▪ I. sprain, n.
(spreɪn)
Also 7 sprein.
[prob. f. sprain v.]
1. A severe wrench or twist of the ligaments or muscles of a joint, causing pain and swelling of the part. Also fig.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 334 The ioints if they haue gotten a sprein by any rush, find remedy by the dung of bore or sow, if it be laid to hot in a linnen cloth. 1603 ― Plutarch's Mor. 124 Anger..resembleth not..the sinewes of the soule, but is like rather to their stretching spreines and..convulsions. 1677 Temple Cure of Gout Misc. (1680) 202, I confest I was in pain, and thought it was with some sprain at Tennis. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Sprain, a violent contortion or wrestling of the Tendons of the Muscles. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertues Anecd. Paint. (1786) V. 219 He contracted a great lameness from a sprain. 1829 Scott Anne of G. ix, He still feels the sprain which he received in his spring after yonder chamois. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 383/1 The treatment to be adopted for sprains is the immediate application of leeches. 1882 ‘Edna Lyall’ Donovan xx, ‘Only a sprain, I think,’ he answered, faintly. |
2. Without article: The condition of being sprained.
| 1805 Med. Jrnl. XIV. 459 Dr. Kinglake's last argument..remains to be examined, the analogy of common sprain to gout. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 174 It is not easily met when it is present as the vague condition called sprain of the back. |
▪ II. sprain, v.1
(spreɪn)
Also 7 sprein.
[Of doubtful origin. Connexion with OF. espreign-, espreindre to squeeze out, is not clear.]
1. trans. To wrench or twist (a part of the body) so as to cause pain or difficulty in moving.
| 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 101, I was loath to kicke and fling against it, lest..I might loosen my lading,..if not spraine, and hurt my selfe. 1667 Pepys Diary 14 July, I, by leaping down the little bank,..did sprain my right foot, which brought me great present pain. 1673 Coles God's Sov. i. 24 By over-grasping we may sprain our Hands, and unfit 'em for Service otherwise within their compass. 1716 Gay Trivia i. 38 The sudden Turn may stretch the swelling Vein, The cracking Joint unhinge, or Ankle sprain. 1804 Med. Jrnl. XII. 503 The Rev. Mr. Smith..sprained his ancle, and treated it as a sprain with cold applications. 1816 A. C. Hutchison Pract. Obs. Surg. (1826) 174 In this very dock-yard..a man complained of having sprained his loins. 1861 Reade Cloister & H. III. 134 He would see my leg. It was sprained sore, and swelled at the ankle. |
| fig. 1641 Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 51 These devout Prelates..for these many years have not ceas't in their Pulpits wrinching, and spraining the text. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xix. 204 And would it not have wrench'd and sprain'd his soul with short turning? |
2. to sprain one's ankle: (of a woman) to be seduced (and become pregnant); to lose one's virginity. euphem. Obs. exc. Hist.
| 1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue s.v. Ankle, a girl who is got with child, is said to have sprained her ankle. 1940 M. Sadleir Fanny by Gaslight i. 286 ‘I suppose you are still—still a ―.’.. ‘I suppose you mean, have I sprained my ankle yet?’ |
Hence sprained ppl. a.; ˈspraining vbl. n.1
| 1606 Bp. W. Barlow Serm. 21 Sept. B ij, To heale the infected, to splint the spreined. 1675 Woolley Gentlew. Comp. 31 Fops will venture the spraining of their tongues. 1849 R. T. Claridge Cold Water Cure 132 Sprained Shoulder.—A patient fell down an ice-berg and severely bruised his shoulder. 1875 W. S. Hayward Love agst. World 97 Who ever heard of any one going to bed for a sprained ankle. |
▪ III. sprain, v.2 Now rare or Obs.
Also 5 spreyne.
[app. a back-formation from spreynd(e, spreynt(e, pa. tense and pple. of sprenge v.]
trans. † a. To sprinkle. b. Agric. To sow (seeds, etc.) with the hand. Hence ˈspraining vbl. n.2
| c 1440 Palladius on Husb. xi. 161 That spryngith soone yf aysel on hem reyne—I mene on hem al light yf hit me spreyne. |
| 1750 W. Ellis Mod. Husb. I. i. 51 The other had a Seeds⁓man to sprain his pease in every Thorough or Furrow. 1763 Museum Rust. I. 261 A seeds-man carries them in a box, and sprains them thinly out of his hand. 1799 [A. Young] Agric. Linc. 130 On other lands he sprains in the seed by hand, in every third furrow. 1847 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. i. 62 The seed is sown under the furrow in the ‘spraining’ method; one seedsman to two ploughs. |