▪ I. springing, vbl. n.1
(ˈsprɪŋɪŋ)
[f. spring v.1]
I. 1. a. The action, on the part of seeds, plants, etc., of sprouting or growing.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9927 It castes lem ouer al sa bright..Alsros þat es als in springing. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love ii. i. (Skeat) l. 89 The seed of suche springinge in al places..shulde ben sowe. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 142 The wyntyr helpyth to the Spryngynge and the bourgynge of naturall thyngis. 1568 Withals Dict. 2/1 The spryngynge of the leafe, germinatio. 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. iii. 5 Their time of springing, flowring and fading. 1611 Bible Ps. lxv. 10 Thou makest it soft with showres, thou blessest the springing thereof. 1633 Fletcher Purple Isl. xii. xiii, Successive storms..The timely yeare in its first springings kill. 1730 Bailey (fol.), Germination, a springing, sprouting, or budding forth. 1889 Ruskin Præterita III. 41, I gathered what wild flowers were in their first springing. |
| transf. and fig. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. A ij, To nothing is graunted a perpetuall springing. 1653 Binning Serm. (1845) 310 How many souls are choked..in the very Springing, by the thorns of the Cares of this World. |
b. With
up, in
fig. use.
| 1538 Starkey England i. i. 15 Excepte ther be joynyd some gud prouysyon for theyr spryngyng vp and gud culture, they schal neuer bryng forth theyr frute. 1587 Golding De Mornay xxxiii. (1592) 531 Eyther the springing vp of Religion is vpon some great Coniunction,..or els at the springing vp therof [etc.]. 1620–51 I. Jones Stone-Heng (1725) 11 Upon the first springing up of Christian Religion here. 1653 H. More Moral Cabbala iv. ii. 29 The sundry Germinations and Springings up of the works of Righteousness in him are a delectable Paradise to him. |
2. † a. The first appearance, the rise or dawn,
of the day, etc.
Obs.| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 3562 Out ate ȝeate þey rydeþ ryȝt, In þe sprynggyng of þe day. 1382 Wyclif Job iii. 9 The springing of the risende morwetid. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 66 To knowe þe sterynge of þe firmament and þe firste risynge or spryngynge of þe signes. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 22, That..every artificer and laborer be at ther werke in the springing of the day. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. I. 25 The Springing of the Morning. |
b. The beginning, the early part, of the year, etc.;
† the season of spring.
| a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxxiii. 248 In the spryngynge of somer.., Odo, byssop of Bayou,..was delyuered out of pryson by William Conquerour. a 1645 Strode Poet. Wks. (1907) 123 Mourne, mourne, yee lovers: sadly singing Love hath his Winter, and no springing. 1889 Baring-Gould & Sheppard Songs West 35 (E.D.D.), 'Twas in the springing of the year, In eighteen hundred two. |
† c. The increase or waxing of the moon.
Obs.| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 218 In spryngynge of the mone [L. crescente luna] is best to sowe. Ibid. iii. 375 While the mone is in spryngyng. |
d. With
up: (see
quot.).
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Tete de vent, the rising, or springing-up of a breeze. |
† 3. Origin, source.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xlix. 19 Ouer alle lif in the springyng [L. origine] of Adam. c 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 60 Blode is norischyng of al membrez,..and al haþ bigynnyng or spryngyng of blode. |
4. The action of rising or flowing out of the ground.
| c 1420 Brut ccxxiv. 292 In wynter þere arose suche a sprynggynge and wellinge op of wateres and floodes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 471/1 Spryngynge, of a welle or oþer waxynge watyr. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 46 There is a fountaine..which, according to the springing and issuing forth out of this or that place, signifyeth the change in the price of corne. 1738 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 2) III. 190 This Derwent is famous for its springing out of those Hills called Derwent Fells. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xli, Knowledge, from its secret source enchants Young hearts with the fresh music of its springing. |
5. a. The action of leaping or bounding.
| c 1590 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 199 And after supper they did make good sporte With dauncing and springing. 1611 Cotgr., Grouillis,..the springing of a child in the wombe. 1898 Watts-Dunton Aylwin xv. i, She recalled..my springing up and running to the mass of débris and looking round it. |
b. Resilient or elastic movement or force.
| 1680 Moxon Mech. Exerc. x. 187 The springing up of the Pole makes an intermission in the running about of the work. 1831 J. Holland Manuf. Metal I. 339 The springing of a saw is often regarded..as a certain proof of its quality. 1841 Browning Pippa Passes Poems (1905) 181 As I walk There's springing and melody and giddiness. 1889 Science-Gossip XXV. 271 There being no pressure there is no danger of ‘springing’ when the clips are removed. |
6. The action of cracking or giving way.
| c 1595 [see spending vbl. n. 4]. 1623 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1908) II. 228 Some soddaine leake by the springing of a butt head. 1805 Naval Chron. XIII. 344 The springing of her mast. |
7. a. Arch. = spring n.1 20.
| 1703 [see skew v.2 5]. 1735 J. Price Stone-Br. Thames 7 Up to the springing of the Arches. 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 16 The middle Arch is 26 Feet high from the springing. 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §1105 Elliptical arches to be put across.., with neat wood impost mouldings at the springings. a 1878 Sir G. Scott Lect. Archit. (1879) I. 54 The first idea for obviating it was to lower the springing of the vault. |
b. The point of growth from the trunk.
| 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 571 The wood is stronger in the middle of the trunk than at the springing of the branches. 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. 35 Those parts of wood described as curls, are the result of the confused filling in of the space between the forks, or the springings of the branches. |
8. (See
quot.)
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 445 About a fortnight before the time of reckoning, symptoms of calving indicate themselves in the cow... These symptoms are called springing in England, and the heifers which exhibit them are springers. |
II. † 9. The action of sprinkling.
Obs.| 1388 Wyclif 1 Pet. i. 2 Bi obedience, and springyng of the blood of Jhesu Crist. c 1400 Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) VII. App. 522 There came a ȝonglinge with a golden chalys ful of water, and aqueynt the stronge heete wit springinge of water. |
10. a. The action of causing a mine to explode.
| 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Wars 287 At the springing of that Mine, Bodies of Men might have been seen hovering piece-meal in the Air. 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4544/2 The Governor..is said to have been killed by the springing of the great Mine. 1785 Burke Sp. Nabob Arcot's Debts Wks. 1842 I. 343 The assignees of his debt, who little expected the springing of this mine,..thought it best to take ground on the real state of the transaction. 1848 Dickens Dombey lv, The springing of his mine upon himself. 1882 Hamley Traseaden Hall II. 166 An important step..was the springing some heavily charged mines. |
b. The action of causing a rattle to sound.
| 1813 Hor. Smith Horace in London 115 What a discord of bugles and bells, What whistling, and springing of rattles! 1845 Ann. Reg. 78/1 He heard the breaking of glass and the springing of the policeman's rattle. |
11. The action of causing a bird to rise.
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 108 ¶4 The springing of a Pheasant. 1883 Cent. Mag. Aug. 402 Often, the best of markers will be baffled in finding the birds..after the springing of the covey. |
12. The action of bringing suddenly
on one.
| 1888 Smalley London Lett. I. 227 The springing of the Home Rule Bill on the Liberal party by Mr. Gladstone. |
III. 13. attrib. and
Comb. † a. springing-time,
= spring-time 1.
Obs.| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 65 Þe ȝates of Caspij beeþ..in springyng tyme faste i-barred for serpentes and addres. 1398 ― Barth. De P.R. xvii. ii. (Bodl. MS.), Treen þat nedeþ to be sette beþ moste in springinge tyme..for temporat heete and moisture. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 374 This eyther craft for spryngyng tyme is born. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xx. 29 Whan the Spryngyng tyme began. a 1533 ― Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) B, The fruites in the spryngyng tyme haue not the vertue to gyue sustenaunce. |
b. In sense 7 a, as
springing course,
springing-high adj.,
springing-line,
springing plate,
springing-point,
springing stone,
springing wall.
| 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 114 The..Piers..you may begin upon the Platform... But it would do best to begin them on the *springing Course. 1842 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Springing Course, the horizontal course of stones, from which an arch springs or rises. 1883 Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Rlwy. 5 When stone imposts or springing courses are used, the stones are always to be equal to the full thickness of the arch. |
| 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 48 We compleatly finished the North Pier, *springing high. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., *Springing-line,..the line from which an arch rises. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. II. 251 The boundary line or lines of the intrados..are called springing lines of an arch. |
| 1853 J. Nicholson's Operat. Mechanic 801 The masonry of the North Abutment is fifteen feet thick at the *Springing Plate. |
| 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. I. 297/2 This may be said to be the *springing-point of the arches. |
| Ibid., The pier..is surmounted by a cap, or *springing stone. |
| 1838 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. I. 151/1 The thickness of the *springing walls is two bricks, the arch one and a half brick. |
c. Misc., as
springing-board,
springing faculty,
springing power,
springing tool.
| 1846 Geo. Eliot Let. 29 Oct. (1954) I. 224, I do not know whether I can get up any steam again in the subject... I must have the book as a *springing-board. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society (new ed.) 82 To whom a mere word serves as the springing-board from which to rise to new trains of thought. |
| 1698 Petiver in Phil. Trans. XX. 397 A peculiar species I..call Snap-Beetles, from their elastick or *springing Faculty. |
| 1839 Darwin Voy. Nat. ii. (1879) 31, I amused myself one day by observing the *springing powers of this insect. |
| 1846 Holtzapffel Turning II. 536 The finishing or hanging tools,..called also *springing tools, which are made of various curves and degrees of strength, yield to these small accidental motions. |
▪ II. ˈspringing, vbl. n.2 [f. spring n.1 22 or v.2] The process of providing with a spring or springs. Also, the state or quality of a set of springs; hence, the suspension of a vehicle.
| 1899 N. & Q. 17 June 479/2 A practical work on the springing and adjusting of watches. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 14 Nov. 9/2 Additional smoothness in running has been secured by certain modifications in the springing. 1952 Times 19 Aug. 11/6 The springing gives a comfortable ride for the passengers. 1978 Lancashire Life Apr. 141/1 The springing is quite soft, so it soaks up the bumps. |
▪ III. ˈspringing, ppl. a. [f. spring v.1] 1. a. Of plants, etc.: Sprouting, growing. Also in
fig. context.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 35 So semly a sede moȝt fayly not, Þat spryngande spycez vp ne sponne. 1513 Douglas æneid xii. Prol. 90 The spray bysprent with spryngand sproutis dispers. 1592 Soliman & Pers. v. iv, Ah, Perseda, how shall I mourne for thee? Faire springing Rose, ill pluckt before thy time. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 417 If springing things by anie iot diminisht, They wither in their prime. 1631 P. Fletcher Piscatory Eclog. vii. xix, The starres [change] their courses, flowers their springing pride. 1694 Prior Hymn to the Sun ii, As His Infant Months bestow Springing Wreaths for William's Brow. 1707 Curios. Husb. 208 These springing Leaves require Nourishment. 1743 Francis tr. Hor., Odes v. xvi. 62 Nor heats excessive burn the springing grain. 1829 Lytton Disowned 17 A glimpse of the green sward, and springing flowers, of a small garden. 1891 Science-Gossip XXVII. 66 When the air grows soft on the springing corn we need no longer sigh over the hidden fate of Romulus. |
b. fig. Coming into existence; beginning to develop; rising; just appearing or commencing.
| 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Tim. 5, I persecuted the springing glory of the Gospel. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. iii. §2 Prophecies..are not fulfilled punctually at once, but haue springing and germinant accomplishment. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 92 This little child..had so many springing graces..that she promised ere long to be a Paragon of beauty. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. 1. 12 Neither did he..cultivate his springing fortune with an assiduity and diligence unbecoming his Spirit, and Blood. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 796 These rites to piety and grief discharged, The friendly gods a springing gale enlarged. 1781 Cowper Ep. Prot. Lady 32 Sudden sorrow nips their springing joys. 1821 Shelley Hellas 56 Thermopylae and Marathon Caught..The springing Fire. |
c. fig. Of youth, or of persons in respect of this.
| 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Feb. 52, I scorne thy skill, That wouldest me, my springing youngth to spil. 1592 G. Harvey Four Lett. Wks. (Grosart) I. 219, I speake generally to euery springing wit. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 200 In his springing yeeres hee suckt the sweet milk of good learning. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. §1 Her person was young, her yeers florid and springing. 1822 Lamb Elia i. Decay Beggars, The Blind Beggar..seated..with his more fresh and springing daughter by his side. |
d. Characterized by growth.
| 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. 108 You may spend here with us, one of these warm and Springing Winters, laden with Roses. |
2. Rising or flowing out of the ground. Also in
fig. context.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 528 Quhare a fare sted was, enhournyt with treis sere, & spryngand wellis. 1483 Cath. Angl. 356/2 Spryngynge, scaturiens. c 1490 R. Kemerston in Itin. W. de Worcester (1778) 355 The water of Dee begynneth at a springynge welle in a hille side. 1535 Coverdale Lev. xiv. 5 He shall take the lyuynge byrde with the Ceder wodd,..and dyppe them in the bloude of the slaine byrde vpon the springynge water. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 97 Thow springand well of vice. 1635 Swan Spec. M. vi. §2 (1643) 196 The differing qualitie of springing waters. 1704 Trapp Abra-Mulé i. i, The springing Fountains of my Eyes. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. viii. (1858) 330 Pella, so called by the Macedonian Greeks from the springing fountain. |
3. Coming into view; dawning.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 1 And Titan..Gan cleare the deawy ayre with springing light. 1648 Crashaw Poems (1904) 144 Taint not the pure streames of the springing Day. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. (1848) 174 Among all Birds.., scarce any give so early and so sweet a welcome to the Springing day. |
4. Resilient, elastic.
| 1667 Phil. Trans. II. 440 A springing wire C, with a bended end F. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Sounding, At a little Distance is a piece of Lead or Stone fix'd, by means of a springing Wire. 1743 Francis tr. Hor., Odes v. ii. 35 He sets the springing snare, To catch the stranger crane, or timorous hare. 1894 J. Burroughs Locusts & Wild H. 128 A luxurious couch of boughs upon springing poles was prepared. |
5. That springs, leaps, or bounds.
| c 1760 Smollett Ode Leven-Water 13 The springing trout in speckled pride. 1803 Shaw Gen. Zool. IV. ii. 623 Springing Gurnard, Trigla Evolans. 1836–9 Todd's Cycl. Anat. II. 861/2 Elateridæ, or springing-beetles, which are commonly known in their state of larvæ, as the wire-worm. |
6. Of movement, etc.: Characterized by leaping or resilience.
| 1674 Sir W. Petty (title), Discourse..concerning the use of duplicate proportion..with a new hypothesis of springing or elastique motions. 1810 Scott Lady of L. iii. xiii, With short and springing footstep pass The trembling bog and false morass. 1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.E. Africa 439 The bull..went off at once into a springing gallop. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 901 A centre concerned with the co-ordination of springing movements in the legs. |
7. Of cows or heifers: Near to calving.
| 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2898/4 The red was a Springing Cow, with a small star in the Forehead. 1856 Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 726/1 Springing (Warwicks.), applied to heifers in calf; beginning to show signs of milk. |
8. Law.
= contingent a. 9.
| 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 334 Herein these, which are called contingent or springing, uses differ from an executory devise. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 274 A springing or shifting use cannot be defeated or destroyed by a fine levied of the estate out of which such springing or shifting use is to arise. Ibid. VI. 504 If this springing trust, to arise on the contingency of a marriage, was good, why should not the springing trust in the present case be equally good. 1845 Williams Real Prop. (1877) 290 Executory interests created under the Statute of Uses are called springing or shifting uses. |
9. Rising in, or forming, a curve.
| 1799 [A. Young] Agric. Linc. 358 The hind quarters so corresponding, with a springing rib, as to form an oval. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 579 It is required to find the curvature of the springing ribs. 1872 Shipley Gloss. Eccl. Terms 263 That stone in an arch which is equally distant from its springing extremities. |
10. Causing game-birds to rise.
| 1725 D. Eaton Let. 13 July (1971) 30 Mr. Joseph Lynwood..considering..that he had better mind other business than shooting (for they were all springing spaniels), hang'd three of them of his own accord. 1842 Prichard Nat. Hist. Man 72 Well-bred and well⁓taught springing spaniels were abundant. |
Hence
ˈspringingly adv.| 1837 Verlander Vestal, etc. 76 The barb steps not so springingly upon his native plain. 1891 Meredith One of our Conq. I. xiii. 251 The thought was tonic for an instant and illuminated him springingly. |