bk. Fishing (1590) 74 (heading) The spring trappe for Mice. 1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda II. xxii. 355 A man, whose leg had..been caught in the spring trap. 2016 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 23 July 10 It is appalling that spring traps have been illegally set resulting in the death of a common gull. spring watch n. now rare ΚΠ 1675 R. Hooke Diary 18 Feb. (1935) 148 Zulichems spring watch spoken of by his letter. 1729 B. Mandeville Fable Bees ii. 177 If he was wholly unacquainted with the Nature of a Spring-Watch. 2002 Notes & Rec. Royal Soc. 56 135 The dispute over spring watches..reached its peak in 1675–76. (b) Designating a vehicle, with the sense ‘having springs, suspended on springs’, as spring coach, spring carriage, spring cart, etc. Now historical. ΚΠ 1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman xlvi. 232 The nicest Pieces of Work is Springs for Spring-Coaches. 1794 Gentleman's Mag. 64 Suppl. 1074 The best thing to be done generally..is to put the patient into a spring-waggon. 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 117 The tax to which spring vehicles are subject. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 386 C-springs..were formerly used for almost all kinds of spring-carriages. 1864 G. A. Sala in Daily Tel. 6 Apr. A couple of spring ambulances, drawn by four horses apiece. 1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. x. 86 A spring-van is delivering its load of greenhouse plants at the door. 1963 New Castle (Pa.) News 31 Dec. 2/3 Four or five of them took off in a spring wagon and traveled about 16 miles before they heard Morgan had been captured. 2016 Inverell (Austral.) Times (Nexis) 4. Feb. The old bush school was six or seven miles away and we had a horse and a spring cart to take us. (c) In various compounds used attributively, as spring-teeth rake, spring-knife manufacturer, spring-tine cultivator, etc. ΚΠ 1794 J. Monk Gen. View Agric. Leics. 21 Spring-teeth rakes, sold by Mr. Cort at 16s. each. 1853 in Inq. Yorksh. Deaf & Dumb (1870) 30 Spring-knife manufacturer. 1867 J. Hogg Microscope (ed. 6) i. ii. 157 This consists of a spring-wire coil acting on an inner tube. 1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Spring-blade knife, a pocket-knife whose blade is thrown out or held out by a spring. 1892 Engineer 24 June 542/2 The Harrison Patents Company, Stamford, exhibit a rotary back-action spring tine hay kicker. 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 192/1 The most handsome and up-to-date spring heel shoe ever placed on the market. 1907 Army & Navy Co-operative Soc. Ann. Price List 304/3 Gentleman's Spring-side Safety irons, with Prussian sides. 1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 54 (caption) Canadian spring-tine cultivator with corn and grass seed boxes. 1948 Penguin Music Mag. June 54 Sir Henry Wood..recommended the use of spring-clip mutes which fastened on the music desks. 1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 15 Mar. 98/3 The spring-tine rake to the rear..is provided to meet necessary safety regulations. 1973 Sun 4 Sept. 20/2 (advt.) Spring roller blinds from £2.94. 2006 Inside Bay Area (Calif.) (Nexis) 17 Nov. From their rusty-looking spring-tooth harrow to their horse-drawn cultivator, almost all their implements come from Amish farmers. b. (a) Forming adjectives with past participles, as spring-jointed, spring-framed, spring-fitted, etc. ΚΠ 1726 Ladies Diary 24 Steel Spring Jointed Trusses, for Ruptures. 1849 R. S. Surtees Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour xxiv, in New Monthly Mag. Sept. 112 He had never been able to accomplish the art of opening a gate, especially one of those gingerly-balanced, spring-snecked things. 1899 Fortn. Rev. 65 113 I ought also to mention a spring-framed machine, the Triumph. 1920 J. Galsworthy In Chancery ii. xiv. 236 His spring-mattressed bed. 1978 J. Irving World according to Garp xv. 311 They had opened one of the big spring-doored dryers. 2011 Leader-Post (Regina, Sask.) (Nexis) 16 July d7 Monette's Human is an engineering marvel of steel-sheathed foam panels and spring-fitted bolts. (b) spring-driven adj. ΚΠ 1861 U.S. Patent 31,242 2/1 The main spring in a spring driven clock as previously described was operated upon. 1929 Times 12 Mar. 18/5 A small spring-driven motor. 2009 P. Glennie & N. Thrift Shaping Day x. 388 Both used a spring-driven timekeeper. spring-heeled adj. [compare spring heel n. at Compounds 5e] ΚΠ 1790 Pennsylvania Packet 5 Feb. 3/3 Lined & bound spring-heel'd Pumps. 1819 Supporter (Chillicothe, Ohio) 14 Apr. (advt.) Fringe spring heeled walking Shoes. 1958 Times 20 Aug. 2/6 Zhukov, Pudov, and Ozog all flashed past the now weary Eldon in pursuit of the fleeing, spring-heeled Pole. 1977 Vogue Dec. 11/2 ‘Colleagues’ has something inert and passive about it, compared with the spring-heeled activity of ‘work mates’. 2013 Oldie Apr. 76/1 You won't get rich backing this spring-heeled jumper, who looks destined for the very top. spring-mounted adj. ΚΠ 1842 Newcastle Courant 27 May i. 1/8 (advt.) [Locomotive] Wheels, Coupled Cylinders..Stroke 18 in.; Spring Mounted. 1960 E. L. Delmar-Morgan Cruising Yacht Equipm. & Navigation 37 If the compass is of the spring-mounted type [etc.]. 2008 Loughborough Echo (Nexis) 28 Nov. 76 The security mechanism on the hub has..spring-mounted security bolts, which Porsche is hoping will be foolproof against thieves. spring-operated adj. ΚΠ 1881 Sci. Amer. 10 Dec. 374/3 The movement of the pencil is effected by a combination with a loose spur wheel of pinions, a spring operated detent,..and other devices controlling a pencil-carrying rack bar. 1973 E. K. Henriksen Jig & Fixture Design Man. vii. 79/1 Spring-operated ejectors..are insufficient for heavy parts. 2004 Sporting Gun Mar. (Start Shooting! Suppl.) 15/1 When the gun is opened the hammer is re-cocked by way of spring-operated levers. spring-powered adj. ΚΠ 1922 Burlington (Iowa) Gaz. 20 Dec. 2/4 (advt.) Of course, there are the spring-powered ones, as well as the electrical trains. 1962 Pop. Mech. Nov. 144/1 For pure fun-shooting, it's as hard to beat the old spring-powered BB gun now as it was 20 years ago. 2007 J. Spencer Guide to Trapping i. 21 Guard-type traps have a spring-powered, U-shaped lever that comes up over the jaws of the trap after it springs. spring-tempered adj. (of metal) tempered so as to increase elasticity; (of an object) made of a metal so tempered. ΚΠ 1750 J. Michell Treat. Artific. Magnets 66 From the spring-tempered bars being able to communicate their virtue..it appears how abundantly sufficient the power attained by the soft ones was. 1899 Amer. Electrician 11 520/2 Many makers are adopting a contact made up of the ends of many laminated leaves of spring-tempered copper. 1972 US Patent 3,633,592 3 A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising first and second elongated spring-tempered strips. 2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) xi. 2/2 Made for the professional tradesman, with high quality spring-tempered steel blades. spring-tined adj. (of a rake, harrow, etc.) equipped with flexible tines; cf. spring tine n. at Compounds 5e. ΚΠ 1872 Our Monthly Nov. 350/1 She says her Tom is e'en a most tickled to death with that spring-tined pitchfork. 1938 C. Culpin Farm Machinery vii. 95 The spring-tined harrow is a really light cultivator that can be adjusted to produce very variable effects. 2016 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 27 Mar. Remove the material with a spring-tined rake. c. With verbal nouns, as spring-making, spring-shaping, spring-manufacturing, etc. Chiefly attributive. ΚΠ 1806 York Herald 4 Oct. 1/1 (advt.) Any young man who is capable of learning Spring-making. a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 848 Spring Shaping Machine. 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 151 Two smithies, with over 100 fires, and turning and spring-making shops. 1917 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 22 May 1254/2 Spring-fastening device... A separable fastening device comprising a pair of separable elements. 1920 Locomotive Railway Carriage & Wagon Rev. 15 May 112/1 Too much care cannot be taken in the selection of material, and in the manufacture of punches for spring forging work. 1983 F. J. Riley Assembly Automation vi. 174 Spring winding is still very much an art, a trial and error approach that must be recognized if one attempts to integrate spring manufacturing with assembly. 2015 Craven Herald (Nexis) 2 July Two brand new pieces of spring-making machinery have been purchased to increase production in the larger wire sizes. d. With agent nouns denoting a person, implement, or organization. † spring contractor n. Obsolete ΚΠ 1843 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 6 245 Description of Lieutenant D. Rankine's [Railway] Spring Contractor. 1866 Ann. Rep. Commissioners Patents 1864: Arts & Manuf. I. 951 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (38th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. No. 51) The arrangement and combination of the spring contractor E with the barrel and the magazine provided with a spring and follower, as specified. spring forger n. ΚΠ 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products 356/2 Spring-forgers, workmen in the cutlery trade, who form the spring or piece of steel at the back of clasp and folding pocket-knives. 1992 1990 Census Pop. & Housing (U.S. Bureau of Census) O-96/1 Forging Machine Operators... Spring forger. spring maker n. ΚΠ 1675 J. Smith Horol. Dialogues iii. iii. 81 The Work-man is commonly on such occasions blamed, though the fault be none of his, but is rather..the fault of the spring-maker. 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 81 The spring-makers assert that steel of a finer quality would not answer so well. 2015 Black Country Bugle (Nexis) 13 July 21 One of West Bromwich's best known spring makers, in a town that was once full of them. e. spring brass n. and adj. (a) n. brass that has been tempered in such a way as to give it greater than usual elasticity; spring tempered brass; (b) adj. made of such brass (now rare). ΚΠ 1835 Liverpool Mercury 6 Feb. (advt.) Spring Brass Rules. 1852 Sci. Amer. 24 Jan. 148/3 This instrument is made of spring brass and is so arranged that it contracts or expands to any form or size. 1944 Pop. Sci. Monthly May 183/1 Equip this screw with an old radio knob, and insulate it from the spring-brass contact. 2007 U.S. Patent 7,294,782 B2 8 The multi-function clips can be composed of phosphor bronze, spring brass, spring steel or the like. spring collet n. a tapered collet (collet n.¹ 2a) having one or more slots along its length which allow it to contract or expand under exterior or interior pressure respectively, thereby enabling it to gain a secure hold either upon a shaft inserted into it or against the interior surface of an object into which it is inserted. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > parts of > other parts spring collet1845 post boxa1884 tumbling crank1886 sheave1887 vibration damper1932 taper-lock1954 1845 Trans. Soc. Encouragem. Arts, Manuf. & Commerce 55 37 A spring-collet is placed under the milled head to prevent the body from sliding down by its own weight. 1932 W. P. Turner Machine Tool Work xiii. 290 The clamping lever..is pushed back, which moves the hollow push sleeve..against the end of the spring collet, forcing it into the nose cap, thus closing the collet on the stock and holding it firmly. 2012 P. J. Hoffman et al. Precision Machining Technol. v. ii. 369/1 Spring collets are very accurately ground cylindrical sleeves. † spring dart n. Mining Obsolete a tool equipped with an arrowhead-shaped tip with hinged projections that are extended outward by one or more springs, used for retrieving lengths of piping from boreholes. ΚΠ 1781 London Gaz. No. 12216. John Hobson, formerly of Plum-tree-court, late of Feathers-court, both in Holborn, Spring-dart-maker. 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 232 Spring-dart, an arrow or fish-headed boring tool for extricating a lost implement, or for withdrawing lining tubes. 1910 W. H. Maxwell & J. T. Brown Encycl. Munic. & Sanitary Engin. 52/1 Latch tool for picking up pipes from a bore-hole... Spring dart for same purpose. spring divider n. (in plural) dividers (divider n. 6(a)) in which the legs are kept apart by a spring, maintaining consistent tension while in use. ΚΠ 1767 J. Bird Method dividing Astron. Instruments 4 There spring-dividers..will best answer the purpose. 1873 E. Spon Workshop Receipts 1st Ser. 3/1 The differences of the distances..may be measured by spring dividers. 2009 P. Lague Constr. Plant & Equipm. iv. 134 Some of the tools that metalworkers use include a scriber, spring dividers, a centre punch..and second-cut files. spring floor n. a floor designed to provide a resilient, shock-absorbing surface. ΚΠ 1781 Morning Chron. 11 Sept. Spring floors and dancing shoes appeared every where. 1895 Strand Mag. Jan. 113/1 In the Hall a spring floor has been laid over the ordinary hard oak boards. 2016 Club Industry (Nexis) 12 July The center has a full-size swimming pool, a fitness room, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms and rooms with wood spring floors for dance classes. springform n. Cookery a round cake tin with a removable bottom which is held in place by a sprung collar forming the sides; chiefly attributive. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > cooking vessel or pot > [noun] > ovenware > tin or pan bake panc1350 trap?c1390 roaster1649 pattypan1660 cake pan1714 hoop1736 cake tin1771 baking tin?1775 tin1795 bake-kettle1828 bun-pana1845 brick tin1880 springform1902 tourtière1959 1902 N.Y. Times 31 Mar. 4 (advt.) Spring Form Cake-Pans, 45c. 1926 Port Arthur (Texas) News 4 June 8/1 Line the sides and bottom of a small spring form, melon or bundt form with lady fingers. 2016 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 10 July 26 Lightly grease a 25cm (10in) springform cake tin and gently spoon in the cake batter. spring frame n. a frame that is equipped with springs (or devices which act in a similar manner), typically in order to provide cushioning or suspension; esp. (in later use) (a) the part of a bedstead consisting of a frame in which springs are mounted, used to support the mattress directly; (b) a frame of a bicycle or motorcycle in which the rear portion can pivot vertically, forming part of the suspension. ΚΠ 1729 S. Switzer Introd. Gen. Syst. Hydrostaticks & Hydraulicks II. xxix. 341 One of the upright Timbers that support the Spring-frame and Pipes join'd to the horizontal Piece. 1884 H. H. Griffin Tricycles Year (Second Ser.) 8 The ‘Spring Frame’ is mainly designed for the less active class of riders. 1898 Canad. Patent Office Rec. May 532/1 In an invalid bed..a jointed spring frame supported upon said main frame. 2005 M. Walker Manx Norton ii. 37 Although there had been spring frames before, to obtain the best results he believed that the main-frame and rear-wheel springing had to be designed as a whole. 2015 Scottish Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Mar. 60 The spring frame slipped between the two side support angles, landed on the floor and folded up, with the young couple in the bed. spring heel n. a heel consisting of a single slip of leather inserted just above the sole; (in later use figurative) elasticity or springiness of movement, esp. in running or jumping. ΚΠ 1794 London Chron. 15 May 466/2 Cherry coloured satin shoes, whith [sic] spring heels. 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 194d/2 Chocolate Goat Button, made with spring heel, new opera toe with tip. 1952 M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke viii. 140 ‘He's got nerve.’..‘Likewise spring heels and rubber bones.’ 2016 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 2 Mar. 46 Taylor then took his tally for the season to 17 when showing spring heels in the six-yard box on 38 minutes to end an eye-catching move. Spring-heeled Jack n. (also Spring-heel Jack) now historical a legendary figure with an exceptional ability in running and jumping, enabling him to escape from the scene of various robberies and assaults; (in later use) a highwayman.The first sighting of this putative figure was reported in London in 1837 and he allegedly appeared numerous times until the early 20th cent.; he was never apprehended. He was particularly associated with attacks on coaches, or for appearing in gentlemanly disguise to young women and then frightening them by revealing his claw-like hands and fiery breath. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > bodily movement > [noun] > qualities of bodily movement > elasticity > person Spring-heeled Jack1838 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > [noun] > highwayman routerc1300 malandryna1438 stradarolle1562 highpad1567 highway robber1577 way-beatera1586 lance-man1589 high lawyer1591 St. Nicholas' clerk1598 outrider1599 bidstand1600 land-pirate1608 highwayman1617 pad1652 knight of the road1665 rum-padder1665 paddist1671 rum pad1688 pad-thief1690 gentleman (also squire) of the pad1700 snaffler1728 gentleman1778 scamp1782 scampsman1799 bandolero1832 ladrone1832 Spring-heeled Jack1838 road agent1840 agent1876 1838 Penny Satirist 20 Jan. 2/2 All the world had..heard of the London Ghost, who is known in the suburbs, by the name of ‘Spring-heeled Jack’. 1838 Satirist 25 Feb. 57/1 The performances will commence with Bertram... After which, Spring-heel Jack. 1946 F. Clune Try Nothing Twice 21 The bunger burst with a deafening roar and John Chinaman..jumped like Spring-heel Jack. 2006 Independent 10 Oct. (Extra section) 7/1 Some of the mythical figures in the book were petrifying. Like Spring-Heeled Jack, who terrorised Londoners in the 1830s. spring lathe n. a lathe in which the work is turned by a cord passing round it, the cord being fastened at one end to the end of an elastic pole and at the other to a treadle; = pole-lathe n. at pole n.¹ Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. II. 209/2 Common spring lathe. 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 323 The turner giving the rotation by means of the treadle and spring-lath attached to the ceiling. 2002 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 19 Sept. (Home ed.) (Cherokee section) 2 jq Participants can build a spring lathe, the principal spindle-turning lathe used for furniture making in Appalachia. spring-load v. transitive (a) to equip with a spring-loaded mechanism, to make spring-loaded (also figurative); (b) Finance (chiefly U.S.) to grant (a stock option) prior to the release of a positive story about the company whose stock is being sold, so that the value of the option increases immediately after issue (cf. spring-loading n. (b)). ΚΠ 1914 Motor Boating Feb. 13/1 The most satisfactory results will be obtained by spring loading the controls with a light coil spring so set as to be in tension under all conditions of lever setting. 1978 T. Monroe How to rebuild Small-Block Ford Engines 105/2 (caption) The expander fits behind the two rails to spring-load them against the cylinder bore. 1997 D. Carradine & D. Nakahara Introd. Chi Kung 115 The facial expression will often have an angry look. It's as if the sufferer of excess liver energy is ‘spring loaded’ and ready to burst. 2004 Irish Times (Nexis) 15 Jan. 4 The Quays Bar..undertook..to springload doors so they could not stay open. 2010 Univ. Pennsylvania Law Rev. 158 1937 Executives have particularly strong incentives to springload option grants. spring-loaded adj. (of a tool, device, etc.) operating by means of a compressed or stretched spring acting on one or more components. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [adjective] > parts of take-off1869 spring-loaded1871 retractile1879 gadgety1934 1871 Rochester (Indiana) Sentinel 23 Sept. The lock-up safety-valves herein provided for shall, in their mechanism, employ but one lever, or spring-loaded valve. 1938 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. 29 40 A spring-loaded pencil..made a record on a sheet of graph paper. 2014 Sunday Star-Times (Auckland, N.Z.) (Nexis) 28 Sept. 12 When Monkey [sc. the stallion] wasn't showing off, he was pulling his Houdini act, somehow escaping the spring-loaded locks on his gate. spring-loading n. (a) a spring-loaded system or mechanism; (also) the action or fact of equipping something with such a mechanism; (b) Finance (chiefly U.S.) the granting of a stock option prior to the release of a positive news story about the company whose stock is being sold, so that the value of the option increases immediately after issue. ΚΠ 1925 Financial Times 4 May 9/5 Torque is taken by a member of the box section, made of steel pressings, and is hinged and ball jointed with spring-loading at the forward end. 1961 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 23 Dec. 1674/1 There is reason to believe that the Heidbrink valve, even with the minimum spring-loading possible, allows a degree of rebreathing while the Ruben valve does not. 2002 Wall St. Jrnl. 4 June c 2 Mr. McGee said Tyco has never ‘manipulated the cash flow or earnings of companies we acquire for the purpose of spring-loading, or getting better results after the acquisition’. 2012 Yale Law & Policy Rev. 30 524 Although springloading is not necessarily a form of insider trading..it can accomplish similar results. spring power n. †(a) the capacity or power to spring back into shape or position after compression, bending, etc.; = sense 13 (obsolete rare); (b) the capacity of a spring to do work; frequently attributive, designating devices powered by a spring. ΚΠ 1662 H. More Antidote against Atheism (ed. 3) ii. ii. §10 in Coll. Philos. Writings (ed. 2) Which Pressure (as in all flexible Bodies that have a Spring-power in them) is perpetual. 1827 U.S. Tel. 23 Apr. 3/5 (advt.) A Spring-power Washing Machine. 1873 Eng. Mechanic 18 July 448/1 The objection to spring-power is its short duration. 1961 Pop. Mech. July 195/1 (advt.) A new Kodak 35mm camera..has a spring-power film drive and automatic electric eye. 2010 L. Penman Clock Repairer's Handbk. ii. 39/1 Gently let the chuck wind back under spring power until the spring is tight in the barrel. spring punch n. a punch (punch n.¹ 3a) which recoils after each stroke by means of a spring. ΚΠ 1846 Preston Chron. & Lancs. Advertiser 9 May 8/2 Mr. Leach also stated, that..his shop was again broken open, and a spring punch, a number of boots and shoes, and a great quantity of leather stolen and taken away. a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 853/1 Staple Fastener, a spring punch for driving and clinching a staple against an anvil block beneath. 2011 Spokesman Rev. (Spokane, Washington) (Nexis) 17 July e1 I had to use a spring punch to make the scales (on the steel plate). spring rate n. Mechanics a spring's resistance to compression or extension, typically expressed as the load required to produce a deflection of unit length; = rate n.¹ 11. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [noun] > part of > spring > quality of spring rate1914 rate1944 1914 Inst. Mech. Engineers: Proc. 49 Owing to the very heavy spring rate necessary for gas-engine indicating, a very slight distortion would make a great difference to the indicated horse-power. 1944 Jrnl. Sci. Instruments 21 195/1 The spring rate, S, of the system of four mountings may be expressed in terms of the dynamic compression modulus of elasticity of the rubber. 2005 Wired Nov. 149/1 (advt.) Spring rates and stabilizer bars have been tuned for high-performance handling. spring release adj. and n. (a) adj. comprising or containing a release mechanism which operates by means of a spring (cf. sense 25); (b) n. a release mechanism which operates by means of a spring. ΚΠ 1909 Times 1 Oct. 16/3 The ordinary arrangement of pressure supply from the exhaust through a spring release valve. 1911 Washington Post 4 Nov. 1/5 The spring release to the trap door will be dropped with weights in order that the execution may not be halted by mechanical blunders. 1931 Movie Makers Feb. 88/1 The spring release is so arranged that the camera stops at all times with the shutter closed. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 925/2 Two spring-release traps. 1987 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) (Machinery & Chemicals Special Suppl.) 17 Mar. The bale is closed against a ratchet catch, with a trigger-operated spring release. 2002 Org. Life May 60/3 Flan Case: Line a..spring-release tin with Baking Parchment. spring reverb n. a device that produces a reverb effect by means of a transducer causing one or more springs to vibrate in response to an audio signal, these vibrations being converted into a second audio signal which is then mixed with the original. ΚΠ 1965 Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe 18 Dec. 9/4 Danelectro spring reverb—$20. 1978 Contemp. Keyboard July 53/1 While seemingly primitive, the possibilities of spring reverb have barely been exploited. 2007 A. U. Case Sound FX xi. 312 A steel string acoustic guitar might be made to sound a bit brighter still through judicious use of spring reverb. 2017 A. Pejrolo & S. B. Metcalfe Creating Sounds from Scratch iii. 80 Spring reverbs have been installed in guitar amplifiers for many years. spring sail n. now historical a type of sail on a windmill consisting of a series of shutters attached at one end to a single bar or rod, with the force required to open them being determined by a spring attached to each sail.The spring sail was invented by the Scottish millwright Andrew Meikle in 1772. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > mills > [noun] > windmill > sail > type of spring sail1835 spring sweep1919 patent sail1924 fan-tail1934 1835 Ipswich Jrnl. 2 May (advt.) The property consists of two spacious post windmills..with spring sails, round-house, and extensive stowage for corn. 1931 S. P. B. Mais England of Windmills p. xxiv The spring sail is made up of wooden shutters, or a canvas-covered wire frame, hinged at one edge and connected to a common sail-rod so that they all open or shut simultaneously. 2015 Scunthorpe Tel. (Nexis) 10 Sept. 50 This [sc. post mill]..worked until the 1940s, when it had four spring sails, before becoming derelict. spring saw n. now historical and rare a small fine-toothed hand saw having a long, flexible blade, used for fine or intricate work. ΚΠ 1587 in M. A. Havinden Househ. & Farm Inventories Oxfordshire (1965) 244 A wimble a spring sawe a compas sawe & a hande sawe. 1778 Life T. Boulter 57 A certain sum to procure some spring saws. 2005 F. H. Casstevens Out of Mouth of Hell 150 Three steel frames for using spring saws, and 35 saws of steel or iron were found. springside adj. and n. (a) adj. designating a boot or shoe with elasticated side panels which allow it to be pulled on and off easily (cf. sense 29); (b) n. (usually in plural) a boot or shoe having such elasticated sides. ΚΠ 1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. II. 527/2 Ladies' white tabinet and black satin spring-side boots and dress shoes. 1870 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 15 Oct. 5/2 The boots were a pair of springsides and were not heavy ones. 1921 W. de la Mare Mem. Midget viii. 48 She, too, was in black, with a long, springside boot. 1961 Times 7 Oct. 9/7 ‘Spring sides’ certainly lasted long after the Victorian era... Zip fastened boots (liable to come undone) were not a patch on them. 2011 B. Petersen P. Jackson iv. 101 Finally Smith appeared wearing a white flannel jersey. Under this he wore..white spring-side boots and white breeches. spring spike n. now historical and rare a metal rod with a spring attached half way down its length, used to temporarily disable a cannon or other artillery piece by being inserted into the touch hole; cf. spike n.² 1b.The spring is compressed manually during insertion and expands once it has passed through the touch hole, making it difficult to remove. ΚΠ 1803 Morning Chron. 16 Aug. 19 serviceable Spring Spikes, for Garrison Guns. 1871 G. E. Voyle Dict. Artillery Terms (ed. 2) Spring spike, in artillery, a spike with a spring attached to it, used for rendering a gun temporarily unserviceable. 1981 A. J. B. Johnston Defending Halifax 101 The equipment lists are virtually the same, with the only difference being in the length of the spring spikes. spring stay n. Nautical (now chiefly historical and rare) a stay (stay n.¹ 1a) fitted almost parallel to a mainstay in order to reinforce it and act as a fail-safe should it break, typically being of a lighter construction than a mainstay. ΚΠ 1745 P. Durell Log 20 May in J. S. McLennan Louisbourg (1918) x. 177 Ye fore Spring Stay was Shott away. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Spring-Stays, are rather smaller than the stays, and are placed above them, being intended as substitutes should the main one be shot away. 1983 J. E. Garland Down to Sea xii. 192 (caption) There will be hell to pay if the fore gaff swings over and the topsail jams against both the maintopmast stay and the triatic, or spring stay, between the fore and main mast caps. spring steel n. and adj. (a) n. steel that has been tempered in such a way as to give it greater than usual elasticity; spring tempered steel; (b) adj. made from such steel. ΚΠ 1707 Daily Courant 22 Oct. Dropt last Sunday..a Silver Watch-Chain, with a Spring Steel Seal and Key. 1773 J. Ferguson Select Mech. Exercises 162/1 An hundred pound weight of pure fine Gold is equal in bulk to..39.8 of Spring Steel. 2000 P. Sweeney Gunsmithing: Shotguns xvii. 257/2 The bronze ring is segmented on its inside face, and has a spring steel clip-ring around it. 2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) ix. 59/2 The robust plastic case houses 15 metres of flexible spring steel. † spring sweep n. Obsolete rare = spring sail n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > mills > [noun] > windmill > sail > type of spring sail1835 spring sweep1919 patent sail1924 fan-tail1934 1919 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 187 178 In some cases these shutters worked against the tension of a spring instead of the pull of a weight, and such were known as Meikle's ‘spring sweeps’. 1924 Trans. Newcomen Soc. 1922–3 3 50 It was desired to fit patent sail regulation instead of ‘spring’ or ‘sail’ sweeps. spring temper n. a temper (temper n. 5) in which the metal concerned has greater elasticity than is typical; cf. spring-tempered adj. at Compounds 5b(b). ΚΠ ?1714 F. Hauksbee Course Mech., Optical, Hydrostatical, & Pneumatic Exper. Table Specifick Gravities Steel... Soft... Hard... Spring Temper. a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. III. 2061/2 They are polished, and then brought to ‘spring temper’ by heating. 2003 L. K. Gillespie Hand Deburring xx. 243/2 When drawn to spring temper, as used in brushes, [stainless-steel] wire from all heats of type 302 can be attracted to a magnet by varying degrees. spring-tight adj. and adv. (a) adv. so as to be tight enough to exert a secure grip, but sufficiently loose as to allow movement under sufficient pressure; (b) adj. that is tight enough to exert a secure grip, but sufficiently loose as to allow movement under sufficient pressure. ΚΠ 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 302/1 Upon that part of the arbor..which is on the outside of the plate or frame is placed the cannon-pinion.., which has a hole quite through it for the reception of the centre-wheel arbor, on which it turns spring-tight. 1883 Amateur Mech. Oct. 183/1 In French clocks with visible escapements there is one item that requires especial attention—the spring-tight collet. 2002 U.S. Patent 6,358,181 B1 23 The upper part of the sheet metal holder with the body portion 303 and the leg 302 can thus be held spring-tight in one of the channel openings. 2011 U.S. Patent 2011/0168227 A1 3/2 Releasing the upward pressure on the redirection bracket..also creates a spring tight pressure seal. spring tine n. (in a harrow, rake, etc.) a tine having greater flexibility than is typical. ΚΠ 1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1868 I. 835/1 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 52, Pt. 1) X To each ear a spring tine is secured by an axial bolt fastening. 1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 49 The simple spring tine as first introduced on the Canadian cultivator had not sufficient strength. 2000 Farmers Weekly 18 Feb. 76/4 The implement offers a 4m working width and consists of track eradicators, levelling board, slatted roller, four rows of spring tines and a crosskill roller at the rear. spring-type adj. (of a part of a mechanism, an apparatus, etc.) having the form or movement of a spring. ΚΠ 1921 Pop. Mech. Sept. 449/2 (caption) Spring-type oil-hole cover. 1973 Pop. Sci. Feb. 146/2 When up to four strips are in place, put a spring-type clothes pin on top and bottom strips and wind a rubber band around the two pins to squeeze them together. 2013 T. Pisano Build your own Beekeeping Equipm. vi.71 All you really need are the spring-type gate handles that will keep tension on the wires. spring work n. †(a) (perhaps) plants that are in bloom, considered collectively (obsolete rare); (b) a system or arrangement of springs forming part of a mechanism, device, etc.Quot. a1646 is an excerpt from a description of a garden designed to act as a map of a geographical area. ΚΠ a1646 J. Gregory Posthuma (1649) 329 The Towns, Villages, Castles, or other remarkable Edifices, in small green mossie Banks, or Spring-work proportional to the Platform. 1675 E. Sherburne in tr. M. Manilius Sphere App. 86 He..caused to be made for that hopeful Prince, a large Sphere with curious Movements, which by the help of Spring-Work, not only represented the Motion of the whole Celestial Sphere, but shewed likewise the Particular Systems of the Sun and Moon, and their Circular motions. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 523 This locking..has only the advantage..of being firmer, and less liable to be out of repair, than any locking where spring-work is used. 2008 C. Kimball 55 Surefire Homebased Businesses 160 Furniture is comprised of four basic components: the framework, a spring system, the padding that covers the spring work to make it comfortable, and the covering. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). springn.² Brit. /sprɪŋ/, U.S. /sprɪŋ/ Forms: Middle English–1500s spryng, Middle English–1500s sprynge, 1500s– spring. Origin: Apparently formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring v.¹ Etymology: Apparently < spring v.¹Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French espringuer , Old French, Middle French espringuier to dance (13th cent; < a Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch springhen to leap, to dance: see spring v.¹) and Old French (Picardy) espringhe (noun) dance (13th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation). Compare also early modern Dutch sprong dance step, dance (1613), Middle Low German sprunc dance step, kind of dance, both specific uses of a noun with the sense ‘act of leaping’, reflecting the Germanic noun base (with zero-grade) regularly corresponding to the verbal base of spring v.¹ (compare forms cited at spring n.¹). Compare further the related foreign-language words for a dancer cited at springer n.¹ †1. A kind of lively dance. Obsolete. rare. Middle Eng. Dict. interprets quot. c1475 as showing an otherwise unattested sense ‘a group (of lechers)’ (perhaps cf. spring n.¹ 7), but it seems more likely to belong here. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > other dances > [noun] dance of Macabre?c1430 springc1450 lege de moya1529 bobc1550 lusty gallant1569 duret1613 fading1613 huckler1617 ground-measure1621 entry1631 slatter de pouchc1640 ballo1651 Irish trot1651 omnium gatheruma1652 clutterdepouch1652 upspring1654 passacaglia1659 shuffle1659 passacaille1667 flip-flap1676 chaconne1685 charmer1702 Cheshire-round1706 Louvre1729 stick dance1730 white joke1730 baby dance1744 Nancy Dawson1766 fricassee1775 bumpkin1785 Totentanz1789 Flora('s) dance1790 goombay1790 egg-dance1801 supper dance1820 Congo dance1823 slip-jig1829 bran-dance1833 roly-poly1833 Congo1835 mazy1841 furry1848 bull-dance1855 stampede1856 double-shuffling1859 frog dance1863 hokee-pokee1873 plait dance1876 slow dancing1884 snake dance1895 beast dance1900 soft-shoe1900 cakewalk1902 floral dance1911 snake dance1911 apache dance1912 grizzly bear1912 jazz dance1917 jazz dancing1917 jazz1919 wine-dance1920 camel-walk1921 furry dance1928 snake-dance1931 pas d'action1936 trance dancing1956 touch dance1965 hokey-cokey1966 moonwalk1969 moonwalking1983 Crip Walk1989 mapantsula1990 c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 1235 Pipers of alle Duche tonge To lerne loue Daunces, sprynges, Reus, and these straunge thynges. c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 747 (MED) Now Meyntnance and Perjury Hathe schewyde þe trace of þer cumpeny, Ye xall se a sprynge of Lechery, þat to me attende. 2. a. A tune, esp. a quick or lively one, played on the bagpipes or other musical instrument; a dance tune. Chiefly Scottish (now rare). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > dance music > [noun] springa1475 dance1509 ballo1825 a1475 Friar & Boy (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 58 (MED) Y dyd ryȝt noȝt to hym to day, But pyped hym a spryng. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice l. 144 in Poems (1981) 136 Him to reios ȝit playit he a spryng. ?1596 J. Burel To Duke of Lenox sig. L3 Thair wes the Hautbois and the Harpe, Playing maist sweit and pleasant springs. a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffff2^v/1 We will meet him, and strike him such new Springs, and such free welcoms, shall make him scorn an Empire [etc.]. 1699 ‘Lady of Honour’ Golden Island 6 The Harp play'd us a pleasant spring, and Neptune took a dance. 1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i. 7 Gie's a bonny Spring; For I'm in Tift to hear you play and sing. 1788 E. Picken Poems & Epist. 17 Frae the sprigs, the sylvan quire War liltan up their early spring. a1835 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 351 Let me strengthen my heart with ae spring on my pipes before I venture. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxv. 257 Robin took the pipes and played a little spring in a very ranting manner. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. Orkney Parish (new ed.) 133 Doun wi' the fiddle an' play me a spring. 1979 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. 68/1 Reck du me fiddle doon, an I'se play you twartree springs. b. Scottish. figurative and in figurative contexts. Frequently in to take a spring of one's own fiddle and variants: to do things one's own way; to do what one pleases. Now archaic and rare. ΚΠ 1568 H. Charteris in D. Lindsay Wks. Pref. sig. +ii^v Sic ane spring he gaif yame in the play, playit besyde Edinburgh, in presence of the Quene Regent. 1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxviii. 21 Bot now Prouest Marschell in playing this spring;..Beleuis thow this trumprie sall stablische thy style? 1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 919 But since ye thinkt an easie thing To mount above the moone Of your owne fiddle take a spring And dance when yee have done. 1637 S. Rutherford Let. 16 June (1848) clxxxi. 349 Christ..will give you leave to sing as you please, but he will not dance to your daft spring. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-serious Disc. ii. 27 Experience will this unriddle; Sae take a Spring of thine awn Fiddle. 1786 R. Burns Poems 220 I've play'd mysel a bonie spring, An' danc'd my fill! 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 273 Ou, sir, if the gentleman likes he may play his ain spring first; it's a' ane to Dandie. 1933 Musical Q. 19 387 He's made his bed, let him lie on it. Let him take a spring of his own fiddle and dance to it when he has done. †c. Scottish. In various phrases. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 254 Auld springs gevis na price. 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 20 Another would play a Spring, e're you tune your Pipes. 1834 P. Buchan Peterhead Smugglers ii. i. 24 Old songs, like old springs, gie nae price. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † springn.³ Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: springe n. Etymology: Apparently a regional variant of springe n., perhaps showing failure of palatalization and assibilation, or perhaps resulting from association with (ultimately cognate) spring n.¹ V. Compare Dutch spring snare, trap (1598 as spreng; obsolete in this sense). Obsolete (English regional (chiefly northern) in later use). A snare, noose, or trap. Also figurative.With the use in quot. 1604, with reference to the trapping of a foolish or gullible person, cf. springe n. 2a. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun] grinc825 trapa1000 snarea1100 swikea1100 granea1250 springec1275 gina1300 gnarea1325 stringc1325 trebuchet1362 latch?a1366 leashc1374 snarlc1380 foot gina1382 foot-grina1382 traina1393 sinewa1400 snatcha1400 foot trapa1425 haucepyc1425 slingc1425 engine1481 swar1488 frame1509 brakea1529 fang1535 fall trap1570 spring1578 box-trapa1589 spring trapa1589 sprint1599 noosec1600 springle1602 springe1607 toil1607 plage1608 deadfall1631 puppy snatch1650 snickle1681 steel trap1735 figure (of) four1743 gun-trap1749 stamp1788 stell1801 springer1813 sprent1822 livetrap1823 snaphance1831 catch pole1838 twitch-up1841 basket-trap1866 pole trap1879 steel fall1895 tread-trap1952 conibear trap1957 conibear1958 1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Insidias auibus moliri..To lay springs to catch birdes. 1604 N. Breton Grimellos Fortunes in Wks. (1879) II. 10/1 To make a meanes, by which to catch this Wood-cocke in a fine spring. 1621 F. Quarles Hadassa xiv. Medit. sig. K4 The rau'ning Fox, that did annoyance bring Vnto thy Vineyard, 's taken in a Spring. 1648 C. Walker Relations & Observ. ii. 129 This engine..is better then any spring or trap to catch any active Presbyterian. 1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Lark Country People..make use of Springs..to take Larks with. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 153 My friend, justice Buzzard, has set so many springs for my life. 1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) Spring,..a snare. 1886 H. Cunliffe Gloss. Rochdale-with-Rossendale Words & Phrases Spring, a springe-snare. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2019). springv.¹ Brit. /sprɪŋ/, U.S. /sprɪŋ/ Inflections: Past tense sprang, (chiefly U.S.) sprung; past participle sprung; Forms: 1. Present stem Old English sprincgan (in prefixed forms), Old English sprincð (3rd singular indicative), Old English springan, Old English spryngan (rare), late Old English sprinð (in prefixed forms), late Old English (in prefixed forms)–early Middle English sprinþ (3rd singular present indicative), early Middle English springenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English springue, early Middle English sprinke, Middle English sprenge, Middle English springge, Middle English spryngge, Middle English sprynghe, Middle English spyngeþ (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), Middle English–1500s spryng, Middle English–1500s sprynge, Middle English–1600s springe, Middle English– spring, late Middle English spriggyng (present participle, transmission error), late Middle English spruget (south-western plural present indicative, transmission error), late Middle English spyng (transmission error), late Middle English spyngeth (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), late Middle English spyringe, 1500s sprinis (Scottish, 3rd singular present indicative), 1500s spryneth (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), 1500s–1600s springen (archaic), 1700s sprink (nonstandard, in sense Phrases 4a). 2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). Originally 1st and 3rd singular indicative. α. Old English spranc (rare), Old English– sprang, late Old English sprancg (in prefixed forms), late Old English spræng (in prefixed forms), early Middle English (1500s transmission error) sparng, Middle English spran, Middle English spranke, Middle English–1600s sprange, Middle English (1800s Scottish (north-eastern)) sprank, late Middle English spranga (transmission error), 1500s spraynge. β. Old English–1600s sprong, early Middle English sprog (transmission error), early Middle English sprongue, Middle English sponge (transmission error), Middle English spron, Middle English spronghe, Middle English–1600s spronge, Middle English–1600s sproong; N.E.D. (1915) also records a form Middle English spronk. γ. Middle English–1600s sprunge, 1500s– sprung, 1700s– sprunk (nonstandard, esp. in sense Phrases 4a). δ. Middle English sperng, Middle English sprenge, Middle English (1800s English regional (Yorkshire)) spreng. (ii.) Plural. α. Old English sprungan (in prefixed forms), Old English sprungon, Old English sprungun (in prefixed forms), Old English sprungyn (in prefixed forms, rare), late Old English sprungæn (Kentish, in prefixed forms), Middle English sprungen. β. Middle English sprongen, Middle English sprongyn. γ. late Middle English sprangen. b. Weak. α. Middle English sprynged, Middle English spryngede, 1500s–1600s (1800s–1900s English regional) springed. β. English regional 1800s sprunged. 3. Past participle. a. Strong. α. Old English gesprungen (rare), Old English spruncen (in prefixed forms (not ge-); rare), Old English (in prefixed forms (not ge-))–Middle English sprungen, early Middle English isprounge, early Middle English isproungue, early Middle English sprungenn ( Ormulum), Middle English isprunge, Middle English isprungen, Middle English sproungyn, Middle English sprungyn, Middle English ysprunge, Middle English ysprungen, Middle English–1600s sprunge, 1500s sproungen, 1500s 1700s isprung (archaic), 1500s– sprung, 1700s– sprunk (nonstandard, esp. in sense Phrases 4a), 1700s ysprung (archaic), 1800s sprungn (English regional); also Scottish pre-1700 sproung, pre-1700 sprungin, pre-1700 sprungyn, pre-1700 spruning. β. early Middle English sprond, Middle English hyspronge, Middle English isprong, Middle English ispronge, Middle English isprongge, Middle English sprongene, Middle English sprongne, Middle English sprongon, Middle English sprongun, Middle English yspronge, Middle English ysprongen, Middle English ysprongyne, Middle English–1500s sprongen, Middle English–1500s sprongyn, Middle English (1500s archaic) (1700s archaic) ysprong, Middle English–1600s sprong, Middle English–1600s spronge, late Middle English spongge (transmission error), late Middle English sprongyng (perhaps transmission error), 1500s–1600s sproong; Scottish pre-1700 sprong, pre-1700 sprongin, pre-1700 sprongyn, pre-1700 spronnge. γ. late Middle English spryngen; Scottish pre-1700 spring, pre-1700 springin, pre-1700 spryng. δ. 1600s–1800s sprang. b. Weak. α. late Middle English sprynged, 1500s–1600s (1800s English regional) springed. β. 1800s asprung'd (English regional (south-western)). Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian springa (West Frisian springe), Old Dutch -springen (in ouerspringen; Middle Dutch, Dutch springen), Old Saxon springan (Middle Low German springen), Old High German springan (Middle High German, German springen), Old Icelandic springa, Old Swedish, Swedish springa, Old Danish springæ (Danish springe), further etymology uncertain.Further etymology. The Germanic verb is perhaps < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek σπέρχομαι to hurry and (with different ablaut: zero-grade) Sanskrit spṛh to be eager, although this poses phonological problems. Another possibility is that it could be < the same Indo-European base as Lithuanian sprengėti to throttle and (in prefixed derivatives) Russian naprjagat′ , Polish sprężać , Bulgarian zaprjagam , all in sense ‘to strain, to tighten’, although this poses semantic problems. A further possibility is that it could be < the same Indo-European base as classical Latin spargere to sprinkle, scatter (see sparse v.). Related forms in other languages. Compare Old French espringuer to dance ( < Old Dutch: see spring n.²), and (hence) also Occitan espingar to kick one's legs, Italian spingare to dance, springare to kick one's legs (both early 14th cent.). Use in Old English. In Old English a strong verb of Class III. The verb is intransitive in Old English; for the later development of transitive uses compare sprenge v. (originally the corresponding causative form). In Old English the prefixed form gespringan (compare y- prefix) is also attested, chiefly in intransitive senses corresponding to those of the unprefixed verb, as ‘to flow (suddenly or violently), to spurt or burst out, to fly, to spread, to arise’, but occasionally in transitive use, as ‘(of rumour) to reach (a person) by spreading, to cause (streams) to flow’; compare also aspringan aspring v., ætspringan atspring v., geondspringan to spread abroad (compare yond prep.), onspringan to flow forth, to well up, to bound, leap, to shatter, tōspringan to-spring v., upspringan upspring v. The unprefixed verb is attested noticeably less frequently than aspringan aspring v., which is attested earlier in senses corresponding to senses 3, 10, and 29. Specific senses. In use with reference to sprinkling (see sense 4) probably influenced by sprenge v. and springe v.¹, and sometimes difficult to distinguish from the latter. Compare further bespring v. and bespreng v., and also sprinkle v.² and springle v.¹ With the Middle English form sprenge compare Middle Dutch sprengen and Middle Low German sprengen , occasional variants of the words cited above (semantically distinct from the forms cited at sprenge v.). I. To flow or rise and related senses. 1. a. intransitive. Of a liquid (esp. blood, tears, or sweat): to flow suddenly or violently, esp. in a jet or stream; to pour or spurt out; to gush. Also of fire, flame, sparks: to leap or fly out. Chiefly with forth, out, or from.In use with application to fire or flames sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 8a(a). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > suddenly springeOE outleaplOE outspring?a1200 loukc1275 start?1316 bursta1325 to start outa1382 out-braida1400 sprentc1400 thringa1500 flush1548 flunge1582 protrude1626 explode1840 flounce1865 plunge1891 dartle1893 the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > squirt or issue in a jet [verb (intransitive)] > out springeOE squizzle1856 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > eject warpc1000 wreaka1300 out-throwa1393 excludec1400 shootc1400 spitc1400 deliver?a1425 outflingc1450 springc1480 bolka1522 vomit1552 spurge1582 out-braid1586 hurl1590 cast1601 spew1605 eject1607 ejaculate1609 spew1610 to cast out1611 throw1625 eructate1632 gullop1646 explode1660 to throw off1660 belch1668 eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxxv. 150 Sete on þone nægl wið þa wearta, sleah þonne þæt þæt blod springe ut. OE Beowulf (2008) 2966 Him for swenge swat ædrum sprong forð under fexe. OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 25 Aug. (2013) 166 Ða eagan wæron swylce fyren iren, ond [him] sprungon spearcan of þam muðe. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) 900 Þet ter sprong ut, mid te dunt, milc imenget wið blod. c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 556 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 17 Þat blod sprong out with gret strem, þo weren þe schrewes a-gaste. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 6187 Of þe helmes þat fur sprong out, vor hii were stronge beye. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 9102 His body [to] driue. nakid wiþ skourges þorou þat þrange. out of his bak þe blode sprange. c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) l. 1907 (MED) Swych strokes þey gon dyȝte Þat sparkes sprong out. c1480 (a1400) St. Nicholas 581 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 497 Of his body oyle cane spryng, þat helful wes til al sare thing. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 150 in Poems (1981) 137 The bludy teres sprang out of his eyne. 1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iii. f. 34^v The bloud sprang out a pace, and eke their backe did swell and whealeWith multitude of stripes. 1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania ii. 173 One hee wounded in the body to death, the other with a blow on the head, the blood springing out of his eyes, nose, and eares in greatest aboundance choked him. 1685 tr. T. Willis London Pract. Physick xiii. 612 The Blood sprang forth so copiously from the left-Nostril, that, being received into a Bason, it made vast Bubbles by its fall. 1700 E. Ward Dancing-school 6 They could not have prov'd a Sourer Nosegay, than what sprang out of the Pores of the Melting Assembly. 1777 Whole Proc. Jockey & Maggy (rev. ed.) ii. 9 She recklesly came o'er his lobster neb a drive wi' the laddle until the blood sprang out. a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in Posthumous Poems (1824) 403 And near us, see, sparks spring out of the ground. 1888 America 18 Oct. 7/1 The blood sprang forth staining both men as they fell to the ground. 1921 A. Lowell Legends 167 Dang! went the bell, and the lady hearkened—once, twice, thrice—and her tears sprang forth. 1951 A. Seton Foxfire x. 201 Suddenly sweat sprang out on his forehead, and glistened on his pallid cheeks. 2006 M. G. Santos Inside iii. 24 Blood springs out in spurts as the man tries to run away. †b. intransitive. figurative and in figurative or similative contexts. To flow or gush, esp. in the manner of blood. Chiefly with out. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 287 Herodes..was i-tormented wiþ..wormes þat welled þat sprang out of his prive harneys [L. vermescentibus testiculis]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1600 Þis word out of his hert sprang. a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 299 Yf ony word hym hadde sprong, That men myght here of his tong. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. xxvi. 19 The leprosy spronge out of his foreheade in the presence of the prestes. †c. intransitive. To flow or gush with blood. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > discharge or flux > discharge [verb (intransitive)] > bleed > flow of blood railc1390 well1532 springc1540 outbleed1596 c1540 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xxii. 125 Þe wound þat was springand with huge stremes of blude [L. manantem cruore]. 1642 J. Nicholas News from Kingdom of Poland 5 It being thought a sport amongst the Turks, to rip up womens bellies with their Scimitaries, and to carrie young children upon the top of their Launces, springing with bloud. 1652 A. Ross Hist. World sig. Pppp A Well springs with blood fifteen days. 1725 W. Benson tr. Virgil Husbandry: 1st Bk. 48 Nor were the Victims wanting to forbode Impending Fate; Or Wells to spring with Blood. †2. a. (a) intransitive. Of fame, news, a rumour, etc.: to spread, to disseminate; to become known. Frequently with wide. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current springOE spreadc1300 to go abouta1325 quicka1400 risea1400 runa1400 walkc1400 stir1423 voice1429 fly1480 to go abroad1513 to come abroad1525 wandera1547 divulge1604 to get abroad1615 to take aira1616 to make (also do) the rounds1669 to get about1740 reach1970 OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. ix. 26 Exiit fama haec in uniuersam terram illam : geeade uel spranc mersung ðas..in alle eorðo ða ilco [OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus þes hlisa sprang ofer eall þæt land]. OE Beowulf (2008) 18 Beowulf [probably read Beow] wæs breme—blæd wide sprang—Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 127 Ðo sprong þe word of his holi liflode wide into þe londe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3141 Of hire wisdome sprong [c1300 Otho sprang] þat word wide. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 22 His name, it sprong wel wide. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1921 (MED) Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, Sprong out to every mannes Ere. 1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 1 (MED) Grete rumour sprang in the people. a1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Tanner 346) (1878) l. 74 Thorow oute the worlde so gan hyr name sprynge That her to se had euery wighte likynge. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 73 in Poems (1981) 134 His noble fame so far it sprang and grewe. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Love in W. W. Skeat Chaucerian & Other Pieces (1897) 21 (MED) False wordes springen so wyde by the stering of false lying tonges. c1550 Clariodus (1830) v. 1254 Out throw the world springin is ȝour name. c1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 11 That of thy fame nothing as ȝit be sprong Into the cuntrie. (b) transitive. To cause (fame, reputation, etc.) to spread. Obsolete. ΚΠ tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) ix. l. 215 (MED) Myn entent is Thyn honour to sprynge And iugement. a1500 (a1471) G. Ashby Active Policy Prince l. 747 in Poems (1899) 36 (MED) Your seruauntes wol bere oute your fame..And renowne your glorious & goode name, Spryngyng it for the to eueryche degree. b. intransitive. Of a scent or smell: to be diffused. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [verb (intransitive)] > be emitted springc1390 sprent?1486 the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)] bredeOE bespreadc1275 skaila1300 springc1390 shaila1400 spread1560 disperse1605 diffuse1655 c1390 (?c1350) Barlaam & Josaphat (Vernon) l. 395 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1875) 1st Ser. 220 Out of hem sprong a sauour Swettur þen eny Rose flour. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xiii. 192 And so for smel springiþ to vs by ham, & [read he] hatte nosetrelles. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1704 The swote smelle spronge so wide That it dide all the place aboute. 1695 E. Settle Triumphs London 15 'Tis here my Aromatick Odours spring; And my Rich Fruits their fragrant Harvest bring. 3. Of water, a springhead, etc.: to rise or flow in a stream out of the ground; to flow. Also in figurative contexts. a. intransitive. With out or up.In quot. eOE showing aspring v. in similar use. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > spring > [verb (intransitive)] springa1225 risea1398 eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 11 Nilus seo ea..besincð eft in on þa eorþan & þonne eft norþ þonan up aspryngð.] a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 141 Þe stan to-chan, and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer of. a1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 25 Þe welle springet out of þe uirtutis. c1300 St. Leonard (Laud) l. 72 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 458 He bi-gan openi þe eorþe a luyte and is oresones he made. A swiþe fair welle þare sprong up. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 428 Every thing which he can telle, It springeth up as doth a welle. ?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 51 It commez fra þe mount Liban of twa welles þat springes vp þare. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) in Centaurus (1968) 12 225 (MED) Þe watir bicomeþ warme anoon And warme springeþ out. ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. lv. f. 37^v (MED) Þe water sprong vp atte þe grounde of þe welle and stod stille. 1589 R. Lane in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 739 Which head they say springeth out of a maine rocke in that abundance, that forthwith it maketh a most violent streame. 1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxi. 17 Israel sang..Spring vp O well. View more context for this quotation 1672 J. Davies tr. Murtada ibn al-Khafīf Egyptian Hist. 74 The King was obliged to put back his Horse from the place where he was, seeing the water springing up under his Feet by the permission of God. 1675 E. Wilson Spadacrene Dunelmensis 17 Such a quantity of water..as springs daily out of the Earth. 1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 168 Pipes, by which..they caused odoriferous Liquor to spring up from the bottom to the top of the Amphitheatre. 1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. xix. 125 If..the land is wet, even at some distance above the place where the water springs out. 1832 R. Lander & J. Lander Jrnl. Exped. Niger II. xiv. 281 Our own [hut] had positively pools of water springing up out of the ground. 1888 Med. Bull. (Philadelphia) Oct. 337/1 Here the natural warm water springs up in different places amid the mud. 1940 N. Tranter Harsh Heritage iii. 196 Cailean found the stream, sprung out from under a great rock, where no stream had been before. 2014 R. Downie Semper Fidelis xiii. 50 It is an old and very holy place where a constant supply of hot water springs out of the ground. b. intransitive. Without construction. Now rare. ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 207 Þu makest wallen to springen. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 36 A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai, Boðe bi niȝt & bi dai. c1300 St. Michael (Laud) 641 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 318 For þare beoz ase it veynene weren onder eorþe.., and þarof springueth þis wellene ech-on. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2306 Beside a roche..He syh wher sprong a lusty welle. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 745 (MED) Watrys þat were swote & clere..sprange lyche cristal in þe colde welle. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1104 There he wolde ly downe and se the well sprynge and burble. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 I haue sene the place where Temmes springeth. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xi. 45 A very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. 507 Out of one hill spring three great rivers running divers waies. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Spring, to rise, come, or spout out, as a River or Water does. 1782 W. Cowper Charity in Poems 198 How copious and how clear Th' o'erflowing well of Charity springs here! 1816 Ld. Byron Stanzas to —— vi, in Prisoners of Chillon & Other Poems 26 In the desert a fountain is springing. 1985 L. McMurtry Lonesome Dove (1986) i. 15 The spring was just springing enough to make a nice mud puddle. †4. a. transitive. To sprinkle (a person or thing); to lightly cover with liquid, esp. water; to moisten. Frequently with with. Obsolete (English regional (chiefly southern) in later use).Some early examples may belong at springe v.¹ ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle something with liquid > a person or thing sprengeOE springa1325 a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 2356 (MED) Ȝif þat lond is ffordryed..Me mot sende reyn and dieuȝ ffor-to hit beo betere yspronge. a1425 (a1399) Forme of Cury (BL Add.) 87 in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 117 Set hem adoun and spryng hem with vynegar. a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 7 Bray hit a lytelle, with water hit spryng. 1519 W. Horman Vulgaria xxi. f. 178^v Take a lytell pece of erthe, and spryng it with water. 1576 G. Baker tr. C. Gesner Newe Jewell of Health iv. f. 239 A certaine vessell..both sproungen rounde about, and couered with Chimney soote. 1825 J. Jennings Observ. Dial. W. Eng. 72 Spring, to moisten; to sprinkle. 1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 281 To spring clothes is to moisten them a little previous to ironing. b. transitive. To sprinkle, to scatter, to distribute (a liquid, esp. water); to discharge (a liquid). Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete.Some early examples may belong at springe v.¹ ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle liquid sprengeOE springa1387 berainc1420 twirl1763 sprint1855 the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle warpc1000 sprengeOE strenkc1175 springa1387 bespring1387 sprinkc1390 sprinklea1400 strinklec1400 springle?a1425 sprinkle?a1425 sprainc1440 bespreng1496 oversprinkle?1548 overstrew1570 besprent1573 insperse1587 insperge1599 asperse1607 besprink1609 disparple?1615 spark1637 swiggle1683 twirl1763 sparkle1787 bespatter1813 spray1829 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 23 (MED) Reyn is y-seie arered vppon þe hilles and anon i-spronge aboute [L. diffundi] in þe feeldes. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. x. 1135 [The adder] springeth oute venyme by bytynges. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 248 Þat castyth out synne & springeth in vertewe. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius iii. 416 Spryng holy water, sing Masses for the quicke and the dead. 5. transitive. To cause (water) to well up or flow out of the ground. Also (and in earliest use) in figurative contexts. rare after the 17th cent. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > cause to flow [verb (transitive)] > cause to flow out or well up springc1450 c1450 (a1400) Orologium Sapientiæ in Anglia (1888) 10 343 (MED) Þat welle of pyte springynge mercye is more redye to ȝive mercye þanne þou art to aske hit. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 275 Þis grace in þe ground of equyte, þat spryngeth vp þise vij. stremys of vertuys. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. LL^v A Well: whiche..shulde springe fayre water and swete. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 819 The Earth; of which being thrust close and pressed together by the violence of revolution, sprang Water. 1667 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 2 485 Lakes.., sprung up by Earth-quakes. 2010 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 7 Apr. 29 They engineer a phoney miracle—springing water from barren rocks—to drum up trade. †6. transitive. To drain off (water). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > action or process of extracting > extract liquid [verb (transitive)] > by draining draina1552 draw1580 spring1597 unwater1642 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > throw or cast in inswak1513 spring1597 inject1611 indart1733 the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > insertion or putting in > insert or put in [verb (transitive)] > forcibly thrustc1175 quevena1400 stopc1480 ingyre1513 ram1519 dig1553 intrude1563 purr1574 spring1597 grub1607 inject1611 ingest1617 sock1843 to dig in1885 the world > space > place > removal or displacement > extraction > extract [verb (transitive)] > extract gas or liquid exhaust1540 draina1552 to draw off1594 uncask1594 spring1597 carry1602 tap1602 milka1628 to carry off1677 evacuate1719 drafta1875 aspirate1880 bleed1889 1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 667 Steepe the leaues in cold water, & at night spring off the water. 7. intransitive. Of blood, a flush, etc.: to rise suddenly and involuntarily to the cheeks or face; (also of tears) to rise suddenly and involuntarily to the eyes. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] > appear or become visible > suddenly bursta1325 swirk?a1513 to start out1566 flash1590 rush1594 spring1698 upstart1874 1698 W. Philips Revengeful Queen i. 3 'Twas then, what Blood you had Sprung to your Cheeks, and strait retreated thence. 1771 Hist. Sir William Harrington II. 17 Being quite overcome by the hurry of spirits I was in, some tears sprang up to my eyes. 1802 Lady's Monthly Museum Jan. 38 Tears sprang to the eyes of Mr. Evelyn. 1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xxvi. 433 A flush of decision sprang into his face. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii. 52 The quick colour that sprang to her cheek at his words. 1913 Sat. Evening Post 10 Aug. 38/3 The unshed tears sprang to her eyes. 1953 S. Kauffmann Philanderer xi. 182 She broke off, and tears, actual tears, sprang into her eyes suddenly. 2016 R. Wells French War Bride lxix. 429 I couldn't help it. Tears sprang to my eyes. II. To move energetically and related senses. 8. a. (a) intransitive. Of an object: to change place or position by a sudden or rapid movement; to move with a sudden jerk or bound, esp. (in later use) so as to rebound or recoil; to dart, to fly. From the 17th cent. with adverbs, as up, back, forward, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of things springOE leapc1275 OE Beowulf (2008) 2582 Beorges weard..wearp wælfyre; wide sprungon hildeleoman. OE Battle of Maldon (1942) 137 He sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt se sceaft tobærst, and þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang ongean. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. xxv. 294 Þeah þu teo hwelcne boh ofdune to þære eorðan.., swa sprincð he up & wrigað wið his gecyndes. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11938 Heo..fusden feondliche. þat fur him sprong [c1300 Otho sparng] after. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1804 Ðor wrestelede an engel wið; Senwe sprungen fro ðe lið. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 13 Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange, Ofte haf I wayted. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 2079 As fire ys wont to quyk and goo From a sparke spronge amys. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 196 The stone, sprung backe againe & smote Earth. 1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ x. 193 A Hasel or other stick..that being stuck into the ground may spring up like unto the springs they usually set for Fowl. 1725 R. Blackmore Treat. Spleen & Vapours 180 Such a Stretch of the Muscles as does not exceed Nature's Standard, but is capable of springing back. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Elasticity The component Parts..must certainly, on the Cessation of the External Violence, spring back to their former natural State. 1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 20 He drew adown the wind-stirred bough, and took The apples thence; then let it spring away. 1929 Boys' Life Jan. 3/1 The ball..sprang upward again and fell against the rim a second time. 1965 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Res. 4 341 When this tension is released the style and stamens spring forward, causing the pollen to be distributed. 2009 Ol House July 17/2 The bristles..should resist bending and spring back when you let go. (b) intransitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To leap, bound.In early use esp. with reference to the heart or soul. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > cause to appear springc1330 springc1430 c1330 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Auch.) l. 32 in Englische Studien (1885) 8 118 For ioie his hert bigan to spring. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 3071 Þe folkes herte so gan sprynge Aȝeins Alisaunder þe kynge. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 45 With that sprang vp hir spreit be a span hechar. 1644 R. Harwood King David's Sanctuary 6 The soule that creepes upon the ground doth rot, and putrifie, when that which springs upwards is immortall. 1754 M. Morgan Philoclea i. 7 My Soul springs upward at the Thought. 1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein II. v. 159 Arthur Philipson's heart sprung high at the appearance of these strangers. 1988 D. Rowe Successful Self ii. 34 When there've been catastrophes in the family..I've been able to spring back. 2003 Observer (Nexis) 2 Mar. (Mag.) 54 Dynamic elastic has sprung back into fashion. b. transitive. To cause (a thing) to change place or position by a sudden, rapid, or jerky movement; to cause (a thing) to fly up, out, etc. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > cause to move suddenly [verb (transitive)] braidOE startc1440 startle1576 spring1665 the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > off suddenly thrill1606 spring1665 fly1676 spanghew1781 to send flying1879 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 210 These six leggs [a flea]..clitches up altogether, and when he leaps, he springs them all out. 1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lxxiv. 287 At the very next stroke, he sprung it [sc. the billiard ball] over the table. 1831 Examiner 675/2 It blows a gale enough..to spring the teeth from out your jaws. 1856 Punch 27 Dec. p. iv Victor Emmanuel.., gracefully manipulating the mustachios that have springed so many hearts. 1880 G. Meredith Tragic Comedians I. v. 107 It sprang Clotilde a stride nearer to reality. 1919 Outing Mar. 310/3 I sprang the hook on his under jaw, one half fully in his mouth. 1980 J. Barnes Metroland ii. iii. 105 I linked my fingers in front of my stomach, palms inwards, then sprang both thumbs out. 2003 Daily Tel. (Sydney) (Nexis) 10 July 7 Simple tricks such as an ‘ollie’—springing the board into mid-air—can be picked up in just a couple of weeks. †c. transitive. Military. To shift (a weapon, etc.) rapidly from one designated position to another. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (transitive)] > position weapons > shift position of smartly spring1780 1780 Encycl. Brit. VI. 4438 Make ready: i.e. Spring the firelock briskly to the recover. 1797 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry (rev. ed.) App. 246 Carbines sprung, and unstrapped. 1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. i. 29 Each man springs his ramrod as the officer passes him, and then returns it. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 46 Spring arms—Two. Load. 1903 C. King Apache Princess xvii. 194 The corporal sprung his rifle to the hollow of his arm. 9. a. intransitive. To shatter into pieces or fragments; to burst, to break, to split; to give way. Also figurative of the heart.Sometimes with open, apart.The interpretation of the word in quot. OE has been disputed; the most likely interpretation is that Grendel's corpse ‘split wide open’ when the head was struck off, but it has alternatively been suggested that the torso might have ‘sprung up or recoiled some distance away’ (cf. senses 8, 11) either under the impact of the blow or because of some (magical) remnant of life. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > shatter or break to pieces or burst to-burstc893 forbursta1000 springOE to-flyc1000 to-shootc1000 to-springc1000 to-drevea1225 to-resea1225 to-breakc1230 to go shiversc1275 to-drivec1275 to-rivec1275 to-shenec1275 to-wendc1275 debruise1297 lash13.. to-dashc1300 to-scatter13.. to-shiver13.. shiverc1330 bequash1377 shinderc1390 brasta1400 bursta1400 to-shiderc1450 to fly in pieces1488 sprent1488 splindera1500 reavec1560 dishiver1562 shatter1567 disshiver1586 split1590 slent1608 besplit1638 disrupt1657 splintera1661 rupture1734 explode1784 to ding in staves1786 to break, knock etc., or go, to smash1798 spell1811 to go (also run) smash1818 to play smash1841 bust1844 splitter1860 disrump1886 to fall into staves1895 smash1904 OE Beowulf (2008) 1588 Hra wide sprong syþðan he æfter deaðe drepe þrowade, heorosweng heardne—ond hine þa heafde becearf. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 1794 (MED) Whene his spere was sprongen, he spede hym full ȝerne, Swappede owtte with a swerde. c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 198 Þe grete schafte þat was longe All to spildurs hit spronge. a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 3920 An C tymes hys herte nye sprange, By that bors had hym the tale tolde. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 21 Speires vnto sprottes sprongen ouer hedes. 1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 345 By reason of a plancke that spronge in hir. 1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ii. 4 If one of those ends should spring, or giue way it would be a..troublesome danger. a1726 H. Barham Hortus Americanus (1794) 179 Which seed-vessel, touched with the least moisture, springs open with a little snap or noise. 1820 J. Hennen Princ. Mil. Surg. (ed. 2) 217 At length an artery sprung, which, in the attempt to secure it, most probably burst under the ligature. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 190 At once a flood of light I'll fling, Yet softly, lest the glass should spring. 1960 G. E. Evans Horse in Furrow xv. 200 The wheel was put over this and clamped down so that it wouldn't spring. 2012 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 21 Apr. 5 The whole contraption appears liable to spring apart at any moment. b. Nautical. (a) intransitive. Of a mast, boom, etc.: to split, to crack.Chiefly in the perfect (in early use formed with to be). ΚΠ 1578 G. Best True Disc. Passage to Cathaya 47 The worthie Captayne..although hys Mast was sprong..continued hys course towardes the Northweast. 1685 N. Boteler Six Dialogues Sea-services iv. 164 When a Mast, is only crackt, and not quite broken.., then the Sea-saying is, the Mast is Sprung. 1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 271 The Carpenters discovered the Fore Mast to be sprung. 1765 J. Byron in J. Hawkesworth Acct Voy. Southern Hemisphere (1773) I. 59 Capt. Mouat, who commanded the Tamar, informed me that his rudder was sprung. 1824 P. Schmidtmeyer Trav. into Chile i. 11 On the 21st, the weather being still very bad, our fore mast sprang. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vi. 222 The dissel-boom was sprung, and the hind axle also. 2011 J. Stockwin Conquest vii. 177 Probably the mast had sprung in some squall. (b) transitive. Of a vessel or a vessel's crew: to have (a mast, yard, etc.) split or crack. Also of the wind: to cause (a mast, yard, etc.) to split or crack. Cf. Phrases 4a. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > have masts or spars split spring1582 society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > have masts or spars split > cause spring1582 1582 R. Madox Diary 2 Aug. in E. S. Donno Elizabethan in 1582 (1976) 158 The Edward sprang hir foremast. c1595 T. Maynarde Sir Francis Drake his Voy. (1849) 11 The Exchange, a small shippe, spronge her mast, and was sunke. a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 20 A boisterous wind..Springs the..mast. 1669 London Gaz. No. 421/1 Off the Lizard she sprang her main Mast by the board. 1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 401 The Ship in which himself was..that sprung a plank in the Indies. 1799 Hull Advertiser 13 July 1/4 St. Joaquim..sprung her foremast;..St. Paulo sprung her tiller. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxv. 439 We..sprung the sprit-sail yard; and made nothing of studding-sail booms. 1880 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Sentinel 13 Oct. 3/1 During recent heavy weather outside the schooner Arendal sprung her mizzenmast head. 1907 Everybody's Mag. May 596/1 Half an hour later another sea mounted over the quarter-rail, sprung the mizzen-boom, and tore the mizzen-traveler out of the dock. 1960 J. Barth Sot-weed Factor ii. xiii. 243 While the men were still in the ratlines a gust split all three sails and sprang the mizzenmast as well. 2013 S. L. Butler Defending Old Dominion xxiii. 415 Seahorse sprung her mizzenmast, Euryalus its foremast. c. Military. (a) transitive. To explode (a mine). Also in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > use of mines and explosives > use mines and explosives [verb (transitive)] > mine > explode a mine, etc. spring1625 vent1687 fire1699 to let off1714 to set off1881 bump1915 1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. x. ix. 1798 They sprung another Mine..wherein was placed about sixtie Barrels of Powder. 1677 London Gaz. No. 1244/2 This morning we Sprung a Mine under a Ravelin.., which did considerable execution. 1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 187 They sprung several Mines and blew up a great Number of our Men. 1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 119 Go, spring the mine of elevating thought. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. xi. 285 I only grieve that I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all! 1880 Freeman's Jrnl. 10 May It was a mine sprung without any warning by the lowest section of the electorate. 1915 C. S. Churchill Let. 17 Dec. in W. S. Churchill & C. S. Churchill Speaking for Themselves (1999) vi. 134 Yesterday's official communiqué said that on Wednesday S.W. of Ypres the enemy sprang a mine under one of our trenches. 1973 J. G. Farrell Siege of Krishnapur xv. 199 He was ready now to spring the mine. 2009 E. J. Hess In Trenches at Petersburg ix. 118 The Confederates fully intended to spring a mine on his front. †(b) intransitive. Of a mine: to go off, to explode. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > be violent [verb (intransitive)] > explode or go off (of firearms, gunpowder, etc.) to go off1560 fulminate1651 springa1658 explode1673 displode1812 to go up1950 a1658 J. Cleveland Poor Cavalier in Wks. (1687) 328 At Langport..thy Rear miscarry'd too, And by a strong Intelligence the same time, Thy Hooks and Buttons sprung with Sherburns Mine. 1698 tr. F. Froger Relation Voy. Coasts Afr. 30 On the 22nd the mines sprang, and took very good effect. 1747 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 437/1 The mine will spring by its gallery. 1845 Encycl. Metrop. VI. 303/1 If likewise it be wished that one mine shall spring before another, it is only necessary to shorten the hose. 10. †a. intransitive. To appear in a manner resembling dawn or the first signs of day. Obsolete. ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 259 He þet is ower lif..springeð as þe daȝunge efter nichtes þeosternesse. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. ix. 2 To the men dwellende in the regioun of the shadewe of deth, liȝt sprungen is to them. c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 1158 The tru son of ryghtusnes..Xall sprynge in hem þat drede hys meknes. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. xxii. 26 To whome is ysprunge veray sterre of trouth! 1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 255 Lyghte spryngeth in darkenesse, helle ys pryued of robry. 1579 in W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. A.iiij The light of Gods truth might spryng foorth agayne. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 584 But God..can as easie Cause light again within thy eies to spring . View more context for this quotation 1825 F. D. Hemans Forest Sanctuary (1927) 137 In that young heart a light sprung up again. 1909 Royal Mag. Feb. 396 All at once a new light sprang up in her beautiful blue eyes. b. intransitive. Of dawn, morning, daylight, etc.: to appear, to become perceptible; to appear over the horizon or in the sky. Also in figurative contexts.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use.In quots. c1300, c1430, and a1649 transitive (figurative): to cause (day, daylight, etc.) to appear in the sky. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] > appear or become visible > of dawn springc1300 the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > cause to appear springc1330 springc1430 OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 33 Þærrihte up asprungenum dægriman dægredsang sy begunnen.] c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 124 Al þe day & al þe niȝt, Til hit sprang dai liȝt. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 5259 On þe morȝnyng wan þe day him sprong, Charlis ȝeode ys host among. c1430 N. Love Mirror Blessed Life (Brasenose e.9) (1908) 50 This day the sonne of riȝtwisnesse, that was first vnder cloude, sprang openly his bemes of mercy and the liȝt of his grace in alle the world. ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. 38 f. 24 (MED) Þou schalt sodeinli sprenge vp as þe day sterre in gladnesse of herte. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iv. iv. 1 Furth of the see, with this, the dawing springis. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 70/2 in Chron. I By the light of the daye, that then beganne to spring. 1611 Bible (King James) Judges xix. 25 When the day began to spring . View more context for this quotation a1649 R. Crashaw Carmen Deo Nostro (1652) 80 Thine was the Rosy Dawn that sprung the Day Which renders all the starres she stole away. 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 54 Phospher..Promis'd the Sun, e're Day began to spring. 1803 Visct. Strangford tr. L. V. de Camoens Poems 54 Dear is the dawn, which springs at last. 1876 W. Morris Story of Sigurd iii. 182 But meseems that the earth is lovely and each day springeth anew. 1927 N.Y. Times 2 Jan. e4/3 The dawn begins to spring. 1940 J. Buchan Memory Hold-the-Door 300 Eerie dawns in Flanders and Picardy when the sun sprang out of enemy country. 2009 J. Straughan West Indian Adventure 253 The inevitable dawn sprang forth out of the blackness. †c. intransitive. To ascend in the sky. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > rise or go up [verb (intransitive)] styc825 astyc950 ariseOE upstyOE to step upOE upcomec1000 to come upOE to go upOE upwendc1200 runge?c1225 amountc1275 upgoa1325 heavec1325 uparise1340 ascend1382 higha1393 lifta1400 risea1400 skilla1400 uprisea1400 raisec1400 rearc1400 surmount1430 to get upc1450 transcenda1513 springa1525 upmounta1560 assurge?1567 hove1590 surgea1591 tower1618 hoist1647 upheave1649 to draw up1672 spire1680 insurrect1694 soar1697 upsoar1726 uprear1828 higher1889 a1525 Crying ane Playe 87 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 152 The mone sprang neuer abone his kne. 11. To bound, to leap; to move suddenly, to dash. a. (a) intransitive. With adverbs or prepositions, as to, out, after, through, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)] leapc900 startOE reseOE springa1275 throwc1275 upleapc1275 launch13.. aspringc1315 sault1377 lance?a1400 sprenta1400 loupc1480 lope1483 spang1513 bendc1530 jump1530 spend1533 stend1567 vaulta1568 pract1568 exult1570 bound1593 saltate1623 subsalt1623 jet1635 spoutc1650 volt1753 a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 192 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 65 Tel me nou swiþe ant into helle spring. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10719 Cador sprong [c1300 Otho sparng] to horse swa spærc him doh of fure. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 91 He..sprong forth so sparke of glede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 12527 A nedder sprong out of þe sond. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1318 Alexander..Springis out with a spere. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope (1967) i. x. 80 [The serpent] sprange after his neck for to have strangled hym. ?1561 T. Blundeville Newe Bk. Arte of Ryding i. xiii. sig. D^v The spur doth make him to springe forward, and to amende his pace. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Mar. f. 9^v With that sprong forth a naked swayne. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 37 I sprung forward through the throng. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 132 The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upward spurn the briny Seas. 1788 W. Cowper On Feather-hangings Mrs. Montagu in Gentleman's Mag. June 542/2 Like Pallas springing arm'd from Jove. 1797 H. Lee Canterbury Tales I. 205 [He] lightly sprung over the fence by which they were separated. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 670 Some of the English sprang to their arms and made an attempt to resist. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. lx. 277 His daughter sprang to his embrace. 1901 R. Kipling Kim vi. 140 The man dismissed them, and first to spring through the verandah into the open sunshine was Kim. 1954 J. R. R. Tolkien Two Towers ii. i. 22 Like a deer he sprang away. 2002 J. Ray Step-ball-change x. 135 The floor was a trampoline. Every time he hit it, he sprung back higher. (b) intransitive. Without construction.Occasionally spec. of a partridge: to rise from cover. Cf. sense 14a.Quot. OE shows the prefixed verb onspringan in similar use in sense ‘to bound, leap’. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [verb (intransitive)] > specific actions of partridge spring1589 juck1611 jug1648 OE Blickling Homilies 165 Sona þæt cild onsprang & ongean his Hlaford hyhte & hine of his modor bosme on þære fæmnan bosm halette.] c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 593 Þe fole bigan to springe, & horn murie to singe. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 2487 (MED) Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance. a1450 York Plays (1885) 366 Full faste schall I springe for to spede. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. ii. 33 Octauian maad his sones to be taught..to swyme, to sprynge and lepe. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 Marke hym whan he daunseth you shall se hym springe lyke a yonkher. 1589 R. Robinson Golden Mirrour sig. G.3^v The Partridge sprang, my hauke fled from my fist. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 465 The Tawnie Lion..then springs . View more context for this quotation 1708 O. Dykes Moral Reflexions Eng. Prov. 148 The Partridge..always springs afterwards upon the first Sight of a Setter or a Dog in the Field. 1789 tr. G. F. Magné De Marolles Ess. Shooting xvi. 220 When a covey of partridge springs, if one of the company fires, the rest stop until he has reloaded his piece. a1822 P. B. Shelley Arethusa in Posthumous Poems (1824) 157 Gliding and springing, She went, ever singing, In murmurs as soft as sleep. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. xi. 297 The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously. 1947 J. Steinbeck Pearl iii. 53 Then he sprang like an angry cat, leaped striking and spitting for the dark thing. 2009 A. Rickloff Dangerous as Sin x. 95 Cam went completely still, his whole body coiling tight as a wire just before he sprang. (c) intransitive. figurative. To move, act, or react with speed, suddenness, or alacrity; (of mountain peaks, the sun, etc.) to appear, emerge, or arise in a manner suggestive of sudden movement. Now chiefly in to spring to (a person's) defence, to spring to a conclusion.See also to spring into action at Phrases 2, to spring to (one's) mind at mind n.¹ 19l. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > proceed rapidly [verb (intransitive)] > take prompt action spring1548 to take at the (first) bounda1556 to be quick off (occasionally also on) the mark1914 to jump to it1917 to snap (in)to1918 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Acts v. f. xxii^v Wondrefull great feare sprang [L. obortus est] through the whole Churche of the faythfull. 1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 6 Religion spread under ground, whiles the Roman power in a continuall war sprang upward. 1796 Female Gamester I. xxxii. 118 The moment he entered, my heart sprang to greet him. a1822 P. B. Shelley Triumph of Life in Posthumous Poems (1824) 73 Swift as a spirit hastening to his task,..the Sun sprang forth Rejoicing in his splendour. 1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe iv. 201 The mighty peaks..spring at one bound to a height of some ten thousand feet. 1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After i. 21 The stockbroker's wife..sprang to her husband's defence. 1986 R. Ingalls Pearlkillers 14 She was looking at a set of floodlit glass boxes that sprang from the darkness like lighted boats. 2011 Atlantic Online (Nexis) 11 Apr. Reporters sprang to the conclusion that the speech would make detailed new commitments. b. intransitive. To rise quickly, or with a bound, from a sitting or lying position. With adverbs and prepositions. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] > rise > quickly or suddenly to start upc1275 upstart1303 leapc1330 upspringc1374 uprapea1400 boltc1425 starta1470 spring1474 rear1835 rare1886 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. vii. 141 Y^e kynge..sprange out of his chare and resseyuyd them worshipfully. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc5^v The whole family..Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 259 Till rais'd By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,..and upright Stood on my feet. View more context for this quotation 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ix. 284 Springing from the ground, Both chiefs at once ascend the lofty mound. 1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 68 The..monster sprung up and cast himself..upon our hero. 1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 262 At an early hour in the morning the guests of the Castle sprung from their repose. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xx. 137 Good news caused me to spring from my bed. 1921 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love (1960) xi. 145 She suddenly sprang up, turned her back to him, and walked away. 1962 P. Mortimer Pumpkin Eater xxi. 131 Holding the camera in both hands, he sprang athletically to his feet. 2016 Herald Sun (Austral.) (Nexis) 11 May 13 The man sprang to his feet, grabbed her shoulder and demanded her keys. c. intransitive. Of a breeze, wind, etc.: to begin to blow. With up. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > begin to blow risec1330 warpa1400 upwaffc1400 spring1611 arise1847 1611 I. R. tr. N. Le Jay Tocsin sig. C3 As the winde sprong vp [Fr. survint] which conducted Butes out of danger, and saued him in Lybia. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. i. 8 For want of Cloaths to cover me in the Night I was very cold when the Land-wind sprang up. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 210 A Breeze of Wind springing up the same Evening, we weighed and set Sail for the Brasils. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xi. 255 When a gale sprung up, it constantly blew off the land. 1805 Ld. Nelson Let. 25 Sept. in Dispatches & Lett. (1846) VII. 50 As the breeze is now springing up from the N.W. 1877 A. B. Edwards Thousand Miles up Nile v. 111 By and by a little breeze springs up. 1905 E. Wharton House of Mirth (1964) i. i. 9 A breeze had sprung up, swaying inward the muslin curtains. 1945 Motor Boating Oct. 45/1 A brisk southwest wind sprang up and promised to settle down to a good sailing breeze. 2016 Sunday Times (Nexis) 5 June (Sport section) 11 A breeze had sprung up and a storm was forecast to arrive some three hours later. d. transitive. To leap over (a distance). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > cause to jump [verb (transitive)] > leap, spring, or jump over leapc900 overleapeOE freea1578 overjump1604 jump1609 overskip1629 fly1719 top1735 spring?a1775 clear1791 overbound1813 over1837 overspring1847 leap-frog1872 vault1884 ?a1775 W. Bartram Trav. Georgia & Florida in Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. (1943) 33 167/2 They usually spring 2 or 3 feet on their prey & may be called the Tyger Spider. 1825 W. Scott Talisman xiii, in Tales Crusaders IV. 275 He that would climb so lofty a tree, Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee. 1854 Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 96 The grasshoppers..being capable, with ease, of springing some hundred times their own length. 1907 J. H. Patterson Man-eaters of Tsavo viii. 89 If the lion could spring the twelve feet which separated me from the ground. 1969 K. Wheeler Champions Soccer iv. 27 Denis..sprang some four feet into the air. 1999 Washington Post (Nexis) 16 June c1 Tarzan could spring 20 feet across the treetops. †12. intransitive. To advance in rank or status; to be promoted to a specified rank. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 548 We beþ kniȝtes ȝonge, Of odai al isprunge [a1350 Harl. alle to day yspronge]. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 6954 Therof all parseners be we And tellen folk where so we go That man thurgh vs is sprongen so. a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 4650 (MED) Thou and such felows yong..to knightes be late sprong. a1500 (c1380) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 479 (MED) Whanne þe pope was deed & cardenals weren not ȝit sprongun, in whois hond was þe chirche? 13. transitive. To make (a horse, pony, etc.) gallop. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > ride (a horse) rapidly > gallop (a horse) springc1440 wallop1490 gallopc1515 c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 483 (MED) Þey spede at þe spoures, þey sprangen þeire horses. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 165 A Hose [sic] happens to be sprung out at his full Speed. 1837 ‘Nimrod’ Chace, Turf, & Road ii. 75 We always spring 'em over this stage. 1875 C. T. S. B. Reynardson Down the Road 167 I must spring them a bit,..or we shall never get up the Lodge Hill. 1986 Horse & Hound 25 Apr. 40/4 Just before the last pair of cones he sprung his ponies. 2002 B. Miller Pretender 341 Trent and Harry had sprung their horses and should be able to give them some news as soon as they got there. 14. a. transitive. To cause (a bird, esp. a partridge) to rise from cover. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (transitive)] > cause birds to rise flush1450 to set up1496 spring1531 to tread up1808 walk1847 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xviii. sig. Jviii The men sprange the birdes out of the busshes. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlvii. f. 280 His spaniells sprong a Partrich. 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy ii. ii. iii. 317 A..Hawke..when the game is sprung, comes down amaine, and stoupes vpon a sudden. 1682 G. Wheler Journey into Greece vi. 260 We sprang Ducks and Snipes. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 108. ¶4 Honest Will. began to tell me of a large Cock-Pheasant that he had sprung in one of the neighbouring Woods. a1793 G. White Observ. Birds in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1802) II. 175 [The] land-rail..flies in a very..embarrassed manner,..and can hardly be sprung a second time. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 33/1 Before the birds are sprung, he should pat and encourage the dog. 1883 Cent. Mag. 487/2 In October and November, the sportsman often ‘springs’ coveys containing birds too small to be shot. 1912 Life 26 Sept. 1881/2 Having found them, he ‘springs’ the grouse and the pheasants, but ‘flushes’ the woodcock. 1999 A. Walker Encycl. Falconry 122/2 Spring, Of a falconer or his dogs, to flush (quarry). They might spring a partridge. b. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To cause (a person or thing) to appear; to surprise, to come upon, to discover. In later use also (Australian): to catch or come upon (a person engaged in an illicit or compromising activity). ΚΠ 1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet sig. E2 That there is not a better Spanniell in England to spring a couie of queanes than Martin. a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. C3 Heeres good game for the hawke,..a couie of Cockscombs, one wise man I thinke would spring you all. 1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre v. vi. 86 in Wks. II I may perhaps spring a wife for you, anone. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. ii. 163 Your greedy slav'ring to devour..sprung the Game..Before y' had time to draw the Net. a1720 J. Sheffield Wks. (1753) II. 162 Which can hardly fail of springing some game in such an ample field of fame and glory. a1777 S. Foote Cozeners (1778) i. 7 What new game have you sprung? 1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. (at cited word) Any thing hid is called, the plant... To spring a plant, is to find any thing that has been concealed by another. 1826 W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry II. i. 41 Let's start on some spree; no doubt we shall spring a lark somewhere. 1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 33/1 We looked every where for you and couldn't ‘spring’ you. 1918 C. Fetherstonhaugh After Many Days 250 The Scotchmen had by some means ‘sprung’ the bushrangers' plant, and got away to Scotland with it. 1980 J. Hepworth & J. Hindle Boozing out in Melbourne Pubs 42 He figured that nobody would ever spring him, but he figured wrong. 2001 P. Doyle Devil's Jump ii. 22 If any bastard springs us, we'll have a blue on our hands. †15. transitive. Of a stallion: to copulate with (a mare). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > copulate with > mount leap1530 spring1585 mount1593 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxxi. 154 [They] sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares [Fr. pour faire saillir leurs iumens]. 1667 Duke of Newcastle New Method to dress Horses i. 66 Their Colts at two Years old Springs their Mares, and then they Geld them. 16. †a. transitive. To begin or initiate (something); to produce (something) quickly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > cause to begin to act or operate to put (also set) to worka1398 to put on work?1440 streek?a1500 setc1500 to put (also set) in (also into) motion1598 spring1598 to set offa1625 to put (also set) in work1626 to set (a-)going1705 start1822 to start up1865 to set in motion1890 1598 G. Chapman in C. Marlowe & G. Chapman Hero & Leander (new ed.) iv. sig. I Many more effects This picture wrought, and sprung Leandrian sects. 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 663/2 The Yorkists..thought it now a fitte season to spring their practise. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 10 Nov. (1974) VIII. 524 To spring nothing in the House nor offer anything but just what is drawne out of a man. 1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Cinyras & Myrrha in Fables 178 Surpriz'd with Fright, She starts, and leaves her Bed, and springs a Light. †b. transitive. colloquial. To put (counterfeit money) into circulation. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1656 R. Fletcher Poems in Ex Otio Negotium 193 Down Fleet-street next she rowls..To spring clip'd-half-crowns in the Cuckow's nest. †c. transitive. To introduce (a witty comment); to tell or make use of (a joke). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > circulation of money > put into circulation [verb (transitive)] > pass counterfeits to give (one) the slip1567 output1576 to nail up for a slip1594 spring1686 smash1801 shove1859 drop1938 the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > cause laughter [verb (transitive)] > utter a jest or joke jest?a1562 spring1686 crack1957 1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 234 They saw him..not valuing to lose a Friend, rather than not have the Pleasure of springing a Witticism [Fr. dire un bon mot]. 1898 Garnet (Union University, Schenectady, N.Y) 43 153 Perk will spring his annual consignment of gags. 1917 B. Hall Diary 13 Feb. in B. Hall & J. J. Niles One Man's War (1929) 233 I shall have my Tsarina's Red Cross train episode all ready to spring and then I'll sit back and watch 'em go over. 1918 Stars & Stripes 5 Apr. 4/3 I cannot spring the old gags, Not that I don't know how; But I cannot pull the old stuff—I'm in the army now. d. transitive. To announce (a piece of news, a fact, etc.) suddenly or unexpectedly. To reveal (a surprise). Sometimes with on (formerly also †upon). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)] > introduce unexpectedly surprise1770 spring1866 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > come upon suddenly [verb (transitive)] > bring upon suddenly spring1866 1866 [implied in: J. G. Holland Life A. Lincoln xiii. 184 He was more given to..the springing of false issues, to quibbles and tricks.]. 1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer xxxiv. 265 Old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people here to-night. 1891 H. Herman His Angel 167 The threat of springing the naked facts upon the young lady. 1922 Ladies' Home Jrnl. July 72/1 One day she sprang a surprise. 1969 Listener 14 Aug. 204/1 The official French government spokesman sprang the wholly unexpected news: the franc was to be devalued. 2001 H. Holt Delay of Execution (2002) i. 4 Look, don't decide now—I've rather sprung it on you—have a little think and let me know in the next few days. †e. transitive. To impose (an obstacle) suddenly or unexpectedly. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > suddenly shootc1075 flapc1320 flatc1330 spang1513 yark1568 flirt1582 cant1685 jerk1708 flip1712 shuttle1823 spring1884 1884 J. E. Jenkins Week of Passion I. iv. 110 He must expect to be countermined, to have a thousand ingenious obstacles sprung in his way. 17. a. transitive. Architecture. To form the initial upward curve of (an arch). Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [verb (transitive)] > spring spring1700 1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 34 The level of the place, whence you begin to spring the Arch. 1756 Ld. Harcourt Let. 21 Dec. in Burlington Mag. (1985) 127 229/1 Instead of springing the arch or compass point of the Venetian window from the cornish.., I have boldly adventured to follow a design of an old building. 1807 R. C. Hoare Tour Ireland 198 The arches which were sprung to support it. 1854 H. D. Thoreau Walden 353 It affords me no satisfaction to commence to spring an arch before I have got a solid foundation. 1913 T. G. Jackson Byzantine & Romanesque Archit. I. iv. 52 From the top of this stone they sprang their arch, of the full thickness of the wall. 1983 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 73 115 Connecting the arcade supports and the outer wall with a flat lintel rather than springing an arch across the void. b. intransitive. Of an arch or arched object: to extend in a curving or slanting upward direction from a point of support. Frequently with from. Cf. springer n.¹ 2, spring n.¹ 9. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [verb (intransitive)] > of arch: curve or slant upwards summer1700 impost1730 spring1739 groin1805 1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 8 Semi-circular Arches, springing from about 1 Foot higher than Low-water Mark. 1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 14 The Arch..springs at high Water Mark. 1814 W. Scott Diary 12 Aug. in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1837) III. v. 185 Doubtless an arched roof sprung from the side walls. 1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic ii. x. 458 A wall plate is nailed to receive the rafters, one of which springs from each of the front posts. 1951 N. Pevsner Middlesex 97 The braces spring from wallposts carved with figures of apostles under canopies. 1999 R. Yeomans Story Islamic Archit. v. 83/2 The lower arches..spring lightly and freely, like semicircular tie-beams. 18. transitive. Nautical. To manoeuvre (an anchored vessel) by means of a rope or hawser secured to the anchor cable. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (transitive)] > move or swing by spring spring1814 1814 D. T. Patterson Let. 29 Dec. in Examiner (1815) 1 Mar. 382/2 Sprung the ship to bring the starboard guns to bear upon the enemy. 1898 S. B. Luce Text-bk. Seamanship 217 Ships may be sprung broadside to the wind..for the purpose of better ventilation; or in engagements at anchor, to bring the guns to bear on various points. 1922 C. C. Soule Naval Terms & Definitions 69/2 Spring, to turn a vessel with a line. 1947 Jrnl. Negro Hist. 32 197 He..sprang the ship round so as to bring her broadsides to bear, and was preparing to fire. 19. transitive. To cause (a mechanism) to work with a sudden or rapid movement; to cause (a lock, clasp, etc.) to open by applying pressure. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > force or wrench open unspurna1300 upbreak1382 to strike up1467 to break open1594 wrench1607 force1623 spring1825 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > cause to move suddenly [verb (transitive)] > cause (mechanism, etc.) to work suddenly spring1825 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. iv. 82 The preacher sprung the silver clasp of the Bible; and opened at the regular chapter for the evening. 1897 H. Tennyson Alfred Lord Tennyson I. 19 He would spring all their traps. 1930 D. Hammett Dain Curse (U.K. ed.) xv. 165 ‘All right, spring it,’ I said... ‘Spring the puzzle.’ 1980 J. Barnes Metroland iii. iv. 161 I started again, more seriously this time, masochistically trying to spring that familiar trigger for panic and terror. 2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xliii. 425 A chance to drive down from the ranch and spring the padlock. †20. transitive. Joinery. To join with a mitre joint. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1849 J. Craig New Universal Dict. at Spring In Roofing, to set the boards together with bevel joints for the purpose of keeping out the rain. †21. a. transitive. Nautical. To raise (the upward curvature of a vessel's deck); to raise (the sheer). See sheer n.² 1. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 151 To Spring, is to quicken or raise the sheer. 1909 Rudder May 479/2 For springing the sheer line and keel contour a yellow pine batten about 1 by inches, and 22 feet long is the thing to use. b. transitive. Shoemaking. To raise (the toe of a last). Cf. spring n.¹ 15c. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > carry out other processes coupa1300 foot1465 unsole1598 close1801 galosha1817 top-piece1830 tree1856 sprig1885 knife1888 to knock up1905 spring1905 1905 E. J. C. Swaysland Boot & Shoe Design iii. 21 An upward curve in the waist of about an eighth of an inch... This is very much less than lasts are usually sprung in the waist. 1916 F. Plucknett Introd. Boot & Shoe Manuf. ii. 16 Provision should be made for alteration in shape which would be likely to take place in wear.., e.g. springing the toe of the last. 22. a. (a) transitive. colloquial. Originally: †to acquire (goods of a specified value) (obsolete). Later: to pay or spend (a sum of money). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] yieldc893 pay?c1225 spendc1450 make1473 redd1491 to pay in1623 betall1630 to pay away1731 fund1843 spring1851 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 53/2 It's a feast at a poor country labourer's place, when he springs six-penn'orth of fresh herrings. 1883 J. Greenwood Odd People 244 In hope that he might spring a few shillings more than he had promised. 1904 M. Pemberton Red Morn xi. 168 I'll spring one hundred pounds, sir, if you will tot it up. 1957 P. G. Wodehouse Over Seventy xiii. 137 He wouldn't spring a nickel for a bag of peanuts. 2008 Australian (Nexis) 13 May 36 Macintosh users who don't feel like springing hundreds of dollars for Microsoft Office. (b) intransitive. Australian and U.S. slang. To pay. Usually with for. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > pay [verb (intransitive)] payc1387 to pay for——c1387 to come off?1544 settle1788 spring1906 pester1936 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands xviii. 250 Feathers..said reproachfully to the Aberdeen engineer..whose turn it was to ‘spring’: ‘Blime, cobber, er yer givin' ther barmaid er perpetual 'oliday 'r what?’ 1965 Pittsburgh Courier 18 Dec. 19/6 I'll spring for a party and swing with the crows on a moment's notice. 1976 M. Machlin Pipeline ix. 107 We'll spring for the booze. 2008 Flying Aug. 38/1 Think I'll spring for a new paint job. †b. intransitive. slang. Of a customer or prospective buyer: to raise the offered price. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > buying > buy [verb (intransitive)] > make various types of bid revie1591 underbid1611 bida1616 overbid1616 to buy over a person's head1682 ticket1778 spring1851 tender1865 jolly1869 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 28/2 If the seller finds he can get him to ‘spring’ or advance no further. 1905 T. Collins in Austral. Short Stories (1951) 15 Fred, starting fresh from that base, sprung to £2. 23. transitive. U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland). To sprain, strain (a part of the body). ΚΠ 1853 Daily Commerc. Reg. (Sandusky, Ohio) 29 Sept. In jumping from the cars, Mr. Young, of Peoria, sprung his left knee badly. 1922 P. A. Rollins Cowboy xii. 231 The process offered too much risk of springing a knee or of spraining a shoulder. 1961 Daily Times-News (Burlington, N. Carolina) 18 Aug. 3 b/5 Sidney..sprang an ankle yesterday and so far that has been our only serious injury. 2012 D. J. Schow Upgunned 118 The first day of sitting in my modified chair..completely sprung my back and neck. †24. intransitive. To readily rebound or recoil; (also) to shift position as a result of this. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > be pliable [verb (intransitive)] > be elastic resile1712 spring1869 1869 W. J. M. Rankine Cycl. Machine & Hand-tools Pl.M 2 It is impossible for the tables to spring in the least. 1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 Spring, a forme of type or plates is liable to ‘spring’, or go off its feet, if not properly locked up. 25. transitive. To bend (an object) out of shape by applying too much force or strain. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > project from (something) [verb (transitive)] stickc1540 spring1873 the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > change the direction of > from a straight line spring1873 1873 Routledge's Young Gentleman's Mag. July 503/2 Don't drive it in too hard, as it will ‘spring’ the plane-iron, and make it concave. 1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 May 8/1 It is so stiff that the utmost power of a man is required to spring it even very slightly. 1924 Pop. Sci. Monthly Sept. 95/1 If you clamp the piece too strongly, you are very likely to spring it out of shape. 1968 Janesville (Wisconsin) Daily Gaz. 15 Mar. 4/7 The wind caught one of the main doors as it was opened, sprung it out of shape and then caused it to crash into the adjoining window. 26. a. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). Originally: to release (a person) from custody or imprisonment, esp. by securing bail. Later: to enable (a person) to escape from prison. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > imprison [verb (transitive)] > liberate from bail1581 spring1900 1900 ‘J. Flynt’ & ‘F. Walton’ Powers that Prey 62 It cost his push a thousand plunks to spring him from the coppers. 1929 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Nov. 1/6 I got sick of him [sc. the lawyer] and I started examining the jury myself. They sprung me in five minutes. 1967 Punch 15 Mar. 375 In the main the British bail system works better than the American one. Over there a professional bondsman..‘springs’ the accused man for roughly ten per cent of the bail fixed. 1974 Daily Tel. 2 Sept. 3 Miss Mary Tyler..is to be returned to a high security prison this week in case militant Maoists try to ‘spring’ her. 2006 K. W. Bender Moneymakers viii. 177 German diplomats had to spring him from prison. b. intransitive. Originally U.S. slang. To escape or be released from custody or imprisonment. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [verb (intransitive)] > from confinement > from imprisonment bust1871 spring1902 to have away1958 1902 H. Hapgood Autobiogr. Thief in Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Sept. 453/2 Every thief needs his fall (arrest) money, so as to be able to spring, that is, to escape the results of arrest. 1955 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. No. 24. 184 You get snatched in the neck and it costs you twelve hundred to spring. 1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xii. 82 When I sprung..Moss was standing by the prison door. c. transitive. to spring (something) out of (a person): to cause (a person) to unexpectedly give or reveal (something). With out of. rare. ΚΠ 1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey ii. i Futile to attempt to spring anything out of a chap like that. 2000 N. Roberts Judgment in Death 113 ‘Where did Kohli get the funds he's funnelled into investment accounts?’ Webster's mouth tightened. Spring it out of him? III. To grow and related senses. 27. Of grass, leaves, branches, etc.: to grow, to sprout; to come up; to come out. Also of a flower: to bloom. a. (a) intransitive. With from, of (formerly also †out of). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] growa1000 springOE creue?c1450 eche1567 vegetate1605 the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout forth or spring up growc725 springOE upspringc1000 sprouta1200 springa1225 risea1382 burgeon1382 burgea1387 to run upa1393 lance1393 bursta1400 launch1401 reke?1440 alighta1450 shoot1483 to come up?1523 start1587 to grow up1611 to come away1669 to break forth1675 upshoot1841 outgrow1861 sprinta1878 break1882 sprount1890 OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xix. 180 Swa swa of anum treowe springað manega bogas, swa gað of anre lufe manega oðre mihta. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 219 (MED) Þe huuemeste bou of þe treuwe springed of þe neþemeste rote. c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 220 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 7 He..bad him legge þulke kurneles onder is fader toungue Ȝwane he were ded, and burien him, and lokie ȝwat þarof sprongue. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 6794 (MED) Þe rose springþ of þe brer, þat ssarp & kene is. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22878 Þoru his wil dos þat mihti kinge Out of hard tre to spring First þe lef and þan þe flowr. c1450 in W. R. Dawson Leechbk. (1934) 172 Roses or the..leves bene fully sprongene oute he shall be gaderid and of the rede levys shrede small and of hony..is made mel rosett. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclviii Thou desyrest to knowe the maner of braunches, that out of the tree shulde spring. 1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Kings iv. 33 From the cedar tre..euen vnto the hyssope that springeth out of the wall. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. vii. xxii. 531 As for another [vine shoot], springing from a yeare-old branch, it is left alwaies for a breeder. a1689 A. Behn tr. A. Cowley Plants in Wks. (1711) III. iv. 391 The noble Flow'r that did from Ajax spring. 1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 362 The Road hereabouts..being overgrown with Daneweed, they fansy it sprung from the Blood of the Danes, slain in Battle. 1776 C. Linnaeus Introd. Bot. 391 Radicalis, springing from the Root... Caulinus, springing from the Stem. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 661 Shoots of the same year's growth, springing from wood of the last year's growth. 1845 P. H. Gosse Ocean (1849) i. 35 From a number of little rootlets..springs a straight olive-brown stem. 1920 C. McKay Spring in New Hampsh. 28 The vivid grass with visible delight Springing triumphant from the pregnant earth. 1974 J. A. Michener Centennial vi. 338 There was moisture in the ground, and from it sprang a million flowers, gold and blue and brown and red. 2013 R. M. Stone Eat with Joy 163 Some vegetables.., like broccoli raab and string beans, spring from the earth with very little encouragement. (b) intransitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)] arisec950 syeOE comeOE riselOE springc1175 buildc1340 derivec1386 sourdc1386 proceedc1390 becomea1400 to be descended (from, of)1399 bursta1400 to take roota1400 resolve?c1400 sourdre14.. springc1405 descenda1413 sprayc1425 well?a1475 depart1477 issue1481 provene1505 surmount1522 sprout1567 accrue?1576 source1599 dimane1610 move1615 drill1638 emane1656 emanate1756 originate1758 to hail from1841 deduce1866 inherita1890 stem1932 c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §314 Thanne is pryde the general roote of alle harmes, for of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches, as Ire, Enuye [etc.]. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xviii. 210 A wande shall spryng fro Iesse roytt. 1576 G. Whetstone Ortchard of Repentance 11 in Rocke of Regard I bought at worst, yet sould I vnder foote, A poore increase, can spring of such a roote. 1626 D. Featley Ancilla Pietatis 324 That the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility, and spring vpward in hope. 1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 876 The Primitive root out of which the vast stock of the Catholick Church sprung. 1786 J. Matthews Let. 20 Nov. in Voy. River Sierra Leone (1791) 95 The Suzeé language seems to be the root from which the Bagoe..sprung. 1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 61 Commerce! beneath whose poison-breathing shade No solitary virtue dares to spring. 1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 6 Some miraculous soil, from which prodigies and portents spring. 1936 D. Carnegie How to win Friends & influence People i. ii. 42 Dr. Sigmund Freud..says that everything you and I do springs from two motives: the sex urge and the desire to be great. 2007 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 20 Dec. 66/3 The..tendency to view the Terror as springing from a nationalistic response to external aggression and internal sedition—has long had its critics. b. intransitive. Without construction. Also in figurative contexts.In quot. c1300 reflexive. ΚΠ OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. i. 82 On lengtentima springað oððe greniað wæstmas, and on sumera hig weaxað. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 437 Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1042 Forhe is wod þat soweþ his sed Þar neuer gras ne sprinþ ne bled. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 130 (MED) Ihc here foȝeles singe & þat gras him springe. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5966 Here sprong lo þe uerste more [= stock] as of hom of normandye. c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 135 Heil spice sprong þat neuer was spent. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4702 Na corn on erth, ne gress sprang. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iii. l. 377 Ffertile, & fressh, ek knotty, sprongen newe Thy graffes be. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 90 in Poems (1981) 135 Lyke till a flour that plesandly will spring. 1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 50 The trompettes chapplettes were of oke serriall newly spronge, and not coome to perfectione. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 312 They begin to bud and shout forth, as the Vine, Fig-tree and others then springing. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 84 The Grass securely springs above the Ground. View more context for this quotation 1712 J. Norris Profitable Advice for Rich & Poor 50 A long green Leaf in Winter, on which the Cattle delight much to Feed; and where that is plentiful, Cattle keeps themselves in very good plight, till Grass springs again. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 455 It springs well, and its flax is sooner ripe than any other. 1830 Ld. Tennyson Poems 44 For her the green grass shall not spring,..Till Love have his full revenge. 1883 Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Railway 21 In all cases where the seed does not spring, the Contractor is to re-sow the same. 1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. xiii. 163 Where this wild plant [sc. love]springs, men and women are but moths around the pale, flame-like blossom. 1988 J. Frame Carpathians xvii. 102 The grass sprang tall. 2006 N. Roberts Morrigann's Cross vi Foxglove sprang tall and purple among the trees. c. intransitive. With up (formerly also †out, †forth). Also in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout forth or spring up growc725 springOE upspringc1000 sprouta1200 springa1225 risea1382 burgeon1382 burgea1387 to run upa1393 lance1393 bursta1400 launch1401 reke?1440 alighta1450 shoot1483 to come up?1523 start1587 to grow up1611 to come away1669 to break forth1675 upshoot1841 outgrow1861 sprinta1878 break1882 sprount1890 a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 69 (MED) Ne mai wexen non god sad of godes wordes on ȝeure herte molde..Amang alle ðese embeðankes is ðe wrecche hierte swa iheueȝed, þat non godes word upp ne mai springen. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xiii. 5 Anoon thei ben sprungen vp, for thei hadde nat depnesse of erthe. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 4679 (MED) The lilie croppes on and on, Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, He smot of. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20788 In þe toumb..Mai naman find na thing bot flur Springand up of suet sauur. c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 177 (MED) Þer is a-nodyr tree þat spryngith vppe on heyght þe lenght of a mannys arme. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 This yere is farre forthe the hawthorne buddes be spronge forthe all redy. 1556 J. Olde tr. R. Gwalther Antichrist f. 14 The gospell, which was than but grene, & newly sprongen up. 1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xliv. 4 And they shall spring vp as among the grasse, as willowes by the water courses. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 548 There stood A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change. View more context for this quotation 1710 T. Nairne Let. from S. Carolina 9 Many Flowers, which spring up of themselves, and flourish in their kind, every season of the Year. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature IV. 235 The olive-tree which Minerva had there caused to spring up. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lexicon 158 At first a tuft of fungi sprung up accidentally on some particular spot. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 423 I hear that the young grass is fast springing up. 1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xxxiii. 271 The gravel sweep was weedy, and grass had sprung up at the very jaws of the garage. 1962 S. Wynter Hills of Hebron xvi. 196 The heavy fragrance of the wild jasmine that had sprung up near their home oppressed her spirit. 2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) ix. 299 Wildfires increased, because the second-growth woods springing up on logged land were more flammable than were old-growth forests. 28. To derive, to proceed from; to arise, to come about; to spread. a. intransitive. Without construction. To arise, to come about; to spread. rare after 18th cent. ΚΠ OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxviii. 519 Swa micel oga sprang ofer eallum þam mennisce, þæt þær nan ne belaf þe ne gelyfde on god. c1300 St. Clement (Laud) l. 470 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 337 Ase bestes huy leoueden in wildernesse þo cristinedom bi-gan furst springue. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xii. 30 Þer was sprongen a grete crie in Egipte. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 338 Among al blasphemes þat ever sprongen, þis is þe moost cursid. c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 93 A thyng i-sprunge late, Bitwene religiouse men..of the oone partie, and a worthy man..of þe oþer. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. li^v/2 Of late amonge dyuers people was sprongen a mater of dowt vpon the most olde custume had and vsed in this Cyte of London. 1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. i. i. f. 1 The vtilitie springinge by the right vse of these [sc. medicines] is great. 1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xiv. 98 New pleasures will be springing forth unto us. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 312 If Natures concord broke, Among the Constellations warr were sprung . View more context for this quotation 1711 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 163 in Parl. Papers 1884–5 (C. 4576–I) XLII. 1 I ask..whether such an intent ever sprung in the brains of the Irish Commissioners. 1783 S. Johnson Let. 20 Aug. (1994) IV. 187 I read your last kind letter with great delight, but when I came to love and honour, what sprang in my Mind? 1902 V. Jacob Sheep-stealers xiv. 129 A little rift had sprung between the two brothers. 2013 Sunday Times (Nexis) 5 May (Sports section) 5 When Rodallega hit the bar, hope sprang among the fans who had booed Fulham off the field at half-time. b. With prepositions. (a) intransitive. To arise out of (formerly also †of, †up out of). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)] arisec950 syeOE comeOE riselOE springc1175 buildc1340 derivec1386 sourdc1386 proceedc1390 becomea1400 to be descended (from, of)1399 bursta1400 to take roota1400 resolve?c1400 sourdre14.. springc1405 descenda1413 sprayc1425 well?a1475 depart1477 issue1481 provene1505 surmount1522 sprout1567 accrue?1576 source1599 dimane1610 move1615 drill1638 emane1656 emanate1756 originate1758 to hail from1841 deduce1866 inherita1890 stem1932 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4936 Forr alle mahhtess springenn ut Off soþ mecnessess rote. a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 63 Of ðesere godes dradnesse springþ ut an oðer godes ȝiue. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 1026 (MED) Horn..him ȝede alone, Also he sprunge of stone. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27538 Vte o þir seuen [sins] all oþer springes, Als of þe stouen þe branches hinges. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 283 It springeth out of compassioun, and of ruthe of an-oþeres synne. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 86 They [sic] chefe poynt that perteynyth to theyr honowre,..wych ys ryse & spronge of a long custume. 1578 A. Parkhurst Let. 13 Nov. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) iii. 674 I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soeuer it springeth. a1613 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 261 Out of which knott hath spronge the peace of this lande. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xii. 58 New Religions may againe be made to spring out of them. 1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued II. i. 252 Much of our good springs out of evil. 1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. ix. 1625 Some good, however, generally springs up out of evil. 1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 343 Such a limitation being by way of use, springs out of the estate. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 69 Out of the union of wisdom and temperance with courage, springs justice. 1952 E. J. Pratt Towards Last Spike 41 Miracles did not spring out of air. 2009 Independent on Sunday 22 Nov. (New Review) 19/1 All of our work springs out of a love of making food. (b) intransitive. To arise or proceed from (formerly also †whence). ΚΠ c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §247 It is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes þ^t synnes spryngen, & how they encressen. 1568 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 77 Beseiking him fra quhome all mercy springis Ws to ressaue. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Psalms (1963) x. 22 From his mouth doth spring Cursing and cosening. 1629 W. Prynne Church of Englands Old Antithesis 88 From whence then springs this inæqualitie..? 1692 tr. Sallust Wks. 9 Envy sprung from Opulency. 1718 Free-thinker No. 10. 2 Nothing, but Confusion and Immorality, can spring from Falsehood. 1790 F. Burney Diary Apr. (1842) V. 100 Humour springing from mere dress, or habits,..is quickly obsolete. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 155 The coalition which had restored the king terminated with the danger from which it had sprung. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §4. 192 A yet more important result sprang from the increase of population. 1917 Virginia Law Rev. 5 198 The close bond of communion and business intercourse that will spring from the union of arms with our allies. 1957 A. Miller Coll. Plays (1958) iv. 27 His terror springs from his never-lost awareness of time and place. 2015 Children, Youth & Environments 25 294 The changes documented by the book seem to spring..from unlucky but well-intentioned policy choices. c. intransitive. With up (formerly also †upon). To rise up, to arise, to come about. ΚΠ 1452 in Catal. Anc. Deeds (1906) V. 350 The cause also of such dyvorce hade and movet sprongen or comyn opon the party of the saide Margarete. 1544 R. Tracy Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII sig. Ciij Enormytyes & abuses sprongen vp in the christen religion. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxviij^v There sprang vp many aduersaries. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 180 There have sprung up also in these later times, two other Courts. 1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. John i. 1 Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the Person, Doctrine & Works of Christ. 1768 E. Search Light of Nature II. iii. xxv. 78 He will find the train of thought springing up in his mind. 1823 C. Lamb On Some of Old Actors (new ed.) in Elia 304 Thought springing up after thought, I would almost say, as they were watered by her tears. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §4. 128 The scholastic philosophy sprung up in the schools of Paris. 1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse ii. v. 202 The voice of..persistency itself, trodden down but springing up again. 1971 ‘G. Charles’ Destiny Waltz v. 194 A kind of affection seemed to have sprung up between them. 2004 C. Unger–Hamilton in Slightly Foxed Autumn 32 The seeds of unrest were springing up among the underclass throughout the country. 29. intransitive. Of a person or (occasionally) an animal: to be born of; to descend or originate from. Frequently with from (formerly also †of, †out of). Also figurative. a. In the perfect formed with to be or as a past participle.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use. ΚΠ OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1067 Of geleaffullan & æðelan cynne heo wæs asprungon, hire fæder wæs Eadward æþeling.] c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 560 An hird..off eleazar. Wass sprungenn & wass strenedd. a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 175 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 225 Alle þo þe sprunge beð of adam and of eue. c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 8024 Þis deuelen felle Þat ben ysprongen out of helle. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxv. 4 Forsoþ of Madyan was sprongne Epha. c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 2 Thys manne, sprongyng or boryne of lowe lynage..begane to haunte the housholdys of noble men. c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich Mittelengl. Medizinbuch (1896) 214 Item drynk aissches mad of ey schelles, þat bryddes were sprong, in whyt wyn. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. viii. 41 The Mahomies..were the first gentlemen sprung out of the ancient stocke of Iustinian. 1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. C7^v The brats ysprong from Typhons loins. 1652 E. Benlowes Theophila vii. xxxi. 99 Sprung of Thy Self, or rather no way sprung! Chief Good! 1699 R. Barret Compan. for Midwives sig. A4 How Illustrious a Family ye're sprung of, how much ye retain, nay, add to the Honour of your Noble Ancestors. 1748 J. Thomson Castle of Indolence 54 From Heaven this Life ysprung, from Hell thy Glories vild! 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. xvi. 431 Under yon great city fight no few Sprung from Immortals whom thou shalt provoke. 1835 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 558 (note) Alcibiades, who, on the mother's side, was sprung from Cœsyra. 1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 36 Thou, sprung of the seed of the seas As an ear from a seed of corn. 1932 Strand Mag. Feb. 174/2 He is sprung from the black St. Huberts brought over by William the Conqueror. 2000 T. Crowley Politics of Lang. in Ireland iii. 71 The Scoitbhearla must have been the mother tongue of Neimhidh..and accordingly of every colony sprung from him or from his descendants. b. In other constructions.In quot. OE showing aspring v. in similar use. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > descendant > be descended [verb (intransitive)] comeOE springa1200 ofspringc1300 to be descended (from, of)1399 to run of ——?a1400 descenda1413 proceed?a1439 issuea1450 to come downc1450 outspringa1547 decline1598 OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) i. 186 Seo mægð asprang of Noes yltstan suna se wæs gehaten Sem.] a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 153 (MED) Swo michel mankin sholde springen of him þat no man hit ne mihte tellen. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 337 Þer ssolle kinges come and springe of þi blod. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5599 Þe kinges kin i sal vn-do, O quam sprang of þe sauueur. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §761 Of swich seed as cherles spryngeth, of swich seed spryngen lordes. 1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) cii. sig. f3 Moche peple spronge and come of hem. a1525 Ballat Our Lady in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 271 Our wicht Invinsable sampson sprang þe fra. 1547 tr. Herman V of Wied Simple & Relig. Consultation sig. c The sonne of God sprange out of the substaunce of the father. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies i. xxv. 80 From him sprang two families or linages. 1665 R. Howard & J. Dryden Indian-queen ii, in R. Howard Four New Plays 150 You grieve to see Your young Prince glorious, 'cause he sprang from me. 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. i. 3 He consecrated it to the God of War, from whom he would have it thought he sprung. 1779 Mirror No. 32 His father having sprung nobody knows whence. 1840 W. Irving Oliver Goldsmith I. 10 He sprang from a respectable, but by no means a thrifty stock. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. ii. 14 His face was stamped with all the nobility of the Domitian race from which he sprang. 1904 Methodist Rev. Sept. 707 Back somewhere in eonic time his ancestral line sprang from an inarticulate germ. 1959 J. Cary Captive & Free 84 Hooper, son of a lorry driver.., had..a great contempt for the class from which he had sprung. 2015 Independent (Nexis) 27 Jan. 47 She sprang from a long-lived family, documented back to the 18th century. 30. transitive. To grow (a beard). Now rare and archaic. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > hair on lower part of face > [verb (transitive)] > grow beard springc1330 c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) l. 1445 A ȝong kniȝt, þat sprong furst herd [read berd], Of no man he nas aferd. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 2042 (MED) Þis ȝonge lusty man..is to me most plesaunt and entere, With berd y-sprong, schy[n]ing liche gold were. 1968 Prairie Schooner 42 244 He Was only twenty and sprang A beard like a Union private That ran around his head a hot Halo of hair. 31. a. intransitive. To increase in height or length; to extend or grow out from something in a curving upward direction. Sometimes with up.In later use chiefly in botanical contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > development, growth, or degeneration > [verb (intransitive)] > grow waxc1000 thrivec1175 breeda1350 grow1382 springc1384 upgrowc1430 shoot1538 bud1566 eche1567 to start up1570 vegetate1605 excresce1691 the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > become high(er) [verb (intransitive)] astyc950 arisec1225 rise?a1400 rearc1400 heighten1567 stem1577 upclimb1582 taper1589 clamber?1611 shoot1648 relevate1661 ascend1667 spring1673 spear1822 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. vii. 20 Of ten hornes whiche it hadde in the hed, and of the tother that was sprungen vp [L. ortum fuerat]. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 3265 The spekes..The space of a spere lenghe springande full faire. 1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. cij Yet have I sene sum folkys take hem owte of mewe when the sarcell were bot halfe i spronge. 1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 273 A hawkes feather beeyng drawen out of the wyng or trayne, by violence and force,..a newe feather can by no meanes growe and spring vp in the place. 1673 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Words 115 The cake of Silver after it grows cold springs or rises up into branches. 1785 T. Martyn in tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. xx. 288 The stalks are closely covered with tubercles,..and from the sides of these spring many branches. 1845 Florist's Jrnl. 6 130 The central peduncle springs from the apex of the older branch. 1882 S. H. Vines tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. (ed. 2) 544 Three or five large broad protuberances..spring from the periphery of the floral axis. 1911 F. O. Bower Plant-life on Land iv. 64 The calyx sprang from bract-like leaves. 1974 S. Clapham Greenhouse Bk. xv. 152 The Bird's Nest Fern Asplenium nidus, which hardly looks like a fern at all with its erect undivided fronds springing from a central crown. 2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 11 July iv. 4/2 It is possible to prune smaller weeping side branches that spring from the large weeping branches. b. intransitive. To attain a certain height or point of growth; to become fully grown. Also in figurative contexts. Now somewhat rare.Quot. 1661 may be influenced by sense 12. ΚΠ 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement iii. f. ccclxx^v/1 Howe you be spronge sythe I sawe you. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 51 According to the height that I woulde haue the Hedge to spring. 1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) vi. sig. K4 Corne as yet not sprong To the full height. 1661 J. Davies Civil Warres 365 They could not digest to see a young sprig..sprung up to be a commander. 1715 A. Pope Temple of Fame 41 When thus ripe Lyes are to perfection sprung. 1864 T. Woolner My Beautiful Lady (ed. 2) 102 Beholdest thou Thy babe, now sprung a man. 2005 D. Leon Blood from Stone vi. 49 The streets had instantly blossomed with Tamils, all carrying bouquets of collapsible umbrellas. All one had to do was add water, and they sprang to full size. 32. a. transitive. To produce, bring forth (shoots, leaves, blossom, etc.). Also in figurative contexts. rare after 17th cent. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > produce or bring forth doeOE makelOE to bring forthc1175 farrow?c1225 childc1350 fodmec1390 raise1402 spring?1440 upbringc1440 breed1526 procreate1546 hatch1549 generate1556 product1577 deprompt1586 produce1587 spire1590 sprout1598 represent1601 effer1606 depromea1652 germinate1796 output1858 tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) i. l. 823 And ther is cold [emended in ed. to In placis cold], thyn heruest seed bytyme Is best to haste, in springinge seed tabide [L. verna vero tardior]. c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) l. 1 (MED) In a moruenyng of Maye..Medowes sall spryng Blomes and blossomes of brighte colours. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xli^v There be trees woll..growe well and spring rotes of them selfe. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 545 The same fig trees when they begin to spring leaf and look green. a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 94 A seed which will spring any thing in corrupt minds. 1692 J. Dryden Cleomenes iii. ii. 31 If as we dream, Ægyptian Earth Impregnated with Flame, Sprung the first man. 1812 W. Nicol Gardener's Kalendar (ed. 2) 239 From the established spurs of these trees, wood-buds will often shoot, and whenever they are ascertained to be such, by having sprung a few joints, they should be displaced. 2011 A. Forge Frugavore 72/2 You can throw a rotten tomato into a greenhouse basket and watch it spring tall shoots. †b. transitive. In figurative contexts. Occasionally with up. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1475 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 485 Jff Sporle woode sprynge any syluer ore golde it is my wyll þat fyrst off alle ye [etc.]. 1593 T. Lodge in R. S. Phœnix Nest 49 Striue no more, Forspoken ioyes to spring. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiv. 494 Thy tears can spring no deeds To help thee, nor recall thy son. 1639 P. Massinger Unnaturall Combat iii. iii. sig. G1^v Nor shall the raine of your good counsell fall Upon the barren sands, but spring up fruit. 1695 J. Collier Misc. upon Moral Subj. 67 He that has such a burning Zeal, and springs such mighty Discoveries, must needs be an admirable Patriot. 33. intransitive. To come into existence; to suddenly appear or show signs of life. Also in to spring forth, to spring to life, to spring into being in the same sense. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > [verb (intransitive)] > come into existence awakenc885 waxc888 arisec950 beOE comeOE aspringc1000 atspringOE growOE to come upOE inrisea1300 breedc1385 upspringc1386 takec1391 to come in?c1430 engender?1440 uprise1471 braird?a1500 risea1513 insurde1521 insurge1523 spring1538 to start up1568 exsurge1578 upstart1580 become1605 born1609 1538 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Sarcerius Common Places of Script. f. lxii^v It is lauful to put of violence with violence, & such like, which lawes be sprong forth of the noughty affections of our nature. 1590 R. Hitchcock tr. F. Sansovino Quintesence of Wit f. 38 Affaires spring foorth of affaires, and Time dooth gouerne them. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 334 Mean while The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring New Heav'n and Earth. View more context for this quotation 1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 130 Springs a palace in its stead, But in a distant spot. 1813 T. Busby tr. Lucretius Nature of Things I. i. 1055 Nought that beneath the etherial concave grows, Had sprang to life, or to perfection rose. 1889 H. Zimmern Hansa Towns 92 The middle class sprang into full being..as a link between the nobility and the common people. 1919 Liverpool Jrnl. Commerce 20 Nov. 6/4 Within the past few months regular air post services have sprung into being. 1955 D. Eden Darling Clementine (1959) 8 A bundly shape in the corner moved and sprang to life. 2004 Q Sept. 159/2 Director Eve Wood's superb documentary explores the electronic scene that sprung to life in the Steel City during the late '70s. 34. intransitive. Of a female animal or an animal's udder: to swell with milk. Also (esp. of a cow): to show signs of giving birth, either by a swelling of the udders or a loosening of the pelvic bones. Chiefly English regional in later use. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > [verb (intransitive)] > swell with milk or dry up truss1552 spring1607 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice i. 5 It must be good ground, because it may make your Mares spring with milke. 1714 London Gaz. No. 5233/4 A brown Mare in Foal,..Springs for Foaling, and is 5 Years old. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 281 Two understanding farmers..observed a heifer's udder to spring much. 1819 Amer. Farmer 6 Aug. 149/2 She then springed very quick, and her milk became perfectly sweet and good for a week before she calved. 1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Spring, to relax or become flaccid in the parts about the Barren, or ‘shape’ when the time of calving is drawing close on; of a cow. 1907 Times 25 Feb. 14/3 It will be found that the udder springs a little. 1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Spring, this word is used in relation to the natural falling or relaxation in the hindquarters of a cow preliminary to calving, and to similar symptoms in mares and other animals. 35. intransitive. Of a sect, society, religious order, etc.: to arise or develop from a prominent thinker, or from a school of thought, religion, etc. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > a civilization or culture > be or become a civilization or culture [verb (intransitive)] spring1654 society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > descendant > be descended [verb (intransitive)] > from a society spring1654 1654 P. Heylyn Theologia Veterum iii. v. 432 Reckoning up the Sects which sprang from Luther. 1657 J. Spencer Questions Resol. Unlearned Protestants 57 The Protestant religion, or any sect whatsoever sprung from it. 1700 R. Jenkin Reasonableness & Certainty Christian Relig. (ed. 2) iii. v. 419 The Stoicks first sprang from the Cynicks. 1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 114 The Monophysites [were] a sect which sprung from the Eutychians. 1847 F. Prandi tr. C. Cantù Reform. Europe I. 214 From the Order of the Benedictines there sprang the Maurines. 1912 Catholic Encycl. XV. 761/1 The sect sprang from a Philadelphian society founded at Elberfeld in 1726. 1977 Listener 30 June 866/3 The Fabian Society..sprang from an idealistic society called the Fellowship of the New Life. 2014 J. McHugo Syria v. 180 Alawism springs from Shi'ism and incorporates elements of Neo-Platonism. Phrases P1. to spring one's (also a) rattle: to make a warning noise with a rattle or other implement; to give a warning of danger; (also, of an alarm) to emit a warning noise. Now historical. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [verb (transitive)] > rattle to shake upc1430 clitter1530 berattle1553 rattle1560 rail1770 to spring one's rattle1787 to tirl the sneck1800 1787 World, Fashionable Advertiser 13 Sept. Cooper was impudent, and was going to spring his rattle for being thus molested in his duty. 1812 Ann. Reg., Chron. 26 Mr. Johnston sprung a rattle. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xix. 195 We made him [sc. the rattlesnake] spring his rattle again, and began another attack. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Misadv. J. Nicholson ii. 4 He heard the alarm spring its rattle in the lower story. 1916 Times 8 Dec. 4/5 (advt.) In the silence of the night he hears the top-hatted policeman spring his rattle. 2009 C. Emsley Great Brit. Bobby i. 17 He quickly struggled to his feet, sprung his rattle and set off in pursuit of the man carrying the bundle. P2. to spring into action: to act with speed, suddenness, or alacrity after being still or inert. Also figurative. ΚΠ 1820 J. H. B. Mountain Serm. Death Late Majesty 15 If a hand were raised to insult him, ten thousand arms sprung into action. 1841 Life & Times T. Cranmer 3/1 The power of being virtuous..comes in the form of conscience and principle, and, cherished, springs into action. 1940 A. F. Harlow Paper Chase xii. 206 The cheat and the fakir always spring into action under such circumstances. 1989 L. Zolf Scorpions for Sale x. 59 Bronfman's people in Winnipeg, who had studiously ignored Shtarker and his attacks, now sprung into action. 2012 Independent 28 Feb. 27/3 One enterprising user sprung into action and started the feed @AngiesRightLeg. P3. colloquial. where did you (also he, she, etc.) spring from? and variants: addressed to a person who has appeared suddenly or unexpectedly. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] > at appearance hey or high jingo!1670 speak (also talk) of the devil1738 where did you (also he, she, etc.) spring from?1892 1833 London Lit. Gaz. 21 Dec. 804/3 Where did you spring from, colonel? 1892 I. Zangwill Children of Ghetto III. ii. vi. 109 ‘Hullo! where did you spring from?’ It was Raphael who had elicited the exclamation. He suddenly loomed upon the party. 1924 P. G. Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith ix. 181 ‘Wherever,’ she inquired, ‘did you spring from, Ed?’ 1973 D. Coltman tr. R. Merle Malevil vi. 152 Where did she spring from, I'd like to know. 2014 B. T. Bradford Cavendon Hall i. 4 You startled me. Where did you spring from, Genevra? P4. to spring a leak. a. Nautical. To have a leak open or start in a vessel. Also figurative. Cf. sense 9b(b). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > let out > through a leak > have or make a leak open to spring a leak1623 1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine iii. ii. sig. G3^v He hath sprung a leake too, Or I'me cousen'd. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 17 In an hours time, we were got off, without springing the least leak. a1721 M. Prior Vicar of Bray & Sir T. More in Wks. (1907) II. 252 You would not have stopped that part of the Ship where the Leak was sprung. 1790 Analyt. Rev. Apr. 402 The bark..struck the vessel, which sprung a leak. 1804 Naval Chron. 12 146 She lost her rudder, sprung a leak, and was obliged to throw her guns overboard. 1894 Times (Weekly ed.) 2 Feb. 91/3 After she left Swansea she sprang a leak. 1927 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 62/1 ‘Blamed if the old craft ain't sprung a leak again!’ muttered Captain Home. 2005 Daily Tel. 17 Oct. 13/1 We saw from the clouds there would be gale-force winds from the south-east. Then the boat sprang a leak. b. To urinate. slang. ΚΠ 1839 W. McNally Evils & Abuses Naval & Merchant Service 119 A very pretty Spanish girl..swung over the hammocks suspended from the main yard, at which she was so excited as to spring a le— (I almost said it). 1995 J. Houston Confessions Igloo Dweller i. 10 I was given a battered enamel mug full of hot tea... That soon drove me outside, for I desperately needed to spring a leak. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). springv.² Brit. /sprɪŋ/, U.S. /sprɪŋ/ Inflections: Past tense and past participle sprung, springed; Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spring n.¹ Etymology: < spring n.¹The past tense and past participle form sprung in senses 1 and 2a (the only current sense) is apparently by analogy with the inflection of spring v.¹ (perhaps by association with spring v.¹ 32 and spring v.¹ 19, respectively); with sense 2a compare also sprung adj.² The past tense and past participle form springed (which is expected for a verb converted from a noun) is also attested in most senses, although in sense 2a it is the less common form. Individual senses. With sense 2a compare earlier springed adj. (derived directly from the noun). With sense 3 compare earlier summer v.¹ 1 and winter v. 1. †1. transitive. To allow (ground containing stumps of felled trees) to produce new shoots. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [verb (transitive)] > allow to send up shoots spring1690 respring1785 1690 L. Dobson Let. 11 June in E. Bateson Hist. Northumberland (1895) II. 259 I have ordered the workmen to hedg in two acres of ground allready sprung 2 yards high... I shall spring more if you require it. 2. a. transitive. To equip with one or more springs or devices which act in a similar manner to springs; esp. (in later use) to equip a vehicle with suspension. Cf. sprung adj.² 1. Somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > make pliable [verb (transitive)] > give elasticity to > provide with spring(s) steel-spring1778 spring1905 1821 Philos. Mag. 57 315 In this case no master would be entitled to credit for his chronometers, as it is the general practice to employ workmen to spring them. 1905 Automobile Topics 27 May 491 (Cent. Dict. Suppl.) Having learned to properly spring horse-drawn and railway carriages. 2001 tr. J. Reimpell et al. Automotive Chassis v. 345 Cylindrical torsion bars made of round steel are used to spring the body and as anti-roll bars. †b. transitive. To motivate, inspire (a person); to give spring or elasticity to (a thing). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > make pliable [verb (transitive)] > give elasticity to spring1843 1843 E. Jones Stud. Sensation & Event 115 To measureless action spring'd by her in a moment. 1875 F. J. Bird Dyer's Hand-bk. 54 The wool will come out of this bath rather dirty and grey-looking. In order to spring it, it must be put as quickly as possible into water. †3. intransitive. To pass or spend the season of spring; (of an animal) to find or receive sufficient food and shelter during the spring. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > year > season > [verb (intransitive)] > pass the spring, summer, or winter winterc1384 summer1440 aestivate1623 perhiemate1623 summerize1797 hibernate1816 spring1835 December1845 overwinter1895 1835 Fraser's Mag. 11 507 Every third man has wintered at Naples, springed at Vienna. 1885 Canad. Bee Jrnl. 3 June 155 All [sc. the bees] wintered well and are springing well. 1907 J. G. Millais Newfoundland viii. 178 Humpbacks appear to spring in the northern waters, and often come close in shore. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹OEn.²c1450n.³1578v.¹eOEv.²1690
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