▪ I. spring, n.1
(sprɪŋ)
Forms: 1, 3– spring, 2, 4–7 springe; 1, 4–6 spryng(e, 3–4 sprung, 4 sprenge, 6 spreng.
[OE. spring and spryng masc., formed respectively from the primary and weak grades of the stem spring-, sprang-, sprung-: see spring v., from which a number of the later senses are directly derived.
In the OE. the simple word is comparatively rare, chiefly occurring in senses which have not survived. Sense 1 (more common in the combs. ǽ- and wyllspring, -spryng) is also that of OS. aha-, gispring, MDu. (Du.) and MLG. spring (MLG. and Du. dial. spreng), OHG. (MHG. and G. dial.) spring, sprung. In sense 13 the equivalent forms are MSw. and Da. spring, OHG. (MHG. and G.), MLG. and MSw. sprung, MDu. (Du. and WFris.), G. dial., sprong, MLG. (LG.), MSw. sprang (Sw. språng).]
I. 1. The place of rising or issuing from the ground, the source or head, of a well, stream, or river; the supply of water forming such a source. Now rare.
| 816 in Birch Cartul. Saxon. (1885) I. 495 æt þæs bernes ende æt ðæs wæ teres sprynge. a 1300 Cursor M. 1314 In middes þe land he sagh a spring Of a well. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiv. xxxi. (Bodl. MS.), In þeese hiȝe mounteyns is snowe alwey,..and heedes and springes of welles and of greete ryuers. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 470 Sprynge, of a welle, scaturigo, scatebra. 1535 Coverdale 2 Esdras xiii. 47 Y⊇ Hyest shall holde styll the sprynges of the streame agayne. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 4 Great riuers, whose mouthes are knowne, but not their springs. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies ii. iv. 88 At what time it is Summer in Egypt,..then is it winter at the springes of Nile. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Wars 293 The Springs of the Well [might be] stopped, or at least intercepted. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Tides, So that entering the Mouths of Rivers, it [sc. the sea] drives back the River-waters towards their Heads, or Springs. 1815 Shelley Alastor 478 The sound Of the sweet brook that from the secret springs Of that dark fountain rose. |
2. a. A flow of water rising or issuing naturally out of the earth; a similar flow obtained by boring or other artificial means.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 581 Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede. a 1300 Cursor M. 11699 Vnder þi rote þar es a spring, I wil þat vte þe water wring. c 1325 Chron. Eng. 191 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 278 In four sprunges the tonnes liggeth. Ibid. 195 The tuo sprunges urneth yfere. c 1420 Contin. Brut ccxxiv. 292 Þere arose a suche a..wellinge op of wateres and floodes, bothe of þe see and also of fresshe ryvers & spryngez, þat [etc.]. 1483 Cath. Angl. 356 A Sprynge of water, scatebra, scatirigo. 1570 Dee Math. Pref. d j b, Being a Spring, standing, or running Water. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xxi. 58 A faire fountain..either of a natural spring or artificial. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 497 There are two little Springs, the one fresh, the other somewhat brackish. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 386 It has also some Springs of good Water. 1732 Pope Ess. Man i. 137 For me, Health gushes from a thousand springs. 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 150 If there are springs in all places,..it will be necessary to make drains at the sides. 1812 Playfair Nat. Phil. I. 285 Springs, in which the water does not considerably change its heat from one season of the year to another. 1855 Orr's Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat. 200 At Vaucluse, there is a spring of water yielding from thirteen to forty thousand cubic feet..per minute. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 25 Springs of this simple character, which issue at the junction of permeable and impermeable strata, are extremely common. |
| fig. c 1440 Jacob's Well 2 Þanne delve doun..tyl þou fynde vij sprynges of watyr of grace. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. i. 72 Kennell,..whose filth and dirt Troubles the siluer Spring, where England drinkes. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 18 Streames of bloud did rayle Adowne, as if their springs of life were spent. 1696 Tate & Brady Ps. cxliii. 10 From Mercy's healing Spring Revive me. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 408 An ancient Legend I prepare to sing, And upward follow Fame's immortal Spring. 1751 Chatham Lett. Nephew ii. 7 Drink as deep as you can of these divine springs [sc. Homer and Virgil]. 1771 Encycl. Brit. I. 644 When old age approaches,..the springs of life dry up. 1818 Keats Endym. ii. 738 And then there ran Two bubbling springs of talk from their sweet lips. 1851 Maurice Patriarchs & Lawg. vii. (1855) 145 That he should open springs in hearts hitherto ice-bound! |
b. A flow of water possessing special properties,
esp. of a medicinal or curative nature. Usually with various distinguishing
adjs., as
chalybeate,
hot,
mineral,
thermal,
warm, etc.
| 1787 Phil. Trans. LXXVIII. 187 About two leagues to the east of this mass I discovered a brackish mineral spring. 1800 [see thermal a. 1]. 1819 Warden United States II. 176 The sweet springs, another mineral water. Ibid., At the distance of a mile are the red springs, which, like the former, have a tonic or bracing quality. 1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall, etc. xv. 517 Chalybeate springs are very common. 1847 H. Miller First Impr. Eng. xi. (1857) 189 The underground history of the mineral springs of Great Britain. 1850 Johnston's Gen. Gazetteer, Bath, The hot springs..are saline and chalybeate. |
c. pl. A place or locality having such springs to which invalids or pleasure-seekers resort.
| 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 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. 1859 Saxe Poems (1872) 239 Pray, what do they do at the Springs? |
d. transf. A jet or spray of water.
rare—1.
| 1818 Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 111 All appeared silence and desolation; neither the grands nor petits eaux threw up their diamond springs in the sunshine. |
3. fig. A source or origin
of something. Also
occas. without
const. a. Predicated of persons or personifications.
| a 1225 Juliana 50 Of al þat uuel iþe world..ich am an of þe sprunges, þat hit mest of springeð. c 1410 Hoccleve Mother of God 88 Of al vertu, thow art the spryng & welle! 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 1710 Þouȝ he [Ovid] of poetis was þe spring & welle. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xliii. (Percy Soc.) 212 And thus I, Fame, am ever magnified,..The spryng of honour and of famous clarkes. 1605 Shakes. Macb. ii. iii. 103 Macb. The Spring, the Head, the Fountaine of your Blood Is stopt... Macd. Your Royall Father's murther'd. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T. John i. 9 As the Lord and Spring of Nature, he giveth all men their Intellectual Natural Light. 1709 Watts Hymn 1 My God, the Spring of all my Joys, The Life of my Delights. 1876 Morris æneid xii. 166 Father æneas, spring of the Roman weal. |
b. In general use.
| 1523 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 30 Suche yerely reuenues and wellyng spryngges as [read of] treasure as shuld..be browght into this Realme. 1550 W. Lynne Carion's Cron. 1 That commaundement of God is the springe and beginninge of all lawes. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 73 Theare mount Ide resteth, thee springe of progenye Troian. 1612 Sylvester Tropheis Hen. Gt. cv, This noble Spirit doth to his Spring re-mount, This Bounties Flood retireth to his Fount. 1719 W. Wood Surv. Trade 193, I have discoursed on the African Trade, by reason it is the Spring and Parent whence the others flow. 1730 Chamberlayne Relig. Philos. Dedic., The Gothic, the common Spring of all the Western Languages of Europe. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. v. 516 It was not one spring alone of dissension which distracted the government of Madras. 1892 Westcott Gospel of Life 106 Language reveals the deepest springs of thought. |
4. attrib. and
Comb., as
spring-level,
spring-nymph,
spring pond,
spring-vein;
spring-fed,
spring watered adjs.;
spring-branch U.S., a brook or stream fed by or flowing directly from a spring;
spring-hole N.Amer. = spring-pit;
spring-house N.Amer., an outhouse built over a spring or stream and used as a larder, dairy, etc.;
spring-keeper U.S. (see
quot.);
spring-pit, a hole or cavity formed by a spring where it issues or rises;
spring-salt (see
quot.);
spring-teller, one who finds springs by dowsing, etc.;
spring-tooth (in allusion to
Judges xv. 19).
| 1823 Amer. State Papers: Public Lands (U.S. Congr.) (1834) III. 811 One hundred [acres] on Sweet *spring branch, St. Mary's river. 1851 Mayne Reid Scalp Hunt. xxvi. 191 Deer and antelopes came to the spring-branch to drink. |
| 1848 Buckley Iliad 136 He came to *spring-fed Ida. 1883 Cent. Mag. Sept. 651 These ponds are, of course, spring-fed. |
| 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 329 Keep her a few days in a pool or *spring-hole. 1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wildfowl. xi. 171 The mallards..roosting in the small spring⁓holes and creeks. 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. |
| 1797 F. Baily Tour (1856) 433 This subterraneous cavity would afford an excellent convenience for a *spring house. 1894 Outing XXIV. 382/2 To see her at her best was at the butter-making down at the old spring⁓house. 1933 H. Allen Anthony Adverse ii. 26 A fresh cheese cool from the spring house, and a firm, white loaf caught in a silver clamp provided with a small steel saw in the shape of a dragon's head with teeth amused Maria. 1972 E. Wigginton Foxfire Bk. 207 Roll the sausage into balls, pack them in a churn jar..and set in the water trough in your spring house. 1980 Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel 6 Apr. c4/5 He also said, ‘Milk kept in the springhouse will blink and sometimes clabber during a severe thunderstorm or toad-strangler.’ |
| 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 438 *Spring-keeper, a salamander, or small lizard-shaped animal, found in springs and fresh water rivulets. |
| 1895 Mrs. Wilson 5 Yrs. India 261 It costs a large sum to make a well where the *spring-level is so deep. |
| 1897 Edin. Rev. Apr. 458 The Danaid *spring-nymphs had to carry water in a sieve to prove their virginity. |
| 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. |
| 1711 Lond. Gaz. No. 4887/4 All well water'd with *Spring Ponds. |
| 1799 J. Girvin Impolicy prohib. Export. Rock Salt 5 Salt is very properly distinguished by Mineralogists into Fossile-Salt, *Spring-Salt, and Sea-Salt. |
| 1871 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 56 The method used by the ‘*spring-tellers’ or ‘water-finders’ was simple enough. |
| 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. 172, I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampsons tune... But the *spring-tooth in the iawe, will do vs no harme. |
| 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 402 As for *spring-veines there are none to bee found. |
| 1884 Mag. Art March 215/2 The velvety green of *spring-watered field-plots. |
II. 5. The action or time of rising or springing into being or existence:
a. The appearing or coming on, the first sign,
of day, morning, etc.; the dawn. Also, the beginning of a season.
Fairly common from
c 1380 to
c 1600; now
Obs. exc. poet. Cf. day-spring and
OE. up-spring.
| 13.. K. Alis. 3586 (Bodl. MS.), For riȝth in þe dayes sprynge Tolomeus on hem com fleiȝeynge. 1382 Wyclif 1 Macc. v. 30 It is maad in spryng of the day, whanne thei reysiden her eeȝen. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §6 To knowe the spring of the dawing and the ende of the euenyng. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour I vj b, At the sprynge of the daye they were at the monument. c 1530 Tindale Jonas iv. C viij, The lorde ordeyned a worme agenst the springe of y⊇ morow morninge. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 323 To the intent at the springe of the daye..they might invade the City. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. ii. i. 82 Neuer since the middle Summers spring Met we. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. ix. 26 It came to passe about the spring of the day. 1623 Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Ded., Thou..shalt..Extend thy fame from Set to Spring of day. 1842 Tennyson St. Sim. Styl. 108, I, 'tween the spring and downfall of the light, Bow down one thousand and two hundred times. |
† b. spring of the leaf, the time when trees begin to burst into leaf again.
Obs.| 1538 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 98 Whiche I thynke shalbe about the spryng of the lefe. 1670 J. Smith Eng. Improv. Reviv'd 31 A good Labouring man may ditch and quick-set about the Spring or fall of the Leaf a ditch of six foot broad and five foot deep. |
† c. The increase
of the moon.
Obs.—1| 1559 Morwyng Evonym. 116 Gather the Plantes..in faire weather, in the spring of the mone. |
d. An outburst or fresh development.
rare—1.
| 1604 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §15 At one and the same time [the Reformation] it was ordayned by the Divine Providence, that there should attend withall a renovation and new spring of all other knowledges. |
6. a. the spring of the year,
= sense 6 b. ?
Obs.| 1530 Palsgr. 274 Spring of the yere, printemps, prin. 1548 Turner Names Herbes (E.D.S.) 80 In the sprynge of the yere, it hath yealowe floures. 1551 Recorde Cast. Knowl. (1556) 31 From thence [‘the eleuenth daye of Marche’] they recken the Springe of the yeare thre monethes. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. (1848) 58 If then, in the Spring of the Year, our Reflector see the Gardener pruning a Fruit-tree. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Brassica, In the Spring of the Year these Cabbages will shoot out strongly. 1828 Farmer's Jrnl. 12 May. |
b. The first season of the year, or that between winter and summer, reckoned astronomically from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice; in popular use in Great Britain comprising the months of February, March, and April, in
U.S. March, April, and May. Also
transf., a season resembling this in some respect.
Used without article or with
the, and in specialized cases with
a, etc. Often with initial capital, and in poetry
freq. personified.
| (a) a 1547 Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 4 Description of Spring, wherin eche thing renewes, saue onelie the louer. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 100 At spring (for the sommer) sowe garden ye shall. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vii. vii. 28 So, forth issew'd the Seasons of the yeare; First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaues of flowres. 1607 Lever Q. Eliz. Tears li, Beauteous floures, (The pretty children of the Earth and Spring). 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 751 Alone he tempts..Th' unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known. 1733 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xi. 106 (Dubl.), If it be not sown before Spring, its Grain will be thin. 1779 Mirror No. 16, The effects of the return of Spring have been frequently remarked. 1819 Shelley Ode West Wind v, O, Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? 1848 L. Hunt Jar of Honey vii. 84 Thou still..art the same blithe, sweet thing Thou ever wast, O Spring. 1885 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel (1892) 6 Spring's Delights are now returning! |
| (b) a 1547 Surrey in Tottle's Misc. (Arb.) 15 Like as when, rough winter spent, The pleasant spring straight draweth in vre. 1577 Googe tr. Heresbach's Husb. 22 Touching the season of your plowing, it must be cheefely in the spring. 1609 Dekker Ravens Alm. Wks. (Grosart) IV. 194 Let vs now try if the spring will prooue any more cheerefull. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. (1848) Pref. p. xviii, A dozen ordinary Pictures of the Spring (which yet are wont to charm Vulgar eyes). 1733 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xi. 128 (Dubl.), The Wheat will have the Benefit of them earlier in the Spring. 1742 Gray Spring 26 The insect-youth are on the wing, Eager to taste the honied spring. 1828 Wordsw. Morn. Exerc. 48 Yet might'st thou seem..to sing All independent of the leafy spring. 1842 Tennyson Locksley Hall 20 In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. |
| (c) 1596 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. iii. 38 As in an early Spring, We see th' appearing buds. 1596 ― Rich. III, iii. i. 94. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies ii. xiii. 111 Yet those which inhabite there, take it for a delightful spring. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 179 To sing The Pæstan Roses, and their double Spring. 1726–46 Thomson Winter 1069 The storms of Wintry Time will quickly pass, And one unbounded Spring encircle all. 1742 Gray Eton Coll. 20 The gales..seem..To breathe a second spring. 1830 Tennyson Nothing will die ii, A spring rich and strange, Shall make the winds blow. 1859 ― Merlin & V. 407 My blood Hath earnest in it of far springs to be. |
c. fig. The first or early stage or period
of life, youth, etc.
| 1590 Greene Mourn. Garm. (1616) B ij b, Sophonos..carried graue thoughts, and in the spring of his youth such ripe fruits, as are found in the Autumne of age. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 84 Oh, how this spring of loue resembleth The vncertaine glory of an Aprill day. 1621 J. Taylor (Water P.) Motto D 3, Who in the Spring, or Summer of his Pride, Was worship'd, honor'd, almost deifi'd. 1742 Gray Spring 49 On hasty wings thy youth is flown; Thy sun is set, thy spring is gone. 1781 Burke Correspondence (1844) II. 437 A storm came upon us in the early spring of our toleration. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey iv. iv, You are blighted for ever in the very spring of your life. 1834 Lytton Pompeii i. vi, Apæcides was in the spring of his years. |
d. Contrasted with
fall,
esp. in the
phr. spring and fall (
cf. fall n.1 2). Now
arch.| 1643 R. Baker Chron. (1653) 183 So great oddes there is between the Spring and Fall of Fortune. c 1680 Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism 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). 1754 J. Bartlet Gentl. Farriery (ed. 2) 173 This disease..in some horses shews itself spring and fall. 1764 Warburton Lett. (1809) 354, I do not wonder that any studious man should in England want physic at Spring and Fall. 1826 [see fall n.1 2]. |
e. This season in a particular year.
| 1621 Ld. Dunfermline in G. Seton Mem. (1882) 130, I haue bein twayis or thrise this spring ellis at Archerie. 1677 Prideaux Lett. (1875) 59 We shall goe on buildeing to, as soon as spring begins. 1711 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to W. Montagu 24 Mar., I am going to the same place I went last spring. ? a 1758 Gray Song 2 Ere the spring he would return. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 465 There can be no scarcity of that grain before the Spring. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 659 note, Ferguson..was excluded by name from the general pardon published in the following spring. 1855 Ibid. xvii. IV. 12 In the spring of 1691, the Waldensian shepherds..were surprised by glad tidings. |
f. Used with numerals to mark a definite period,
esp. in the age of a person or animal.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 299 When to four full Springs his Years advance. 1820 Byron Mar. Fal. ii. i. 371 Were I still in my five and twentieth spring. |
g. ellipt. Spring wheat.
| 1896 Daily News 30 Nov. 2/7 Wheat to-day is very firmly held... English reds, 36s.; American springs, 37s. |
h. ellipt. A spring salmon (see sense 7 c below).
| 1913 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 729/2 Next in value comes the ‘spring’, the largest fish often weighing sixty-five pounds. 1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 12 Mar. 9/4 In May it [sc. the largest cannery in the North] will commence to pack springs. 1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 222/1 Some men hand trolled springs during the winter. |
7. attrib. and
Comb. a. Attrib., passing into
adj., in the sense ‘of or pertaining to the spring’; ‘appearing, happening, occurring, etc., in the spring’, as
spring-ague,
spring-beam,
spring-bird,
spring-blood,
spring-blossom, etc.;
spring cabbage, a variety of cabbage that matures in the spring; a cabbage of this variety;
spring greens, the leaves of young cabbage plants, used as a vegetable; also, a cabbage of a variety that matures in spring;
spring juices (see
quot.);
spring-pottage,
soup, pottage or soup made of or from fresh green vegetables;
spring roll, a Chinese snack consisting of a pancake filled with vegetables and fried in the shape of a roll;
spring training Baseball, pre-season fitness and skills training taking place in spring.
| 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 14 They might, instead of making a cure,..turn a *spring-ague or an autumn-surfeit into an epidemical malignant fever. |
| 1684 Z. Cawdrey Certainty Salvation 28 The first warm and invigorating *Spring-beam to the Frost-nipt Loyalty of the Nation. |
| 1760 T. Smith Jrnl. (1849) 273 The robin and *spring birds came a week or ten days sooner than usual. |
| 1855 Browning Old Pictures in Florence xxiii, I have loved the season Of Art's *spring-birth. |
| 1825 J. Wilson Poems II. 96 Bright as *spring-blossoms after sunny showers. |
| 1820 Keats Isabella xiii, Even bees, the little almsmen of *spring-bowers. |
| 1862 G. M. Hopkins Vision of Mermaids (1929), Until it seem'd their father Sea Had gotten him a wreath of sweet *Spring-broidery. |
| 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist iii. v. 629 This [sc. tying up the leaves] may be usefully practised with the earliest *spring cabbages. 1900 W. D. Drury Bk. Gardening 1196/1 (Index), Spring cabbages. 1979 P. J. Salter et al. Know & grow Veg. iv. 104 Spring cabbage..may be short of nitrogen. |
| 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. ii. vi, To be concerting measures for the *spring Campaign. |
| 1834 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. III. 255/1 The remainder may be ready for *spring crop with very little labour. 1962 E. Snow Red China Today (1963) xxiii. 174 In July, on a visit to the Agricultural Exhibition Building, I was told by the director that, the spring crop having failed, only phenomenally good weather during August could save the autumn harvest. 1978 Biol. Abstr. LXVI. 2091/2 (heading) Effect of gibberellic acid..sprays on a spring crop of artichoke. |
| 1817 Lady Morgan France I. 52 The morning light of an early *spring day. |
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 313 This Erithace commeth of the *Spring-dew. 1813 Scott Trierm. i. i, Generous as spring-dews that bless the glad ground. |
| 1818–20 E. Thompson Nosologia (ed. 3) 321 Lichen; *Spring Eruption, Scorbutic Pimples. |
| 1843 Lytton Last of Barons II. vi. vii. 256 The love of Sibyll was no common girl's *spring-fever of sighs and blushes. 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (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’. |
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. (1629) 387 Thus poesies of the *spring flowers were wrapt vp in a little greene silke, and dedicated to Kalas breasts. 1884 Mrs. C. Praed Zero iv, The floor was carpeted with moss and spring flowers. |
| 1765 Treat. Dom. Pigeons 110 Their young ones..were as large as middling *spring fowls. |
| 1897 Kipling in Scribner's Mag. Dec. 679 'Send your road is clear before you when the old *Spring-fret comes o'er you. 1969 in Current Trends in Linguistics (1972) X. 155 Spring fret, animals' feeling of restlessness in the spring. (Ga.). |
| 1615 A. Niccholes Marr. & Wiving x. 30 Lust,..the *Spring-frost of beauty. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 417 Retarding the blossoming of the trees, and lessening the risk of their being injured by spring frosts. |
| 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.]. 1937 Middleton & Heath From Garden to Kitchen iii. 52 Every alternate one can be pulled out and used as spring greens. 1972 Y. Lovelock Veg. Bk. i. 69 Spring greens, either hearted or leafy, are gradually superseding the tougher British coleworts. |
| 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. 129 Until it loose The clammy clods and let out the *spring-growth. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 255 As soon as the spring growth, sometimes called the midsummer shoot, is completed. |
| 1824 Loudon Encycl. Gard. (ed. 2) 662 The juice [of water-cress] is decocted with that of scurvy-grass and Seville oranges, and forms the popular remedy called *spring juices. 1831 W. Patrick Indigenous Pl. Lanark. 46 Leaves [of Brooklime]..; generally gathered for medical purposes, and together with scurvy-grass, an ingredient in that nauseous composition called Spring juices. |
| 1818 Keats Teignm. ix, I've gather'd young *spring-leaves, and flowers gay Of periwinkles and wild strawberry. |
| 1872 Symonds Study Dante 175 Like one of the white *spring-lilies of the Alps. |
| 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 279 The *spring litters [of pigs] stand greatly in need of the milk and whey. |
| 1870 H. Smart Race for Wife i, The first *spring meeting became his assizes. |
| 1775 Ash, *Springmonths, the months of the spring quarter. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. iv. ii, Through the spring months, as the Sower casts his corn abroad. |
| 1818 Shelley Marenghi 124 Many a fresh *Spring morn would he awaken. |
| 1775 Ash, *Spring morning, a mild growing morning. |
| 1773 Ann. Reg. 87 After eating a hearty breakfast of *Spring-pottage. |
| 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz, Scenes xii, We wonder what Greenwich Fair is — a periodical breaking out, we suppose, a sort of *spring-rash. |
| 1943 M. P. Lee Chinese Cookery i. 21 *Spring rolls... After having made all the rolls, fry them in..hot lard. 1972 D. Bloodworth Any Number can Play xxii. 219 Helping himself to a spring roll from a trolley of hot Chinese delicacies. |
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 299 Strike fresh sap-roots, or buds preparative to the ensuing spring, and which will the next year be the *spring-roots. |
| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Melissa, The variegated Sort makes a..pretty Appearance in the *Spring Season. |
| 1789 T. Wright Watering Meadows (1790) 8 Between March and May we are sure of *Spring⁓seed. |
| 1733 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xi. 107 (Dubl.), That long Interval betwixt Autumn and *Spring Seed-times. |
| a 1746 Holdsworth Virgil (1768) 35 Scarce any tree growing faster than a young Alder,..especially in the *spring-shoot. 1763 Museum Rust. I. 141 When the ground is properly prepared, it should be planted with sets, being the spring shoots pulled up in a madder-plot. 1946 Dylan Thomas Deaths & Entrances 41 Tell his street on its back he stopped a sun And the craters of his eyes grew spring⁓shoots and fire. |
| 1763 Mills Pract. Husb. IV. 365 Immediately after a hasty *spring-shower. |
| 1857 J. W. Davidson Mendelssohn's Six Bks. Songs without Words p. ii/1 The Allegretto Grazioso, in A major..to which he is believed to have given the name of Frühlingslied (*Spring Song). 1889 O. Wilde in Woman's World II. 111/2 However, if the ‘Songs of the Inner Life’ are not very successful, the ‘Spring Songs’ are delightful. 1958 Anglia LXXVI. 55 The well-known Spring-song..‘Lencten is come wiþ love to toune’. |
| 1836 Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Administr. (1837) III. 313 A *spring soup, a turbot, a few made dishes, a dessert, &c. 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 195 He..had twice spring soup, and twice salmon and cucumber. |
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 138 The *spring-tillows..do arise from the foot of the root of the winter-stems or shoots. |
| 1897 Sporting News 27 Mar. 5/3, I am on my way to join the Boston team at Savannah where the players have all been ordered to report for *spring training. 1928 G. H. Ruth Babe Ruth's Own Book of Baseball i. 17 In 1925 when I collapsed in Asheville, during the spring training trip, a lot of people figured I'd never put on a uniform again. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 12 June 14/3 Randolph was hardly awed at becoming a Yankee... I came to spring training looking for a job. |
| 1641 Brome Joviall Crew ii. (1652) D iv b, For a *spring-trick of youth, now, in the season. |
| 1837 Lockhart Scott II. 243 As soon as the *spring vacation began. |
| 1612 Webster White Devil ii. i. 166 Neglected cassia or the naturall sweetes Of the *Spring-violet. |
| 1707 Mortimer Husb. 233 The *Spring winds, which nips the young Buds. 1835 T. Mitchell Aristoph., Acharn. 785 note, The ἄνεµοι ὀρνιθίαι, or spring-winds, which bring with them the birds of passage. |
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 482 There is found little or nothing to do till the burst of *spring-work comes. |
b. In the sense ‘sown or suitable for sowing in the spring’, as
spring barley,
spring corn,
spring kale,
spring onion,
spring rye,
spring wheat, etc.
| 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 699 H[ordeum] vulgare, Bere, Bigg, Four-rowed or *Spring Barley. |
| 1733 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xi. 107 (Dubl.), Wheat..hence having about thrice the time to be maintain'd that *Spring Corn hath. 1763 Mills Pract. Husb. III. 171 Turneps..occupying the whole ground when it should be sowed with spring-corn. 1812 Examiner 11 May 292/1 All the spring corn..in a very backward state. 1885 Stallybrass tr. Hehn's Wand. Pl. & Anim. 450 They, who probably planted only spring-corn. |
| 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. |
| 1786 Abercrombie Gard. Assist. 252 More..on warm borders to stand for *spring lettuces. |
| 1882 Garden 28 Jan. 65/3 This land we intend for *Spring Onions. |
| 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 226 It seems adviseable to delay the sowing of *spring-rye as long as can be. |
| 1766 Compl. Farmer 5 H, Having sown *spring wheat after a crop of madder. 1812 Sir J. Sinclair Syst. Husb. Scot. 244 A discrimination is highly necessary between winter wheat sown in the spring, and the Siberian, or real spring wheat. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 417 They had been in the habit of using too much seed for spring wheat. |
c. In the specific or popular names of plants, birds, fishes, insects, etc., as
spring-beauty,
-bell,
crocus,
gentian,
-grass;
† spring-froth,
herring,
usher,
wagtail: (see
quots.);
spring peeper, a very small tree frog,
Hyla crucifer, of eastern North America;
spring salmon N. Amer., a Pacific coast salmon that returns from the sea to the river in spring,
esp. the chinook,
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
| 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 194 Claytonia Caroliniana. *Spring Beauty. Ibid., C. Virginica. Virginian Spring Beauty. |
| 1874 Treas. Bot. Suppl. 1344 *Springbell, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum. |
| 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 543 Crocus vernus. *Spring Crocus. |
| 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants 202 Gentiana verna, *spring gentian. |
| 1713 Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 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. 1771 Encycl. Brit. I. 327 Anthoxanthum..odoratum, or spring-grass, a native of Britain. 1845–50 A. H. Lincoln Lect. Bot. 139 The sweet scented spring-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum). |
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 449 An account of the cuckow-spit, or *spring-froth. |
| 1868 Chambers's Encycl. X. 387/1 The Alewife is called *Spring Herring in some places, and gasperau by the French Canadians. 1884 Goode Nat. Hist. Aquat. Anim. 579 The ‘Spring’ Herring or ‘Alewife’, Clupea vernalis. |
| 1906, etc. *Spring peeper [see peeper1 2 b]. 1950 Chicago Tribune 28 Mar. 14/3 Then there are those who listen for choruses of spring peepers. 1977 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 11 Apr. 8/3, I don't know how many people other than those who live in the country are familiar with one of our prime sounds of spring: the spring peeper. |
| 1850 G. Hines Voy. round World 331 In this country [sc. America] they are generally distinguished by the names of *spring-salmon and fall-salmon. 1905 D. S. Jordan Introd. Study of Fishes II. 80 The economic value of any species depends in great part on its being a ‘spring salmon’. 1964 G. C. Carl Some Common Fishes Brit. Columbia 28 A few mature [Chinook salmon] may enter the larger rivers in late spring or early summer (hence the name ‘spring salmon’). |
| 1832 J. Rennie Consp. Butterfl. & Moths 102 The *Spring Usher (Anisopteryx leucophearia..) appears in oak woods the end of February and March. |
| 1802 Montagu Ornith. s.v. Wagtail, *Spring, or Summer Wagtail. |
8. Comb., as
spring-budding,
spring-digging,
spring-dressing,
spring flowering, etc.;
spring-born,
spring-gathered,
spring-made,
spring-planted, etc.;
spring green a., light green.
| 1852 W. Wickenden Hunchback's Chest 281 In the *spring-budding meadows. |
| 1763 Mills Pract. Husb. IV. 351 After each *spring digging,..the same care and management of the vines..must be continued. |
| 1795 D. Walker View Agric. Hertford 39 The *spring or top dressings are the leading features of the Hertfordshire farming. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 669 Excepting in the first spring after sowing, no spring dressing is required till May. |
| 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August (1933) vii. 138 Into the bleak, clean room the *springfilled air blew in fainting gusts. |
| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Colchicum, *Spring-flowering Meadow-Saffron. 1866 Treas. Bot. 110/1 A pretty spring-flowering plant. |
| 1733 Tull Horse-Hoeing Husb. xi. 128 (Dubl.), This thus pulveriz'd Surface turn'd in, in the *Spring-Hoeing, enriches the Earth. |
| 1881 O. Wilde Poems 178 Each *spring-impassioned tree Flames into green. |
| 1817 Keats Curious Shell 14 What is it that hangs from thy shoulder, so brave, Embroider'd with many a *spring peering flower? |
| 1782 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2) IX. 6631 The *spring planting may be performed the end of January or beginning of February. |
| 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 312 If the *spring-ploughing for barley or oats has been nine or ten inches deep. 1846 Keightley Notes Virg., Georg. i. 43 The poet commences his precepts with the spring-ploughing of the land. |
| 1826 Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 164 Soon after the *spring racking,..the casks may be gradually stopped. |
| 1925 G. Greene Babbling April 25 She waits without fear that *spring-scented day. |
| 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 322 It is very common for grass-seeds to fail on such land, even from the *spring-sowing. |
| 1883 F. A. Smith Swedish Fisheries 5 An essay on the cultivation of *spring-spawning fishes. |
| 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 439 A top-dressing of putrescent manure may be..left on the surface till the *spring-stirring. |
| 1868 Morris Earthly Par. (1890) 55/1 Unscared the *spring-born thrush did pass. |
| 1857 Thornbury Songs Cavaliers & Roundheads 53 The sweet *spring-gather'd flowers fall before his feet in showers. |
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 304 The *spring-made cheese was tarter. |
| 1812 New Botanic Gard. I. 32 These *spring-planted roots flower..after those which were planted in autumn. |
| 1786 Abercrombie Gard. Assist. 128 Plant out *spring-raised cabbages. |
| Ibid. 137 Begin to weed the general *spring-sowed crops. |
| 1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 473 The grain of *Spring sown fields. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 182 Indeed no grain will yield more than half a crop of poor quality, (on the Pacific slope,) when spring-sown. |
| 1864 Swinburne Atalanta 2112 As winter's wan daughter Leaves lowland and lawn *Spring-stricken. |
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, ccxlviii, Northumberland, who like a *Spring-taught Snayle Was crauling to haue Nibbled the fresh leafe. |
| 1855 Woman's Devot. II. 299 The fair shadowing green of the *spring-touched larch. |
| (c) 1891 M. E. Wilkins Humble Romance, etc. 46 The cottages were painted uniformly white, and had blinds of a bright Spring-green colour! |
III. † 9. a. A young growth on a tree, plant, or root; a shoot, sprout, or sucker; a small branch, sprig, or twig; the rudimentary shoot of a seed. In early
quots. fig. Obs. (Freq.
c 1560–
c 1650.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27380 Quilk ar þaa sinnes þat scrift sal scau I sal þam recken siþen on rau, wit þair springes herefter neist. Ibid. 27737 Vnheind talking,..hurtes grett, and sclander and tene; þir ar þe springes o wreth fythtene. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 470 Sprynge, of a tre or plante,..planta, plantula. 1502 Arnolde Chron. 62 b/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.]. 1559 Morwyng Evonym. 304 Wet the end of a fether or other lyke thing, as some yong and tender spring of a trie. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 4 The roote..putting foorth on every side much encrease of new springs. Ibid. 369 Thymelæa hath many smal springs or branches, of the length of a cubite. 1660 Sharrock Vegetables 117 A spring of scarce discernable growth may serve as a foundation to the pedal of the blossom. |
† b. A growth of this nature cut or slipped off,
esp. for planting; a rod or switch; a cutting, set, or slip. Also
fig. Obs.| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 41 Who-so spareth þe sprynge spilleth his children. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love iii. vi. (Skeat) l. 4 ‘That tree to sette, fayn wolde I lerne.’..‘The first thing, thou muste sette thy werke on grounde siker and good, accordaunt to thy springes.’ c 1485 E.E. Misc. (1855) 67 There is moste connabylle tyme for sedys, graynys, and pepyns, and Autumpe for spryngys, and plantys. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 85 Between the old plants set yong springs, slipped off from the old. 1601 Holland Pliny 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 Fruit-trees i. 60 After a yeare or two divers young springs may be drawne from the roots. |
† c. A young tree,
esp. one growing from a set or slip; a sapling.
Obs.| 1499 Pynson Promp. Parv. P iv/2 Springe or younge tre. 1545 in I. S. Leadam Sel. Cas. Crt. Requests (1898) 85 To fell & cutt down viij yong Sprynges abowte Allhaloutyd. 1552 Huloet, Arboure or place made with quicke springes. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 6 That ground..which naturally bringeth forth of his own accord, both elms and wilde young springs. |
| fig. c 1535 Elyot Educ. B iv, Good aduertisements and preceptes, wherby the yonge spryng of vertuous maners shall growe streyghte. |
† d. transf. A young man, a youth.
Obs.| 1559 Mirr. Mag., Earl Northumbld. iv, A sonne I had..That being yong, and but a very spring [etc.]. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cv. ix, Their eldest-borne, that countries hopefull spring. 1590 Spenser Muiopot. 292 Winged Loue, With his yong brother Sport;..The one his bowe and shafts, the other Spring A burning Teade about his head did moue. |
10. a. A copse, grove, or wood consisting of young trees springing up naturally from the stools of old ones; a plantation of young trees,
esp. one inclosed and used for rearing or harbouring game; a spinney. Now
dial. Freq. in the 16th and 17th c., often in local names.
| 1399 Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees Soc.) 132 Pro xxj rodis de hegyng circa le spring in Langwath. 1468–9 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 155 Pro factura liij rod. fossat. circa unam percellam terre juxta parcum de Shynkcley pro salvacione de le Spryng ibidem..xiij s. ix d. c 1490 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 74 To cause suer search to be made, what horse & cattaille ther be, that goes in my spring within my parke at Spofford. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §135 So is a spryng beste kepte, where there is neyther manne nor foure-foted beastes within the hedge. 1576 Turberv. Hunting xxxi, In small groues or hewts,..priuily enclosed within the greater springs in the Forests and strong couerts. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xiii. xxxi, If his courage any champion moue To trie the hazard of this dreedfull spring, I giue him leaue..: This said, his Lords attempt the charmed groue. 1620–6 Quarles Feast for Worms 476 A Herd of Deere are browzing in a spring, With eager appetite. 1652 W. Blithe Eng. Improver Impr. (ed. 3) 157 Although much dry,..hungry land doth not many times afford a thick Coppice, or good Spring. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew s.v. Ringwalks, They go drawing in their Springs at Hart-Hunting. 1788– in dialect glossaries (Yks., Lanc., Linc., Herts., Kent, etc.). |
| fig. 1591 Lyly Endym. v. ii, Top. 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. |
b. Const.
of (wood, oak, etc.).
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 356 A Sprynge of wodde, virgultum. 1614 Minutes Archdeaconry Essex (MS.), He had cattle broke into a yonge springe of wood. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 218, I..In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon. 1690 in Hunter MSS. (Chapt. Durham) VII. 203 A parcell of ground whereon there is a new spring of Oakes growne 3 and 4 yards high. 1732 N. Riding Rec. IX. 120 All that spring of wood, adjoining to the last-mentioned close. 1750 W. Ellis Mod. Husb. IV. iv. 18 A Spinny, or Spring of Underwood. 1780 Newcastle Courant (E.D.D.), On the estate there are two fine springs of wood. |
c. collect. Young growth, shoots, or sprouts,
esp. the lower or under growth of trees or shrubs. Now
dial.| 1482 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 224/1 To save the spryng of their Wood so felled. Ibid. The same spryng hath be in tyme passed, and daily ys distroyed. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §126 Lay thy small trouse or thornes..ouer thy quickesettes, that shepe do not eate the sprynge nor buddes of thy settes. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. June 53 The byrds, which in the lower spring Did shroude in shady leaues. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 514 The Pine tree also with her shaddow nippeth and killeth the yong spring of all plants within the reach thereof. 1670 Evelyn Sylva (ed. 2) xxxiv. 220 When the Spring is of two years growth, draw part of it for Quicksets. 1823, 1854, in Suffolk and Northampt. glossaries. |
d. attrib. and
Comb., as
spring-fall,
spring-felling,
spring-shaw. Chiefly
dial. Also
spring-wood.
| 1800 Tuke Agric. Yks. 184 What is called ‘spring-felling’, that is, felling the whole growth of the trees and underwood.., but so as not to injure the crown of the roots. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 58 Pointers or setters which are broken to run in when ordered, may do in open spring-falls,..but they are too large for thick covert. 1887 Parish & Shaw Dict. Kent. Dial., Spring-shaw, a strip of the young undergrowth of wood, from two to three rods wide. |
11. A springing up, growing, or bursting forth of plants, vegetation, etc.; a growth or crop; also, a race or stock of persons. Now
rare.
| 1624 Chapman Homer's Hymn Apollo 554 A most dreadful and pernicious thing, Call'd Typhon, who on all the human spring Conferr'd confusion. 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 10 Some fresh pasture wheare there is a good timely springe appearinge on the grownd. a 1652 Brome Lovesick Crt. iv. ii, By a perpetual spring of more procere And bigger bladed grass. 1822 W. J. Napier Pract. Store-farm. 58 Upon the part particularly alluded to, there appears to have arisen a great spring of natural fiorin. |
IV. † 12. a. Rise, beginning, first appearance, or birth (
of something).
Obs.| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 320 Ah we witen wel þet ure lahen, ure bileaue, & ure lei hefde lahe sprung [L. primordia]. |
| 1550 Bale Unchaste Votaries i. (1560) 17 Ye very spring or fyrst going forth of the Gospel. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 141 The Latin tong,..from the spring, to the decay of the same. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. vi. §1 Men, if we view them in their spring, are at the first without understanding or knowledge at all. 1682 Grew Anat. Pl. Introd. 3 Plants have their set and peculiar Seasons for their Spring or Birth. |
b. In the
phr. to take (..) spring from or out of, to have source or origin in, to rise or originate in.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xv. 129 The riuer of Salef, which takes her spring from the mount of Taur. 1605 B. Jonson Queen's Masques, Blackness A iij b, This riuer taketh spring out of a certain Lake, east-ward. 1835 I. Taylor Spir. Despot. v. 222 The spiritual power..taking its spring from Christianity. |
† c. ? The yolk
of an egg.
Obs.—1| 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme i. xii. 54 Stampe them all togither with the spring of an egge. |
13. † a. The rising
of the sea (to an exceptional height) at particular times. (
Cf. sense 13 b.)
Obs.| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xxix. (Tollem. MS.), Alwey in þe new mone þe sprynge of þe see is heyest, and also in þe ful mone. 1539 Act. 31 Hen. VIII, c. 4, Ouerflowyng..of..grounde lying by the said riuer, with the high springes of the sea. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xxiv. 65 All the whole length of the Citie is washed with the springs of the Sea. |
b. = spring-tide 2. Chiefly
pl. (So G.
spring.)
| 1584 in J. J. Cartwright Chapt. Hist. Yorks. (1872) 268 We say that there ryseth at the sprynge 18 foott water, and at the nepe eleaven foot water. 1622 Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 180 It seemeth an iland, and in high springes I judge that the sea goeth round about it. 1641 J. Taylor (Water P.) 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. & Pres. St. Navig. Lyn, Wisbeach, etc. 25 The tides then generally run high, by Reason of the Springs putting in. 1779 Forrest Voy. N. Guinea 15 The tide rises six feet on the springs. 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. I. 147 The rise of tide may be stated at about six feet during the springs. 1858 Merc. Marine Mag. V. 366 The stream runs 5 knots at springs, and 3 knots at neaps. 1892 Lowndes Camping Sk. 211 Only the highest ‘springs’ could touch us. |
| transf. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. i. 21 But when his [sc. the Nile's] later spring gins to auale, Huge heapes of mudd he leaues. |
| attrib. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) I. 59 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.]. |
c. Without article.
| 1883 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 353 The difference between the intervals is greater at spring than at neap. |
14. a. An act of springing or leaping; a bound, jump, or leap.
| c 1450 in Rel. Ant. I. 309 Thy spryngys, thy quarters, thy rabetis also. c 1450 Merlin i. 15 As she sodenly made a sprynge, the childe fill oute of hir arme. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 20 b, An holy monke, whiche in the poynt of his dethe sodeynly gaue a great sprynge vpwarde. 1674 tr. Martiniere's Voy. N.C. 40 Upon which they [sc. reindeer] gave such a spring, we thought [etc.]. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 111 They carry the Leopards on Hackeries,..to give them the advantage of their Spring. 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 167 Altho' his Adversary's Horse make a Spring, and run past him. 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. II. 294, I made a spring towards a boat..and caught hold of the gunwale. 1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xxxi. 428 Taking two of the large stone stair-steps at each spring. 1869 Blackmore Lorna D. iii, John Fry..in the spring of fright had brought himself down from Smiler's side. |
| fig. 1878 Stewart & Tait Unseen Univ. i. §46. 63 When Science was pausing for the spring she has since made. 1889 Spectator 26 Oct., They must have..a certain largeness of view besides, shown in their repeated..springs at colonial empire. |
b. A recoil or rebound of something after being bent or forced out of its normal position or form.
| 1680 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 184 Unless..with every Spring of the Pole they should lift their treading Leg so high as [etc.]. 1779 Cowper Human Frailty 5 The bow well bent, and smart the spring, Vice seems already slain. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxiii. (1856) 196 A startling sensation, resembling the spring of a well-drawn bow. |
c. A quick, convulsive, or elastic movement made by certain plants or animals in dispersing or depositing seed, eggs, etc.
| 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. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex 112 The pericarp of many fruits, which open when ripe with a sort of sudden spring, ejecting the seed with violence. Ibid. 159 The elastic spring with which the anther flies open. |
d. A distance capable of being covered by a spring or leap.
| 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam ii. xxix, Her spirit..far wandering, on the wing Of visions that were mine, beyond its utmost spring. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xvi, A tiger, chained within no distant spring of his bed. |
e. An escape or rescue from prison.
slang (
orig. U.S.).
| 1901 ‘J. Flynt’ World of Graft ii. 32 It is comparatively easy to make a ‘spring’ out of the clutches of the law when there is sufficient money to hand around to the various persons with ‘pull’. 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 Springing some bugger from the Scrubs—O.K. Not easy... You can't pull a spring like that without help on the inside. |
15. A flock
of teal. Now
arch.| c 1450 Egerton MS. 1995 in Philol. Soc. Trans. (1909) 51 A sprynge of Telys. c 1470 Hors, Shepe, & G. (Roxb.) 30 A spryng of teeles. 1486 Bk. St. Albans f vj b. [Hence in later lists.] 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 78 The following Terms are in Use among Wildfowl-shooters:—A flock..of teal, ‘a spring’. 1892 Cornh. Mag. Aug. 152 Further out we notice a ‘spring’ of nine teal. |
16. A cut or joint of pork consisting of the belly or lower part of the fore-quarter.
Obs. exc. dial.| 1598 Florio, Bambetti, that ioynt of meate we call a spring or pestle of porke. c 1622 Fletcher Prophetess i. iii, Can you be such an Ass..To think these springs of Pork will shoot up Cæsars? 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. 96 Pray hand the Spring of Porke to me. 1708 W. Wilson tr. Petr. Arbiter 97 He shall make you..a Turtle of a Spring of Pork. 1771 E. Haywood New Present for Maid 20 The fore-quarter [of a hog] contains the spring and the fore-loin. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 240 The belly or spring [of pork], also fit for pickling, or for rolling up,..for brawn. |
17. Naut. † a. A breach or opening in a vessel through the splitting or starting of a plank or seam.
Obs.—1| 1611 B. Jonson Catiline iii. i, Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalmed; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends must know..Where her springs are, her leaks; and how to stop 'em. |
b. A crack or split in a mast or spar,
esp. one of such a size as to render it unsafe to carry the usual amount of sail.
G.
sprung has the general sense of ‘split, crack’.
| 1744 J. Philips Jrnl. Exped. Anson 157 We..discover'd a great Spring in the Foremast. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. ii. 135 The spring was two inches in depth. 1792 Trans. Soc. Arts X. 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. |
18. The quality or capacity of springing; the power inherent in, or possessed by, a thing of spontaneously resuming or returning to its normal state or bulk when pressure or other force is withdrawn; elastic energy or force; elasticity.
a. Of the air.
Freq. from
c 1660 to
c 1770; now
rare or
Obs.| 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. i. 24 There is yet another way to explicate the Spring of the Air. 1687 D. Abercromby Acad. Sci. App. iv. 4 By the help whereof [sc. the air-pump] he proves the Elastic Power and Spring of the Air. 1719 Quincy Phys. Dict. (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. a 1774 Goldsm. Surv. Exp. 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. |
b. Of solids.
| 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 72 The spring of the earth over-ballancing the weight of it as to power. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. ¶5 Pieces of Felt..will Squeeze and retain their Spring for a considerable time. 1733 Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. x. §2 (1734) 219 There is in all Animal Fibres..an original Mechanism of Elasticity or Spring. 1753 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 VII. 159 There is a spring in the whalebone, which prevents it turning steady. 1874 Pitt-Rivers Evol. Culture, Princ. Classif. (1906) 16 Yielding few..woods that have sufficient spring for the construction of the bow. 1879 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. iv. 73 The knives and daggers had an elastic spring, which..they retain to this day. |
c. Elasticity or springiness as possessed by persons or the limbs; buoyancy and vigour in movement.
| a 1700 Dryden (J.), Heav'ns! what a spring was in his arm, to throw! 1723 Steele Consc. Lovers iii. 48 What a Spring in her Step! 1784 Cowper Task i. 135 Th' elastic spring of an unwearied foot That mounts the stile with ease. 1820 Hazlitt Table-T. Ser. ii. xvi. (1869) 317 Do nothing to take away..the spring and elasticity of your muscles. 1845 Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 235 It is sad To..Know eyes are dimming, bosom shrivelling, feet Losing their spring. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 678 At first the patient finds that he is losing his spring in walking. |
19. transf. Buoyancy, activity, vigour
of mind, temper, etc.; active power or faculty.
| 1682 Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. iii. §20 Persons vitiously inclined..having the Elater and Spring of their own Natures to facilitate their Iniquities. 1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. ii. 116 If the mind be too long bent upon one thing, twill lose its spring and activity. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 192 A selfish villain may possess a spring and alacrity of temper. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxvii, Ere he has..recovered, in some degree, the spring of his mind, and the powers of his body. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 41 Happy journey by the Eastern Riviera began to restore my spring of heart. |
20. a. Arch. The point at which an arch or vault springs or rises from its abutment or impost; the commencement of curvature in an
arch.| 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 38/2 Columns of height sufficient to reach to the spring of their Arches. 1772 C. Hutton Bridges 63 When the arch stones only are laid, and the pier built no higher than the spring. 1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xix. (ed. 3) 317 The arches recede inwards from their spring from the Circlet. 1875 Merivale Gen. Hist. Rome lxxix. (1877) 670 There remain on the face of the Palatine some indications of what may have been the spring of the first arch. |
| attrib. 1735 J. Price Stone-Br. Thames 4 The Piers,..under the Chaptrel, or Spring Stones, have a Square Course. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 539 The supports of an arch are called the spring walls. 1859 T. H. Turner Dom. Archit. III. ii. vii. 312 But there are the spring⁓stones of a fan-tracery vault. |
¶ b. The rise of an arch; the ascent or slope
of a bridge.
| 1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 422/1 The arch..was fifty-five feet wide, and had but eight feet of spring. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxvi, An old, hobbling woman..set forth again up the steep spring of the bridge. |
21. a. techn. (See
quot. 1825.) Also
attrib.| 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 601 The bevel by which the edge of the plank is reduced from the right angle when the plank is sprung, is termed the spring of the plank. 1842 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Spring Bevel of a Rail, the angle made by the top of the plank, with a vertical plane touching the ends of the railpiece, which terminates the concave side. |
b. Naut. The sheer, the upward curvature or rise, of the deck planking of a vessel or boat.
So G.
spring and
sprung.
| 1838 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. I. 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. Boot-making. The raising or rise of the toe of a last above the ground-line. Also, arch or curvature in the instep.
In
quot. 1885
spec. applied to the steel support which gives the desired curvature to the boot or shoe.
| 1885 J. B. Leno Art of Boot & Shoemaking viii. 54 The patterns for the springs of large size boots should have a good quarter of an inch left on at sides and bottom. Ibid. xix. 145 The spring is attached to the inner sole... Care should be taken in..fixing the metal shield... 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 Spring is the term used to denote the elevation of the toe of the last... If the substance of the sole be light very little spring is required. Ibid., Sometimes the term ‘spring’ is used to describe the hollowness or arch of the waist. 1905 E. J. C. Swaysland Boot & Shoe Design 20 For light dress work the spring of the toe should be half an inch. 1916 F. Plucknett 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 Spring is the amount of curve from the joint to the point of the toe, and whereas a light flexible shoe requires very little, the stouter and stiffer the sole the greater the amount of spring. |
V. 22. An elastic contrivance or mechanical device, usually consisting of a strip or plate of steel (or a number of these) suitably shaped or adjusted, which, when compressed, bent, coiled, or otherwise forced out of its normal shape, possesses the property of returning to it.
Springs vary greatly in form, size, and use, but are used chiefly for imparting or communicating motion (either by gradual unwinding, as in the spring of a clock or watch, or by sudden release), for regulating or controlling movement, or for lessening or preventing concussion.
Cf. G.
springfeder,
Du. -veer,
Da. -fjær,
Sw. -fjäder.
a. In a clock, watch, etc., or in general use.
| 1428 Acts Privy Council (1834) III. 289 Item for amendyng of the spryng of the barell [of a clock] vj s viij d. [1472 in Rogers Agric. & Prices (1882) IV. 622 A spring to a clock is purchased by King's College, Cambridge, for 2d.] 1598 Florio, Molla, a wheele of a clocke that mooueth all the rest called the spring. 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 35 Ingenious Germane, how didst thou conuey Thy Springs, thy Scrues, thy rowells, and thy flie? 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. ii. 47 To th' Truncke againe, and shut the spring of it. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. ii. 28 The Spring h forces the Bolt forwards when it is shot back with the Key. 1713 Lond. 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 spring a, b, c, called the spiral spring. 1825 Scott Talism. xii, At the same time was heard the sound of a spring or check, as when a crossbow is bent. 1860 Dickens Uncomm. Trav. xiv, One..rap was rapped that might have been a spring in Mr. Testator's easy-chair to shoot him out of it. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2275/2 A helical spring has coils of decreasing diameter as they approach the center. |
b. In a carriage, coach, or other vehicle.
| 1665 Pepys Diary 5 Sept., After dinner comes Colonel Blunt in his new chariot made with springs. 1706 Lond. Gaz. No. 4235/3 The sole Benefit of making and vending certain Steel Springs he hath..invented for ease of Persons riding in Coaches. 1794 W. Felton Carriages (1801) I. 72 Short light springs which contain but few plates, have frequently no hoops. 1837 W. B. Adams 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. 1876 Encycl. Brit. V. 137/1 The elliptic springs, upon which nearly all carriages are now mounted. |
23. fig. a. That by which action is produced, inspired, or instigated; a moving, actuating, or impelling agency, cause, or force; a motive.
Frequent from
c 1700, either with direct allusion to the literal sense (
a), or in a more indefinite use (
b) which is sometimes not clearly distinguishable from sense 3.
| (a) c 1616 S. Ward Coal from Altar (1627) 41 They ascribe it either to vaine glory, or couetousnesse; the only springs that set their wheeles on going. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 499 By these the Springs of Property were bent, And wound so high, they Crack'd the Government. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. xii. 214 The Springs Pompey set at work to deprive all the Commanders of the Commonwealth of their Posts. 1748 Geddes Compos. Antients 15 The spring, the just tone of the soul, is broke. 1767 A. Young Farmer's Lett. to People 61 These men are yet more able..to put all the springs of a perfect culture in motion. 1815 J. Cormack Abol. Fem. Infanticide Guzerat xiv. 278 The springs of this mighty political engine, however, have, generally speaking, already lost their elasticity. 1863 Kinglake Crimea (1876) I. xiv. 255 Morny..prepared to touch the springs of that wondrous machinery by which a clerk can dictate to a nation. 1872 Bagehot Physics & Pol. 162 At once the fatal clog is removed, and the ordinary springs of progress..begin their elastic action. |
| (b) 1691 Ray Creation (1714) 47 What is the Spring and principal Efficient of this Reciprocation. 1717 J. Keill Anim. Oeconomy (1738) 150 Secretion is the Spring of all the animal Functions. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 177 A strange Impression upon the Mind, from we know not what Springs, and by we know not what Power. 1774 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 385 The spring or movement of such intercourse is..gain, or the hopes of gain. 1810 S. Smith in Edin. Rev. XV. 309 Instead of hanging the understanding of a woman upon walls,..we would make it the first spring and ornament of society. 1853 Merivale Rom. Rep. ii. (1867) 39 The love of gold was the sordid spring of the most brilliant enterprises of the republic. 1871 Lowell Pope Wks. 1890 IV. 31 The exposer of those motives..whose spring is in institutions and habits of purely worldly origin. |
b. Freq.
const. of action (or conduct).
| 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. ix. 173 The springs of all human actions. 1779 Forrest Voy. N. Guinea 285 It is difficult..to come at the true springs of action. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. III. 174 Whether public zeal and patriotic motives, were the springs of his lordship's conduct. 1850 Merivale Rom. Emp. ii. (1865) I. 73 The real springs of human action were unknown to him, or disregarded by him. 1885 J. Martineau Types Eth. Th. II. ii. iii. §1. 518 Numerous springs of action and modes of feeling which neither interest nor reason could be shown to evolve. |
c. In the
phr. springs of life.
| 1728–46 Thomson Spring 329 While sickly damps, and cold autumnal fogs, Hung not, relaxing, on the springs of life. 1819 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) IV. viii. 268 A grief of that calm and concentrated kind which..gradually wastes the springs of life. |
† d. A device; a trick or artifice.
Obs. rare.
| 1753 J. Collier Art Torment. ii. iii. (1811) 164 This method of granting favours in a disgustful manner, is one of our chief springs, and must be practised in as many connections as you possibly can introduce it. |
24. Naut. a. A rope put out from the end or side of a vessel lying at anchor, and made fast to the cable. (So G.
spring,
springtau.)
| 1744 J. Philips Jrnl. Exped. Anson 156 We clapt a Spring on the Sheet-cable to prevent her from swinging. 1753 Hanway Trav. iii. xlviii. (1762) I. 219 We were obliged to put a spring on our cable, in order to bring our guns to bear on them. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Spring is..a rope passed out of one extremity of a ship and attached to a cable proceeding from the other, when she lies at anchor. 1800 Hull Advertiser 16 Aug. 1/4 A gun⁓brig..moored with springs on her cables. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xxx, He had warped round with the springs on his cable, and had recommenced his fire upon the Aurora. 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 202 Slip the cable, and then the spring. |
| attrib. 1806 A. Duncan Nelson 94 The French fleet.., moored on spring cables. |
b. (See
quots.)
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Spring is likewise a rope reaching diagonally from the stern of a ship to the head of another which lies along-side or abreast of her, at a short distance. Ibid., Springs of this sort are..occasionally applied from a ship to a wharf or key. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Spring, a hawser laid out to some fixed object to slue a vessel proceeding to sea. |
| attrib. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Spring-line, in a ponton-bridge, a line passing diagonally from one ponton to another. 1916 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 23 July 4/6 The mate was on the forecastle head, but outside the rail, when the spring line parted. One end of the big hawser flicked up and smashed the mate's leg. 1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 156/1 A deck-hand expertly heaves a throwing-line ashore. Somebody catches it, pulls in the steel spring-line from amidships. |
25. attrib. a. Simple
attrib. in various senses,
esp. ‘fitted with a spring or springs’, ‘acting like a spring’, ‘of or pertaining to a spring’, as
spring-arbor,
spring-balance,
spring-bar,
spring-barrel,
spring-bed, etc.
The number of these is very great, and only the more important are illustrated here. Others are recorded and explained by Knight
Dict. Mech., and in recent Dicts.
| 1696 W. Derham Artific. Clock-m. 2 Next for the Spring. That which the Spring..laps about, in the middle of the Spring-box, is the *Spring-Arbor. a 1788 J. Imison Sch. Arts I. 273 At the top of the spring-arbor, is the endless-screw, and its wheel. |
| 1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 385 *Spring-balance, a machine in which the elasticity of a spring of tempered steel is employed as a means of measuring weight or force. 1889 Science-Gossip XXV. 36 If a body were resting on a delicate spring balance. |
| 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 394 The *Spring-bar to which the stirrup-leather is attached, and which easily allows this part of the saddle..to be set at liberty the moment the rider is hung by it. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Spring-bar, a bar parallel with the axle and resting upon the middle of the elliptic spring. 1881 W. E. Dickson Organ-Build. v. 65 The spring-bar has a slip of wood..glued or bradded to it. |
| 1850 Denison Clock & Watch-m. 110 It is all wound off the *spring barrel on to a fusee. |
| 1846 Holtzapffel Turning II. 913 The cloth..passes from a roller over a round bar, and comes in contact with the *spring bed, which is a long elastic plate of steel, fixed to the framing of the machine. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Spring-bed, an elastic or air mattress. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 3579, Russell's Camp Hospital Spring Bed or Dhoolee Stretcher. |
| 1847 Illustr. London News 13 Mar. 165/1 There is..a *spring-bell, which the Prisoner is to sound when he requires the attendance of an officer. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal III. vi. 102 Jessie Bridgeman touched a spring bell on the tea-table. |
| 1835 Dickens in Evening Chron. 18 June 3/4 *Spring blinds were fitted to the windows. 1889 Cassell's Bk. Househ. I. 250/2 Spring blinds, though very nice when they work well, are subject, as an old housekeeper once said, to ‘tempers’. 1934 Cassell's Home Encycl. 86/2 Automatic or spring blinds are made with a hollow roller. |
| 1786 Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 74 Your *spring-block for assisting a vessel in sailing cannot be tried here. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Spring-block, a common block..connected to a ring⁓bolt by a spiral spring. |
| 1634 in Archaeol. (1853) XXXV. 199 One two-leaf wyndowe with longe boult, *springe boult, and staples. 1703 R. Neve City & C. Purchaser 33 Iron-mongers distinguish those for House-building, into..Plate, Round, and Spring Bolts. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xvi, ‘Enter here then, gentlemen,’ said the jailor, undoing the spring-bolt of a heavy door. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 289 These fit over spring bolts projecting on either side from a block. |
| 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2896/4 Both wearing light bob Wigs, and..Camblet Coats,..with new *Spring Boots, and Spurs. 1776 R. Daniel in Abridgm. Specif. Patents, Wearing App. iii. (1876) 1 New kind of boots called spring boots. |
| 1696 W. Derham Artific. Clock-m. 2 That which the Spring lies in, is the *Spring-box. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 500 The chain, which requires to be uncoiled from the spring-box. 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 Spring-box, the receptacle at the head of the press holding the spring which acts on the bar-handle. |
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Spring-braces, elastic suspenders for men's trousers. |
| 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 *Spring brass, rules cast in flexible brass—the reverse of ‘soft’ or ‘bending’ brass rule. |
| 1838 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. I. 408/1, I claim, as my invention or improvement in carriages,..the peculiar adaptation of *spring buffers and spring fastenings. |
| 1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockm. 46 *Spring callipers..are useful when it is desired to retain a measurement. |
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 595 It terminates in a handle furnished with a *spring-catch. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 273 The shutter..is held by a spring catch. |
| 1843 Penny Cycl. XXV. 425/1 On the large plate P, is a *spring-click. |
| 1871 *Spring clip [see release n.1 6 b]. 1888 Rutley Rock-Forming Min. 18 The most generally useful contrivances are spring clips. |
| 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 67 There are some *Spring Clocks and Watches, so contriv'd by Art as to lose no Time in winding. 1829 Chapters Phys. Sci. 92 The wheels in the spring clocks and in watches are urged on by the force of a spiral spring. 1850 Denison Clock & Watch-m. 109 This inequality of force is removed in English spring clocks and watches. |
| 1894 T. W. Fox Mech. Weaving ix. 259 *Spring cords..consist of two wooden end-pieces..into which two wires..are driven. |
| 1780 Mirror No. 80, The Elastic Cushion and *Spring Curls, which..are as natural and becoming..[as] the natural hair itself. |
| 1858 Greener Gunnery 323 Take a *spring cushion (something like the spring machine found at all fairs for testing the force of a man pressing against it). |
| 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 232 *Spring-dart, an arrow or fish-headed boring tool for extricating a lost implement, or for withdrawing lining tubes. |
| 1873 Spon Workshop Receipts Ser. i. 3/1 The differences of the distances..may be measured by *spring dividers. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2750 The *spring-dog is depressed by a lever. 1886 J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 63 Spring-dog, a spring hook used on a winding or haulage rope. |
| 1826 Scott Woodst. xiv, He would have Woodstock a trap,..you the *spring-fall which should bar their escape. |
| 1838 *Spring fastening [see spring buffer]. |
| 1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 136 The danger attending the use of the *spring-flask in shooting. |
| 1895 Strand Mag. 113 In the Hall a *spring floor has been laid over the ordinary hard oak boards. |
| 1846 F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 374 Place in the wound either a canula, or a *spring forceps whose branches hold its edges open. |
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *Spring-Forelock, one jagged or split at the point, thereby forming springs to prevent its drawing. |
| 1797 J. Curr Coal Viewer 67, 2 of them [double spring beams] go 18 or 20 inches through the main wall for the convenience of fixing the outside *spring frame. |
| 1780 Mirror No. 68, The last time I came from London I brought down a parcel of *spring garters. |
| 1841 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. IV. 13/1 A full description of the four instruments employed..to determine the pressure of the steam,..namely, the barometer-gauge,..and the *spring-gauge. |
| 1850 Holtzapffel Turning III. 1254 Long conical holes, such as axletree boxes, are sometimes ground upon the *spring grinder. |
| 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 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.’ |
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. xxii. (Roxb.) 277 The second is a *Spring Hooke, or Springer; it is a kind of double Hook with a spring,..which being strucken into the mouth of any fish, the 2 hooks fly asunder, and so keeps the fish mouth open. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 6089, Spring hooks, curb chains, pole chains. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 232 Spring hook, an iron hook attached to the end of a winding capstan, or crab rope, fitted with a spring for closing the opening, and thus preventing the kibble, &c., from falling off. |
| 1835–6 Owen in Todd's Cycl. Anat. I. 287/2 It has been denied that the *spring-joint [of birds] ever exists at the knee. 1901 P. Marshall Metal-w. Tools 14 In this pattern the legs have a spring joint at the top which tends to keep them apart. |
| 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 325 With the mortar and levigating stone, a *spring-knife is very useful. |
| 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 323 The turner giving the rotation by means of the treadle and *spring-lath attached to the ceiling. |
| 1852 Seidel Organ 128 The palate, together with its spring, must be taken out. For this purpose an instrument called a *spring lever is used. |
| 1858 *Spring machine [see spring cushion above]. |
| 1850 *Spring mattress [see mattress1 1]. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Spring-mattress, one having metallic springs beneath the hair or moss filling. |
| 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. 135 When the elastic tool, or ‘*spring passer’, has been compressed,..it is put in motion. |
| 1831 J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 16 The workman takes what he calls a *spring piercer, a tool..consisting of two somewhat elastic steel blades. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., *Spring-pin, in the English practice, a rod between the springs and axle-boxes, to regulate the pressure on the axles. 1881 Greener Gun 263 It..may be removed by completely turning out the spring pin. |
| 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 123 The elasticity of a *spring plate somewhat resembles the elasticity of a common cane. |
| 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 *Spring points, these are a special kind of press points which assist in throwing the sheet off the spur of the point as printed. |
| 1831 J. Holland Manuf. Metal I. 87 The cumbersome wooden frame-work of the old forges, including the timber, *spring-pole and hammer beam. 1837 L. Hebert Engin. & Mech. Encycl. II. 814 The string is fastened to the end of the spring-pole in a similar manner. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 233 Spring pole, a fir pole having considerable elasticity, to which the boring rods are suspended. |
| 1662 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. ii. §10 Which Pressure (as in all flexible Bodies that have a *Spring-power in them) is perpetual. |
| 1853 Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 4) II. 831 The action of the *spring-presser is to consolidate the roving. |
| 1694 Phil. Trans. XVIII. 103 Its shape is not very unlike to a sort of *Spring-Purse (as they are called) which many People use. 1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3739/4 A striped Silk Spring-Purse. |
| 1860 All Year Round No. 57. 162 A hundred *spring rattles would not realise the noise. |
| 1850 Denison Clock & Watch-m. 239, I have lately seen some small French clocks with a *spring remontoire on the second wheel. |
| 1821 P. Egan Life in London (1822) 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. 1971 Habitat Catal. 86/2 Roller blinds..come complete with spring roller and fixing brackets. |
| 1687 Smith Art Painting (ed. 2) 11 With a fine *Spring-Saw, cut it into scantlings. 1778 Life T. Boulter 57 A certain sum to procure some spring saws. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxiii, She had procured..a spring-saw for me. |
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *Spring-searcher, a steel-pronged tool to search for defects in the bore of a gun. |
| 1853 Heal & Son Catal.: Bedsteads, Sofas and Couches..with squab or *spring seats. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Spring-seat, a chair or couch with a spring in it. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4721, Elliptical spring-seat saddle, and tree showing action of spring. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl., Spring Seat, the support for the lower part of a spring, shaped according to circumstances. |
| 1839 T. C. Hofland Brit. Angler's Man. v. (1841) 124 The *spring-snap was formerly much in use. |
| 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 256 The *Spring Snap-Bait is..composed of a case which connects and keeps in place the shanks of the hooks.., but which, when drawn out, expand by their own elasticity. |
| Ibid., The snap-hook is either the plain or the *spring snap-hook. |
| 1864 Athenæum 27 Feb. 294 Pulling the door quickly after them, so as to hasp the *spring-sneck in the brass lock. |
| 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 266 Upon the glass arm is cemented a piece of brass r, containing a *spring socket. |
| 1871 Voyle Milit. Dict. (ed. 2), *Spring spike, in artillery, a spike with a spring attached to it, used for rendering a gun temporarily unserviceable. |
| 1745 in J. S. McLennan Louisbourg (1918) 177 Ye fore *Spring Stay was Shott away. 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 126 Leathern braces..were supported by a bracket or buttress of iron called the ‘Spring Stay’. 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 125 Spring-stay, a preventer-stay, to assist the regular one. 1867 Smyth 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. |
| 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §84 To put an oak solid two-light proper frame..with..*spring stay-irons (irons to keep the window open) to the back kitchen. |
| 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 135 For this reason it would be advantageous to use *spring-steel in lieu of iron. 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. 192 Its superior elasticity also adapts it to the formation of springs; some kinds of steel are prepared expressly for the same under the name of spring-steel. 1868 Joynson Metals 78 When blistered steel has to be drawn out or reduced by the rolls, it forms ‘spring steel’. |
| 1880 W. Carnegie Pract. Trapping 50 Arrange the nooses in such a manner that if one of them or the crutched stick is touched the latter falls, and releasing the crosspiece, the *spring⁓stick flies up, and the bird with it. |
| 1884 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Rec. Ser. iii. 74/2 The *spring-studs must of course be insulated from the clock-plate. |
| 1942 Rep. & Memoranda Aeronaut. Res. Committee No. 2029. 9 Notes on the *Spring Tab. R.A.E. Report No. B.A. 1665. (5058.) April, 1941. (Unpublished.) 1969 Gloss. Aeronaut. & Astronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) v. 10 Spring tab, a balance tab, the angular movement of which is geared to the compression or extension of a spring embedded in the main control circuit. |
| 1778 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2) III. 2171 To remove these inconveniencies, some needles are made of one piece of steel of a *spring temper. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2061 They are polished, and then brought to ‘spring temper’ by heating. |
| 1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 49 The simple *spring tine as first introduced on the Canadian cultivator had not sufficient strength. 1971 Farmers Weekly 19 Mar. 84 The RCM firm offers a choice of tines to fit one basic frame—a normal spring tine..or subsoiler tines. |
| 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 579 This opening is then enlarged, by introducing the blade of a pair of *spring-tongs. |
| 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. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Spring-tool, the light tongs of the glass-blower whereby handles and light objects are grasped. |
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 648 Some *spring-trappes, to snickle or halter either bird or beast. 1800 M. Edgeworth Belinda xxii, A man whose leg had..been caught in the spring-trap. 1820 T. Mitchell Aristoph. I. 80 There is generally some covert meaning in the names of Aristophanes..; his readers' feet are always treading on spring-traps. |
| 1710 Addison Tatler No. 224 ¶5 Little cuts and figures, the invention of which we must ascribe to the Author of *Spring-Trusses. |
| 1790 Ann. Reg., Hist. 115/2 Among these arms were some walking sticks with *spring-tucks concealed within them. |
| 1912 Motor Man. (ed. 14) 206 *Spring washers are less effective, but answer well enough for the less vital parts of the mechanism. 1929 Ibid. (ed. 26) 20 Spring washer, a tempered steel washer cut through at one place and given a ‘set’ to provide a certain amount of spring. Used under a nut to keep it secure. |
| 1714 Mandeville Fab. Bees (1733) II. 177 If he was wholly unacquainted with the nature of a *spring-watch. |
| a 1825 in J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 523 This locking..has the advantage..of being firmer, and less liable to be out of repair, than any locking where *spring-work is used. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 299 ‘Spring work,’..that is, any articles in which springs are introduced. |
b. With the names of vehicles, in the sense ‘having springs, hung or suspended on springs’, as
spring ambulance,
spring-carriage,
spring-cart,
spring-van,
spring-wagon.
| 1864 Sala in Daily Tel. 6 April, A couple of *spring ambulances, drawn by four horses apiece. |
| 1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 386 C-springs..were formerly used for almost all kinds of *spring-carriages. |
| 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxxix, You'll drive her over in the *spring-cart. 1860 Dickens Uncomm. Trav. v, She shall be fetched by niece in a spring-cart. 1900 H. Lawson On Track 86 It was her mother an' sister in the spring-cart,..the doctor in his buggy. |
| 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz, Scenes xii, The charge of having once made the passage in a *spring-van. 1865 ― Mut. Fr. i. x, A spring van is delivering its load of greenhouse plants at the door. |
| 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 117 The tax to which *spring vehicles are subject. |
| 1794 Gentl. Mag. LXIV. ii. 1074 The best thing to be done generally..is to put the patient into a *spring-waggon. 1849 F. B. Head Stokers & Pokers viii, Each species of goods..is immediately unloaded and despatched by spring waggons to its destination. 1897 B. Harraden H. Strafford 101 The spring-waggon had sunk up to the hubs. |
c. In similar combs. used attributively or objectively, as
spring-blade knife, etc.
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., *Spring-blade knife, a pocket-knife whose blade is thrown out or held out by a spring. |
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Spring-blind maker, a maker of window blinds working on springs. |
| 1948 Penguin Music Mag. June 54 Sir Henry Wood..recommended the use of *spring-clip mutes which fastened on the music desks. 1972 Times 23 Sept. 9/1 These spring-clip pans..spring open when a clip at the side is released. |
| 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 192/1 The most handsome and up-to-date *spring heel shoe ever placed on the market. |
| 1853 in Inquiry Yorksh. Deaf & Dumb (1870) 30 *Spring-knife manufacturer. 1870 Ibid. 34 A spring-knife cutler. |
| 1934 Heal & Son Catal.: Better Furnit. 2 ‘Chassis’..(to fix to *spring-mattress frame). |
| 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz., Tales i, There were meat-safe-looking blinds..and *spring-roller blinds. 1973 Sun 4 Sept. 20/2 (Advt.), Spring roller blinds from {pstlg}2.94... Inc. all fittings, fringe and pull cords. |
| 1907 *Spring-side safety iron [see iron n.1 4 i]. 1921 W. de la Mare Memoirs of Midget viii. 48 She, too, was in black, with a long, springside boot. |
| 1874 Lawson Dis. Eye 94 A *spring-stop speculum..is to be introduced between the [eye-]lids, so as to keep them apart. |
| 1805 Dickson Pract. Agric. I. 32 With these *Spring-teeth-Rakes one person is said to do considerably more work than with the common wood rakes. |
| 1923 J. R. Bond Farm Implements & Machinery v. 54 (caption) Canadian *spring-tine cultivator with corn and grass seed boxes. 1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 15 Mar. 98/3 The spring-tine rake to the rear..is provided to meet necessary safety regulations. Ibid. 134/1 It's a Spring-tine Cultivator—Spring-tine Harrow..all in one. |
| 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 138 Another *spring tong arrangement, in which the legs are wood. |
| 1867 J. Hogg Microsc. i. ii. 157 This consists of a *spring-wire coil acting on an inner tube. |
26. Comb. a. With agent-nouns (denoting persons or implements), as
spring-contractor,
spring-forger,
spring-maker.
| 1843 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VI. 245 Description of Lieutenant D. Rankine's [Railway] *Spring Contractor. |
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Spring-forgers, workmen in the cutlery trade, who form the spring or piece of steel at the back of clasp and folding pocket-knives. |
| 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 81 The *spring-makers assert that steel of a finer quality would not answer so well. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Spring-maker, a manufacturer of steel compound springs for carriages, or of metal springs for easy chairs. 1896 Daily News 22 June 11/3 At West Bromwich there is a strike amongst the spring makers. |
b. With
vbl. ns. and
pres. pples., as
spring-making,
spring-shaping.
| 1837 W. B. Adams Carriages 123 It is evident that the whole process of spring-making is defective. 1884 Knight 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. |
c. With
pa. pples. or
adjs., as
spring-framed,
spring-jointed,
spring-snecked,
spring-tempered,
spring-tight, etc.
Spring-heeled Jack, a name given to a person who from his great activity in running or jumping,
esp. in order to rob or frighten people, was supposed to have springs in the heels of his boots;
dial. a highwayman.
| 1978 J. Irving World according to Garp xv. 311 In a Laundromat... They had opened one of the big *spring-doored dryers. |
| 1928 J. E. Haswell Horology vii. 78 In the category ‘*spring-driven’ clocks are placed the numerous types which derive their motive power from the energy of a coiled mainspring. |
| 1899 Fortn. Rev. LXV. 113, I ought also to mention a *spring-framed machine, the Triumph. |
| 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’. |
| 1840 Hood Kilmansegg, Fancy Ball xi, Tom, and Jerry, and *Spring-heel'd Jack. 1855 Smedley Occult Sciences 76 Like the lately popular Spring-heeled Jack. 1887 S. Cheshire Gloss. 367 There are so many o' these Spring-heeled Jacks about. |
| 1786 in 6th Rep. Dep. Kpr. Pub. Rec. ii. 174 A Buckle..with a new-constructed *spring-jointed Plate. |
| 1920 Galsworthy In Chancery ii. xiv. 236 His *spring-mattressed bed. |
| 1960 E. L. Delmar-Morgan Cruising Yacht Equipm. & Navigation 37 If the compass is of the *spring-mounted type [etc.]. |
| 1853 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 120 He had never been able to accomplish the art of opening a gate, especially one of those gingerly-balanced, *spring-snecked things. |
| 1952 Dylan Thomas Coll. Poems 174 No *springtailed tom in the red hot town. |
| a 1788 J. Imison Sch. Arts II. 164 A piece of *spring-tempered steel will not retain as much magnetism as hard steel. |
| 1876 Preece & Sivewright Telegraphy 82 This is effected by means of a carrier arm fixed ‘*spring-tight’ on an axle. |
| 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. |
d. Special
Combs.:
spring bows = bow-compass 1;
spring collet Engin., a tapered collet that is slotted along much of its length, so that when moved in a similarly tapered seat the separate parts are pressed against the stock inside the collet;
spring line, a line where the water table reaches the surface and along which springs are numerous;
spring-loaded a., containing a compressed or a stretched spring pressing one part against another;
spring rate = rate n.1 8 c;
spring sail (see
quot. 1931);
spring sweep = prec.;
spring-tree, a saddle-tree with two springs.
| 1895 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 686 Spring Bows, set of three, Ink, Pencil, and Divider, in case. 1964 G. Baker Scale Drawing 31 Spring-bows do not have knee-joints because the angle of working is so small as not to matter. |
| 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. 1971 B. Scharf Engin. & its Lang. viii. 61 The bore (internal diameter) of the spring collet matches the size and shape of the bar to be gripped. |
| 1932 Geol. Mag. LXIX. 407 West of the spring line, thin outcrops of hard ferrugineous sandstone occur in the clays. 1963 L. F. Chitty in Foster & Alcock Culture & Environment vii. 181 Other finds suggest an alternative route by the present hillside road over Clee Hill, with its far-extending outlook, keeping above the spring-line to Doddington. 1975 J. G. Evans Environment Early Man Brit. Isles vii. 159 Stream courses have a similar effect.., and the well known phenomenon of ‘spring-line settlement’ is an extreme example of this form of geographical determinism. |
| 1904 Engin. Rev. XI. 418/2 Delivery valves..of the mushroom spring-loaded type. 1938 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. XXIX. 40 A spring-loaded pencil..made record on a sheet of graph paper. 1979 J. Wainwright Tension v. 21 The door is spring-loaded. |
| 1957, 1959 Spring rate [see rate n.1 8 c]. |
| 1931 S. P. B. Mais England of Windmills p. xxiv, [Andrew] Meikle was..the inventor of the spring sail. Ibid., 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. 1971 S. Freese Windmills & Millwrighting iv. 58 The framework of spring sails consists of eight or ten sail bars, spaced 3 ft. apart and forming a series of bays, in each of which are three shutters 4 or 5 ft. by 11 in., wood or metal framed, and covered by wood or canvas. |
| 1919 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. CLXXXVII. 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 III. 50 It was desired to fit patent sail regulation instead of ‘spring’ or ‘sail’ sweeps. |
| 1963 E. H. Edwards Saddlery xiv. 97 In the modern spring tree of correct design..the necessity for a cut-back head is largely obviated by the fact that the head itself is set back at an angle of 45 degrees. 1976 Horse & Hound 3 Dec. 31 (Advt.), Parzival all purpose/jumping [saddle]. Again built on the same spring tree, finished in Stubben's special dark brown Sella leather. |
Add:
[II.] [6.] i. transf. The initial stages of a period of political liberalization,
esp. in a Communist state; the first steps in a programme of political and economic reform. Freq. with qualifying word,
esp. Prague Spring s.v. *
Prague n. 3.
| [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] with the succession of Prince Sviatopolk Mirski to the old post of Plehve.] 1917 M. J. Olgin Soul of Russian Revolution ix. 98 The second half of 1904, known as ‘Spring’, was..marked by a strong Liberal movement. Ibid. 101 December 12th..was the end of the ‘Spring’... The semi-official Moscow Courier hailed the end of the ‘notorious Spring’. 1956 Summary World Broadcasts (B.B.C.) 25 Oct. ii 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, etc. [see Prague Spring s.v. *Prague n. 3]. 1968 Problems of Communism Nov.–Dec. 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. |
▸
spring break n. orig. and chiefly
N. Amer. a break,
esp. from school, which takes place in the spring;
spec. (
usu. without article) an annual break from university, lasting one or two weeks, during which students often travel,
esp. gathering in large numbers at beaches and resorts for raucous parties.
| 1956 Washington Post & Times Herald 1 Apr. f10/2 The *spring break is the longest of the London University year. 1986 P. Behrens Night Driving (1987) 1 She could have been a college kid on spring break. 1990 Time 23 Apr. 61/1 The alcohol-fueled rites of spring break are sparking fresh criticism of aggressive college marketing by brewers. 1997 Indianapolis Star 5 June a5/1 Congress took a 10-day spring break last month. 2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Feb. v. 2/1 Spring-break bacchanals..with all the essentials including: live music, theme parties..and..a 24-hour open bar. |
▸
springform n. Cookery a round baking tin with a rim which detaches from the base; chiefly
attrib.| 1902 N.Y. Times 31 Mar. 4 (advt.) *Spring Form Cake-Pans, 45c. 1936 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 25 Sept. 8/1 Torten are usually made in springforms, the kind of cake form which the side ‘peels’ off, leaving a tin under the cake. 1999 K. Dalal Delicious Encounters 199 Place the mixture in a baking tin, preferably a springform tin or you will have difficulty extricating the cake. |
▪ II. spring, n.2 (
sprɪŋ)
Forms: 4–6
spryng(e, 6–
spring.
[Prob. related to OF. espring(u)er, -ier, etc., to dance: see spring v.1 Cf. MHG. sprung dance.] † 1. Some kind of dance.
Obs.—1| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 145 Pipers of alle Duche tonge To lerne loue Daunces, sprynges, Reus, and these straunge thynges. c 1460 Wisdom 750 in Macro Plays 60 Ye xall se a sprynge of Lechery, þat to me attende. [Cf. l. 688.] |
2. A tune upon the bagpipes or other musical instrument,
esp. a quick or lively tune; a dance-tune. Chiefly, and now only,
Sc.| c 1475 Henryson Poems (S.T.S.) III. 37 Him to reios ȝit playit he a spryng. 1508 Dunbar Poems vi. 109 A bag pipe to play a spryng. a 1536 Songs, Carols, etc. (1907) 125, I dide no-thyng to hym this day, But piped hym a sprynge. c 1622 Fletcher Prophetess v. iii, We will meet him, And strike him such new springs, and such free welcoms, Shall make him scorn an Empire [etc.]. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. i, Gie's a bonny spring, For I'm in tift to hear you play and sing. 1757 Smollett Reprisal i. ii, The commander has sent for her to play a spring to the sasenach damsel. a 1835 Hogg Tales & Sk. (1837) II. 351 Let me strengthen my heart with ae spring on my pipes before I venture. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxv, Robin took the pipes, and played a little spring in a very ranting manner. |
| trans. 1788 Picken Poems 17 Frae the sprigs, the sylvan quire War liltan up their early spring. |
| prov. 1721 Kelly Sc. Prov. 20 Another would play a Spring, e're you tune your Pipes. 1737 Ramsay Sc. Prov. (1750) 16 Auld springs gi'e nae price. |
b. fig. or in
fig. context.
Sc.| 1572 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxviii. 21 Bot now Prouest Marschell in playing this spring;..Beleuis thow this trumprie sall stablische thy style? a 1585 Montgomerie Cherry & Slae 919 Bot sen ȝe think it easy thing To mount aboif the mune, Of ȝour awin fidle tak a spring, And daunce quhen ȝe haif done. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 350 Christ..will give you leave to sing as you please, but He will not dance to your daft spring. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. ii. 27 Experience will this unriddle; Sae take a Spring of thine awn Fiddle. 1784 Burns Ep. J. R[ankine] vi, I've play'd mysel a bonie spring, An' danc'd my fill! 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxvi, Ou, sir, if the gentleman likes he may play his ain spring first; it's a' ane to Dandie. 1887 Jamieson's Sc. Dict. Suppl. 226 ‘Tak a spring o' your ain fiddle’, i.e., Follow your own plan and take the consequences. |
▪ III. spring, n.3 Obs. exc. dial. [Alteration of springe n.] A snare or noose.
| 1604 Breton Grimello's Fortunes Wks. (Grosart) II. 5/1 Why sir, I set no springs for Woodcocks. Ibid. 10/1 To make a meanes, by which to catch this Wood-cocke in a fine spring. 1621 Quarles Esther xiv, The rau'ning Fox, that did annoyance bring Vnto thy Vineyard, 's taken in a Spring. 1648 C. Walker Hist. Independ. 129 This engine..is better then any spring or trap to catch any active Presbyterian. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Lark, Country People..make use of Springs..to take Larks with. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 224 My friend, Justice Buzzard, has set so many springs for my life. 1881–6 in Lanc. and Leic. glossaries. |
▪ IV. spring, v.1 (
sprɪŋ)
Pa. tense
sprang,
sprung.
pa. pple. sprung. Forms:
inf. 1
springan, 3 (7)
springen, 3–6
springe (3
springue, 4
sprinke, 5
sprenge), 4–
spring; 4–6
sprynge (5
-yn), 4–5
spryng.
pa. tense 1–
sprang (1
spranc, 5
sprank), 4–6
sprange (5
spranke); 1–7
sprong (4
spronk), 4–7
spronge (3
sprongue); 3–4 (
subj.)
sprunge, 6–
sprung;
pl. 1
sprungon, 2–4
sprungen, 3–4
sprongen.
pa. pple. 1–4
sprungen (6
Sc. sprungin); 3–5
i-sprunge (6
arch. i-sprung), 3, 6
sprunge, 6–
sprung; 4
y-sprongen,
sprongun, 4–6
sprongen (5–6
-yn); 3–4
i-spronge, 4 (
h)y-spronge,
i-sprong, 6, 8
arch. y-sprong; 3–6
spronge, 4–7
sprong, 6
Sc. sproung; 8
sprang.
[Common Teutonic: OE. springan (more commonly áspringan), = OFris. springa (WFris. springe, NFris. spring), MDu. (and Du.) springen, OS. springan (MLG. springen, usually sprengen), OHG. springan (MHG. and G. springen), ON. (Icel., Norw., Sw.) springa (Da. springe). Hence OF. espringuer to dance, It. springare to wag the legs.] I. Intransitive senses.
*
1. Of things: To change place or position by sudden and rapid movement without contact; to move with a sudden jerk or bound (in later use
esp. by resilient force); to dart or fly. Freq. with
advs.| Beowulf 2582 Beorᵹes weard..wearp wælfyre; wide sprungon hildeleoman. c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxv, Þeah þu teo hwelcne boh ofdune to þære eorðan..swa sprincð he up & wriᵹað wið his ᵹecyndes. 993 Battle of Maldon 137 He..þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang onᵹean. c 1205 Lay. 23924 Heo..fusden feondliche Þat fur him sprong after. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1804 Ðor wrestelede an engel wið, Senwe sprungen fro ðe lið. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 13 Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange, Ofte haf I wayted. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 989 As fire ys wont to quyk and goo From a sparke spronge amys. |
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. 193 A Hasel or other stick..that being stuck into the ground may spring up like unto the springs they usually set for fowl. 1680 [see springing vbl. n.1 5 b]. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Elasticity, The component Parts..must..spring back to their former natural State. 1829 Chapters Phys. Sci. 157 The elasticity of water is farther proved by its..springing upward..when poured upon any body. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. III. 20 He drew adown the wind-stirred bough, and took The apples thence; then let it spring away. |
| fig. 13.. K. Alis. 3070 (Laud MS.), Þe folkes herte so gan sprynge Aȝeins Alisaunder þe kynge. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 160 With that sprang vp hir spreit be a span hecher. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xvii, Arthur Philipson's heart sprung high at the appearance of these strangers. |
b. To be resilient or elastic; to shift or move on account of this.
| 1667– [see springing ppl. a. 4]. 1821 Scott Nigel i, A step that sprung like a buck's in Epping Forest. 1869 Rankine Machine & Hand-tools Pl. M 2, It is impossible for the tables to spring in the least. 1881 A. A. Knox New Playground 121 We delighted in our mule-carriage; if the springs did not spring very much, at any rate the mules were never tired. 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 130 A forme of type or plates is liable to ‘spring’, or go off its feet, if not properly locked up. |
c. To rise suddenly
to, come suddenly
into, the eyes, face, etc.
| 1848 Dickens Dombey iii, With tears springing to her eyes. 1873 Black Pr. Thule xxvi. 433 A flush of decision sprang into his face. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii, The quick color that sprang to her cheek at his words. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxii, An indignant refusal sprang to his lips. |
† 2. Of fame, rumour, etc.: To spread, extend. Freq. with
wide.
Obs.| (a) Beowulf 18 Beowulf wæs breme, blæd wide sprang, Scyldes eafera, Scedelandum in. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 127 Ðo sprong þe word of his holi liflode wide into þe londe. c 1205 Lay. 6302 Of hire wisdome sprong þat word wide. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 442 So wide sprong is guode los. c 1320 Sir Tristrem 22 His name, it sprong wel wide. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 303 Þis word..sprang wel wyde. 1458 in Archaeol. (1842) XXIX. 327 Hys worship spryngethe wyde. |
| (b) c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. ix. 26 Ᵹe-eade vel spranc mersung ðas..in alle eorðo. [c 1000 Þes hlisa sprang ofer eall þæt land.] a 1300 K. Horn (Camb.) 211 So schal þi name springe Fram kynge to kynge. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 74 Thurgh oute the world..so gan her name spryng That her to seen had euery wight likyng. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 343 Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, Sprong out to every mannes Ere. c 1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. (1896) 40 Her-aftyr spronge tythyngges of the Erle..ynto englond. c 1480 Henryson Orph. & Euryd. 73 His noble fame so far It sprang & grewe. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 26 For sodainly sprange out a fame..that king Richard was yet livyng. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 357 The word sprang throw the contrie that the king of Scottland was landit. |
† b. Of a scent: To be diffused.
Obs.—1| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 1704 The swote smelle spronge so wide, That it dide alle the place aboute [fill]. |
3. Of persons or animals: To bound or leap.
a. With
advs. or preps.
| c 1205 Lay. 21481 Cador sprong to horse, swa spærc him doh of fure. c 1300 Havelok 91 He..sprong forth so sparke of glede. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12839 In to þe most pres Ider þen sprong. a 1400–50 Alexander 1318 Alexander..Springis out with a spere. a 1425 Cursor M. 12527 (Trin.) A nedder sprong out of þe sond. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. x, [The serpent] sprange after his neck for to have strangled hym. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Mar. 79 With that sprong forth a naked swayne. 1632 Lithgow Trav. i. 37, I sprung forward through the throng. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 339 The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upwards spurn the briny Seas. 1788 Cowper Mrs. Montagu 26 Like Pallas springing arm'd from Jove. 1797 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. (1799) I. 205 [He] lightly sprung over the fence by which they were separated. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvi. III. 670 Some of the English sprang to their arms and made an attempt to resist. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xliii, His first impulse was to spring forward. Ibid. lx, His daughter sprang to his embrace. |
| fig. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. vii. 610 The whole of the district which owned the sway of the Rajah sprung to arms. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 220 Mago was young and adventurous and sprang at the task assigned him. |
| transf. a 1822 Shelley Triumph Life 2 Swift as a spirit hastening to his task.., the Sun sprang forth Rejoicing in his splendour. 1871 L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. (1894) x. 228 The mighty peaks..spring at one bound to a height of some ten thousand feet. |
b. Without
const. Also
spec. of partridges, to rise from cover.
| a 1300 K. Horn (Camb.) 593 Þe fole bigan to springe, & horn murie to singe. c 1440 York Myst. xxxvi. 224 Full faste schall I springe for to spede. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. ii. (1883) 33 Octauian maad his sones to be taught..to swyme, to sprynge, and lepe. 1530 Palsgr. 730 Marke hym whan he daunseth, you shall se hym springe lyke a yonckher. 1589 R. Robinson Gold. Mirr. (1851) 51 The Partridge sprang, my hauke fled from my fist. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 465 The Tawnie Lion..then springs. 1709 O. Dykes Eng. Prov. w. Mor. Refl. (ed. 2) 148 The Partridge..always springs afterwards upon the first Sight of a Setter or a Dog in the Field. 1820 Shelley Arethusa i, Gliding and springing She went, ever singing, In murmurs as soft as sleep. 1847 C. Brontë J. Eyre xxvi, The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxxiv, Nero persuaded himself that his mother was watching him like a tiger-cat in act to spring. |
c. To rise quickly, or with a bound, from a sitting or recumbent posture. With
advs. and preps.
| 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. vii. (1883) 141 Ye kynge..sprang out of his chare and resseyuyd them worshipfully. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 62 The whole family..Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong. 1667 Milton P.L. 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. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 72 The..monster sprung up and cast himself..upon our hero. 1819 Scott Leg. Montrose vi, At an early hour in the morning the guests of the castle sprung from their repose. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 104 When the Sultan heard this lamentation, he sprang upon his feet. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xx. 137 Good news caused me to spring from my bed. |
d. slang. To offer a higher price.
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Lab. II. 28 If the seller finds he can get him to ‘spring’ or advance no further. |
e. Phr.
where did you spring from? and
varr., used when someone appears unexpectedly.
colloq.| 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xx, Where have you sprung from? 1892 I. Zangwill Childr. 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 Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith ix. 181 ‘Wherever,’ she inquired, ‘did you spring from, Ed?’ 1932 G. Heyer Devil's Cub ix. 141 Several persons hailed him, demanding to know whence he had sprung. 1971 ‘S. Woods’ Serpent's Tooth 154 She was, perhaps, the last person he had expected... ‘Where did you spring from?’ |
f. U.S. slang. To escape or be released from arrest or imprisonment.
| 1904 H. Hapgood Autobiogr. of Thief ix. 188 Soon after I was transferred from Sing Sing..a friend..said ‘..If you can get on Keeper Riley's gallery I think you can spring (escape).’ 1926 Clues Nov. 162/2 Spring, to be released, as from jail or prison. 1955 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. xxiv. 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. |
g. Austral. and
U.S. slang. To pay
for a treat. Also without
const.| 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?’ 1973 W. McCarthy Detail iii. 163 I'm springing for chow tonight and charging it to the Service. 1976 M. Machlin Pipeline ix. 107 We'll spring for the booze. |
4. To fly asunder or in pieces; to burst, break, crack, or split; to give way. Also
fig. of the heart.
| c 1320 Cast. Love 593 Er him ouȝte þe herte to springe, Þen he scholde him wraþþe for eny þinge. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1195 Speires vnto sprottes sprongen ouer hedes. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xiii, The grete schafte that was longe, Alle to spildurs hit spronge. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 3920 An C tymes hys herte nye sprange, By that bors had hym the tale tolde. 1623 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1908) II. 345 By reason of a plancke that spronge in hir. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ii. 4 If one of those ends should spring, or giue way, it would be a..troublesome danger. 1820 Hennen Princ. Milit. Surg. (ed. 2) 217 At length an artery sprung, which, in the attempt to secure it, most probably burst under the ligature. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. ix, Splicing a favourite old fives'-bat which had sprung. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) II. ii. 153 At once a flood of light I'll fling, Yet softly lest the glass should spring. |
b. In
pa. pple. † (
a) Of horses: Foundered.
Obs. (
b) Of planks, masts, etc.: Split, cracked, ‘shaken’. (
c)
slang. Of persons: Intoxicated.
| (a) a 1400 King & Hermit 68 The kyng had folowyd hym so long, Hys god sted was ne sprong. 1676 Lond. Gaz. No. 1120/4 The Gelding is sprang of the near leg before. 1696 Aubrey Misc. xiii. 110 To Cure a Beast that is Sprung, that is poysoned. |
| (b) 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, When a Mast is only crack'd..then they say, The Mast is Sprung. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 271 The Carpenters discovered the Fore Mast to be sprung. 1765 J. Byron in Hawkesworth Voy. (1773) I. 59 Capt. Mouat, who commanded the Tamar, informed me that his rudder was sprung. 1834 Marryat P. Simple (1863) 128 To examine the main-topsail yard, which had been reported as sprung. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vi. 222 The dissel-boom was sprung, and the hind axle also. 1894 Times 29 May 11/1 It will not be possible to race this cutter..owing to her mast being sprung. |
| (c) 1826 Sporting Mag. XVIII. 327 Both himself and his brother dragsman—in the language of the road—were sprung. 1856 Mrs. Stowe Dred. I. vi. 86 He reckoned they was a little bit sprung. 1901 G. Douglas House w. Green Shutters 227 [He] came staggering round the corner, ‘a little sprung’. |
c. Of mines: To go off, explode.
| a 1658 Cleveland Poor Cavalier 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 Froger Voy. 30 On the 22nd the mines sprang, and took very good effect. 1747 Gentl. Mag. XVII. 437 The mine will spring by its gallery. 1829 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VI. 303/1 If likewise it be wished that one mine shall spring before another, it is only necessary to shorten the hose. |
5. To swell
with milk; to give signs of foaling or calving.
| 1607 Markham Cavel. i. (1617) 5 It must be good ground, because it may make your Mares spring with milke. 1714 Lond. Gaz. No. 5233/4 A brown Mare in Foal,..Springs for Foaling, and is 5 Years old. a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 281 Two understanding farmers..observed a heifer's udder to spring much. Ibid. 317 The butcher..found their udders spring with milk. 1828 Carr Craven Gloss., Spring,..to give symptoms of calving. 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., 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. |
**
6. To issue or come forth suddenly, to break out,
esp. in a jet or stream. Freq. with
forth or
out.
| Beowulf 2966 Him for swenge swat ædrum sprong forð under fexe. a 900 O.E. Martyrol. 25 Aug. 152 Him sprungon spearcan of þam muðe. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2456 Þer sprong ut, mid te dunt, milc imenget wið blod. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6187 Of þe helmes þat fur sprong out, vor hii were stronge beye. c 1375 Cursor M. 9102 (Fairf.), His body [to] driue nakid wiþ skourges þorou þat þrange; out of his bak þe blode sprange. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvi. (Nicholas) 581 Of his body oyle cane spryng, þat helful wes til al sare thing. c 1480 Henryson Orph. & Euryd. 150 The bludy teres sprang out of his eyne. |
| 1822 Shelley Scenes fr. Faust ii. 110 And near us, see, sparks spring out of the ground. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xxxiv, The perspiration which sprung from his brow. 1857 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. v. 69 From whose dissevered neck the blood sprung forth. |
| transf. a 1300 Cursor M. 1600 Þis word out of his hert sprang. c 1425 Seven Sages (P.) 299 Yf ony word hym hadde sprong, That men myght here of his tong. 1535 Coverdale 2 Chron. xxvi. 19 The leprosy spronge out of his foreheade in the presence of the prestes. |
b. esp. Of water: To rise or flow in a stream out of the ground. Freq. with
out or
up.
| (a) c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 141 Þe stan to-chan, and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer-of. 12.. Song to Virgin 26 in O.E. Misc. 194 Þe welle springet hut of þe, uirtutis. c 1290 St. Brendan in S. Eng. Leg. I. 237 Watur of þis harde stone..Þare sprong out eche daye. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 293 Every thing which he can telle, It springeth up as doth a welle. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xii. 51 It commez fra þa mount Liban of twa welles þat springes vp þare. 1611 Bible Num. xxi. 17 Israel sang..Spring vp O well. 1730 A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 168 Pipes, by which..they caused odoriferous Liquor to spring up from the bottom to the top of the Amphitheatre. 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 138 If..the land is wet, even at some distance above the place where the water springs out. 1832 R. & J. Lander Exped. Niger II. xiv. 281 Our own [hut] had positively pools of water springing up out of the ground. |
| (b) c 1220 Bestiary 62 in O.E. Misc., A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai boðe bi niȝt and bi dai. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 318 For þare beoz ase it veynene weren onder eorþe.., and þarof springueth þis wellene ech-on. c 1320 Cast. Love 843 Þe welle springeþ of alle grace Þat fulleþ þe diches in vche a place. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 119 Beside a roche..He syh wher sprong a lusty welle. 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 79 Waters þat spryngyn yn stony lond..er heuy & noyant. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xviii. xxi. 764 There he wold lye doune and see the welle sprynge and burbyl. 1530 Palsgr. 730, I have sene the place where Temmes springeth. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xi. 45 A very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 519 Of one hill spring three great Rivers. 1675 E. Wilson Spadacrene Dunelm. 17 Such a quantity of water..as springs daily out of the Earth. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Spring, to rise, come, or spout out, as a River or Water does. 1781 Cowper Charity 366 How copious and how clear Th' o'erflowing well of Charity springs here! 1816 Byron Stanzas Augusta, ‘Through the day’ vi, In the desert a fountain is springing. |
† c. To gush
with blood.
Obs.—1| 1533 Bellenden Livy i. xxii. (S.T.S.) I. 125 Þe wound þat was springand with huge stremes of blude. |
7. Of morning, dawn, etc.: To come above the horizon; to begin to appear.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 60 Ðat was ðe firme morgen tid, ðat euere sprong in werlde wid. Ibid. 3264 Ðo sprong ðe daiening. a 1300 K. Horn (Camb.) 124 Al þe day & al þe niȝt, Til hit sprang dai liȝt. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 5259 On þe morȝnyng wan þe day him sprong, Charlis ȝeode ys host among. a 1400–50 Alexander 2044 Begynnys sone in þe gray day as any gleme springis. c 1440 Astron. Cal. (MS. Ashm. 391), To wete euery day what houre & what mynute the day begynneþ to sprynge. 1513 Douglas æneid iv. iv. 1 Furth of the see, with this, the dawing springis. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. I. 49/2 By the light of the daie that then began to spring. 1611 Bible Judges xix. 25 When the day began to spring. 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. iii. 121 Phospher..Promis'd the Sun, ere Day began to spring. 1803 Visct. Strangford Poems of Camoens (1810) 54 Dear is the dawn, which springs at last. 1876 Morris Sigurd iii. 182 But meseems that the earth is lovely and each day springeth anew. |
b. In
fig. contexts.
| 1382 Wyclif Isaiah ix. 2 To the men dwellende in the regioun of the shadewe of deth, liȝt sprungen is to them. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle i. xxii. (1859) 26 To whome is ysprunge veray sterre of trouth. c 1450 Myrr. our Ladye 255 Lyghte spryngeth in darkenesse, helle ys pryued of robry. c 1460 Wisdom 1163 in Macro Plays, The tru son of ryghtusnes..Xall sprynge in hem þat drede hys meknes. 1535 Coverdale Isaiah lx. 3 The Gentiles shal come to thy light, & kynges to the brightnes y{supt} springeth forth vpon y⊇. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love A iv, The light of Gods truth might spryng foorth agayne. 1671 Milton Samson 584 But God..can as easie Cause light again within thy eies to spring. |
† c. To ascend in the sky.
Obs.—1| 15.. in Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) 317 The mone sprang nevir abone his kne. |
***
8. Of vegetation: To grow; to arise or develop by growth.
a. Const.
from,
of,
out of.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 314 Swa swa of anum treowe springað maneᵹa boᵹas, swa gað of anre lufe maneᵹa oðre mihta. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 7 [He] bad him legge þulke kurneles onder is fader toungue Ȝwane he were ded, and burien him, and lokie ȝwat þarof sprongue. a 1300 Cursor M. 22878 (Edinb.), Þoru his wil dos þat mihti kinge Out of hard tre to spring First þe lef and þan þe flowr. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love iii. vii. (Skeat) l. 5 Thou desyrest to knowe the maner of braunches that out of the tree shulde springe. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) ii. 6 Of þase foure graynes schuld spring trees. 1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Kings iv. 33 From the cedar tre..euen vnto the hyssope that springeth out of the wall. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. ii. 13 Edwards seuen sonnes..Were as..seuen faire branches springing from one roote. a 1689 A. Behn tr. Cowley's Plants C.'s Wks. 1711 III. 391 The noble Flow'r that did from Ajax spring. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 661 Shoots of the same year's growth, springing from wood of the last year's growth. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex. 186 It may be regarded as an indubitable fact that all plants spring from seed. 1845 Gosse Ocean i. (1849) 35 From a number of little rootlets..springs a straight olive-brown stem. |
| fig. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶388 Than is Pride þe generall rote of all harmes, for of þis rote spryngen certein braunches, as Ire, Envye [etc.]. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 272 The primitive Root out of which the vast Stock of the Catholick Church sprung. 1813 Shelley Q. Mab v. 45 Commerce! beneath whose poison-breathing shade No solitary virtue dares to spring. 1872 Morley Voltaire 6 Some miraculous soil from which prodigies and portents spring. |
b. Without
const.| c 1055 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 312 On lengtentima springað oððe greniað wæstmas. a 1250 Owl & Night. 437 Þe blostme gynneþ springe & sprede. Ibid. 1042 For he is wod þat soweþ his sed Þer neuer gras ne springþ ne bled. a 1300 Cursor M. 4702 Na corn on erth, ne gress sprang. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 53 He syh upon the grene gras The faire freisshe floures springe. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. xi. 160 Basilicon..spryngith soone yf aysel on hem reyne. c 1480 Henryson Orph. & Euryd. 90 Lyke till a flour þat plesandly will spring. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §124 Make they settes..to stande halfe a foote and more aboue the erthe, that they may sprynge oute in many braunches. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. 22 The weedes..plucked vp by the rootes before they haue seeded, wyll neuer spring agayne. 1653 Ramesey Astrol. Restored 312 They begin to bud and shout forth, as the Vine, Fig-tree and others then springing. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 450 The Grass securely springs above the Ground; The tender Twig shoots upward to the Skies. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 455 It springs well, and its flax is sooner ripe than any other. 1830 Tennyson Poems 44 For her the green grass shall not spring,..Till Love have his full revenge. 1883 Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Rlwy. 21 In all cases where the seed does not spring, the Contractor is to re-sow the same. |
| fig. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5966 Here sprong lo þe uerste more [= stock] as of hom of normandye. |
c. With
up.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 20788 In þe toumb..Mai naman find na thing bot flur Springand up of suet sauur. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xiii. 5 Anoon thei ben sprungen vp, for thei hadde nat depnesse of erthe. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems x. 41 Now spring vp flouris fra the rute. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Germinasco, to shoote or sprynge vp. 1611 Bible Isaiah xliv. 4 And they shall spring vp as among the grasse, as willowes by the water courses. a 1770 Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iii. 40 Among the good seed spring up Tares. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 536 The olive-tree which Minerva had there caused to spring up. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex. 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. |
† d. In the
pa. pple. used predicatively.
Obs.| 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xxviii. 21 Heil spice sprong, þat neuer was spent. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 249 The lilie croppes on and on, Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, He smot of. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 377 Fertile, & fressh, ek knotty, sprongen newe Thy graffes be. 1530 Palsgr. 730 This yere is farre forthe, the hawthorne buddes be spronge forthe all redy. 1599 Thynne Animadv. (1875) 50 The trompettes chapplettes were of oke serriall newly spronge, and not coome to perfectione. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 548 There stood A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change. |
9. Of conditions, qualities, etc.: To take rise, to originate or proceed.
a. Const.
† of or
out of;
from or
whence.
| (a) a 1200 Vices & Virtues 63 Of ðesere godes dradnesse springþ ut an oðer godes ȝiue. c 1200 Ormin 4936 Forr alle mahhtess springenn ut Off soþ meocnessess rote. a 1300 Cursor M. 27538 Vte o þir seuen [sins] all oþer springes, als of þe stouen þe branches hinges. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 194 For on Caluarye of Crystes blode, Crystenedome gan sprynge. c 1440 Jacob's Well 283 It springeth out of compassioun, and of ruthe of an-oþeres synne. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 130 The chefe poynt that perteynyth to theyr honowre,..wych ys ryse and spronge of a long custume. 1578 in Hakluyt's Voy. (1904) VIII. 10, I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soever it springeth. 1603 G. Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 261 Out of which knott hath spronge the peace of this lande. 1631 Widdowes Nat. Philos. 36 His oyle..helpeth diseases of the brest; and other springing of colde. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan i. xii. 58 New Religions may againe be made to spring out of them. 1772–84 Cook's Voy. (1790) V. 1625 Some good, however, generally springs up out of evil. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 343 Such a limitation being by way of use, springs out of the estate. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 69 Out of the union of wisdom and temperance with courage, springs justice. |
| (b) c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶321 It is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes that synnes spryngen, and how they encreessen. 15.. in Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) 329 Beseiking him, fra quhome all mercy springis, Ws to ressaue. a 1586 Sidney Ps. x. iv, From his mouth doth spring Cursing and cosening. a 1601 ? Marston Pasquil & Kath. (1878) ii. 374 From thee doth spring..her cause of sorrowing. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 137 From whence then springs this inequality? 1718 Free-thinker No. 10. 68 Nothing but Confusion and Immorality can spring from Falsehood, in the End. 1790 F. Burney Diary Apr., Humour springing from mere dress, or habits,..is quickly obsolete. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 155 The coalition which had restored the king terminated with the danger from which it had sprung. 1874 Green Short Hist. iv. §4. 192 A yet more important result sprang from the increase of population. |
b. Without
const. In later use commonly with
up.
| (a) 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5935 After hor daye sone þe sorwes spronge bliue. Ibid. 9819 After sein tomas deþe..þer sprong contek suiþe strong. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 338 Among al blasphemes þat ever sprongen, þis is þe moost cursid. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 285 For Pelagius his heresye, þat gan among hem to springe. 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 73 Hete sprynges þanne yn alle kyngdomes. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 889 in Macro Plays, Sum Pryde I wolde spronge hyȝe in þi hert. 1508 Dunbar Gold. Targe 158 Curage in thame was noucht begonne to spring. 1563 T. Gale Antidot. i. 1 The utilitie springinge by the right vse of these [medicines] is great. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xiv, New pleasures will be springing forth unto us. 1669 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 292 We have other great matters spring daily upon us. 1711 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 163, I ask..whether such an intent ever sprung in the brains of the Irish Commissioners. 1783 Johnson Lett. (1788) II. 302, I read your last kind letter with great delight; but when I came to love and honour, what sprung in my mind? 1902 V. Jacob Sheep-Stealers xiv, A little rift had sprung between the two brothers. |
| (b) 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 328 b, There sprang up many adversaries. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. 180 There have sprung up also in these later times, two other Courts. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. ii. 99 Sense upon which holy Intelligence And heavenly Reason..Do springen up. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxv, The delight which he perceived began to spring up in him. 1822 Lamb Elia i. Old Actors, Thought springing up after thought, I would almost say, as they were watered by her tears. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 342 In a market town which had sprung up near the castle of the proprietor. 1874 Green Short Hist. iii. §4. 128 The scholastic philosophy sprung up in the schools of Paris. |
† c. In
pa. pple. used predicatively. Also with
up.
Obs.| (a) c 1327 in Wright Pol. Songs (Camden) 339 Falsnesse is so fer forth over al the londe i-sprunge. 1382 Wyclif Exod. xii. 30 Ther was sprongun a greet crye in Egipte. 1452 in Catal. Anc. Deeds (1906) V. 350 The cause also of such dyvorce had and movet sprongen or comyn opon the party of the said Margarete. c 1460 Reg. Oseney Abbey (1913) 93 A thyng i-sprunge late, bitwene religiouse men..of the oone partie, and a worthy man..of þe oþer. 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 138 Syth dyuers opynions and dyuers streyues hade ben sprongen betwene th' Aldermen and the Commounalte. 1545 Act 37 Hen. VIII, c. 17 Preamb., Heresies,..idolatrie, ipocrisies, and supersticions sprongen and growing within the same [church]. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 312 If Natures concord broke, Among the Constellations warr were sprung. |
| (b) 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 44 Enormytyes and abuses sprongen vp in the Christen religion. 1556 Olde Antichrist 14 The gospell, which was than but grene, & newly sprongen up. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T. John i. 1 Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the person..of Christ. |
10. Of persons (or animals): To originate by birth or generation; to issue or descend. Usu.
const. from,
of, or
out of.
a. In
pa. pple.| c 1175 Moral Ode 175 (Lamb. MS.), Alle þo þat isprunge beð of adam and of eue. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 4023 Ðis folc, sprungen of israel, Is vnder god timed wel. c 1275 Lay. 25082 Alle þeos weren min eldre, of wan we beoþ i-spronge. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 8024 (Kölbing), Þis deuelen felle Þat ben ysprongen out of helle. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvi. 196 God..Sent forth his sone..To occupien hym here til issue were spronge. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxv. 4 Forsothe of Madian was sprongun Epha. a 1440 Found. St. Bartholomew's (1895) 2 Thys manne, sprongyng or boryne of lowe lynage,..beganne to haunte the housholdys of noble men. c 1450 M.E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 214 Item drynk aissches mad of ey schelles, þat bryddes were sprong, in whyt wyn. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. viii. 41 The Mahomies..were the first gentlemen sprung out of the ancient stocke of Iustinian. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iii. iii, Their lims more large..Than all the brats ysprong from Typhon's loins. 1652 Benlowes Theoph. vii. xxxi, Sprung of Thyself, or rather no way sprung! Chief Good! a 1764 Lloyd Progr. Envy Poet Wks. 1774 I. 135 Fancy, her name, ysprong of race divine. 1791 Cowper Iliad xvi. 542 Under yon great city fight no few Sprung from Immortals whom thou shall provoke. 1835 T. Mitchell Aristophanes, Acharn. 558 note, Alcibiades, who, on the mother's side, was sprung from Cœsyra. 1865 Swinburne Atalanta 36 Thou, sprung of the seed of the seas As an ear from a seed of corn. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. 229 Adeliza of Löwen, sprung from those lands kindred in blood and speech with England. |
| transf. a 1300 K. Horn 548 (Camb.), We beþ kniȝtes ȝonge Of o dai al isprunge [Harl. alle to day yspronge]. |
b. In other uses.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 337 Þer ssolle kinges come and springe of þi blod. a 1300 Cursor M. 5599 Þe kinges kin i sal vn-do, O quam sprang of þe sauueur. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶761 Of soch seed as cherles spryngen, of soch seed spryngen lordes. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. cii. 83 Moche peple sprong and come of hem. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxvi. 22 Our wicht invinsable Sampson sprang the fra. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 8 But whence they sprong, or how they were begot, Vneath is to assure. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. xxv. 80 From him sprang two families or linages. 1665 Dryden & Howard Ind. Queen ii. i, You grieve to see Your young Prince glorious, 'cause he sprang from me. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. I. i. 3 He consecrated it to the God of War, from whom he would have it thought he sprung. 1752 Young Brothers i. i, From this Philip's bed Two Alexanders spring. 1779 Mirror No. 32, His father having sprung nobody knows whence. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex. 138 Enlarged vesicles that have sprung from a primitive molecule. Ibid. 225 Ovid replenishes his post-diluvian world with animals that sprang up out of the earth. 1850 Irving Goldsmith i. 18 He sprang from a respectable, but by no means a thrifty stock. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn ii, His face was stamped with all the nobility of the Domitian race from which he sprang. |
c. To come into being. Also with additions as
forth,
to life.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 334 Mean while The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring New Heav'n and Earth. 1784 Cowper Task iii. 769 Springs a palace in its stead, But in a distant spot. 1813 T. Busby Lucretius I. i. 1055 Nought that beneath the etherial concave grows, Had sprang to life, or to perfection rose. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam x. xviii, The winds.., as before Those winged things sprang forth, were void of shade. 1820 Byron Juan iii. lxxxvi. i, The isles of Greece!.. Where Delos rose, and Phœbus sprung! |
d. To arise as an offshoot
from a society.
| 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 114 The Monophysites [were] a sect which sprung from the Eutychians. 1847 Prandi tr. Cesare Cantu, Reform. Eur. I. 214 From the Order of the Benedictines there sprang the Maurines. |
11. To grow (
up); to increase or extend in height or length; to grow out
from some thing or part.
| 1382 Wyclif Dan vii. 20 Of ten hornes whiche it hadde in the hed, and of the tother that was sprungen vp. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3265 The spekes..The space of a spere lenghe springande fulle faire. c 1440 Pallad on Husb. xii. 572 Ley vnder laure, and flakis vp let springe [glossed exurgere]. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking c ij, Yet have I sene sum fowkys take hem owte of mewe when the sarcell were bot halfe i-spronge. 1674 Ray Coll. Words 115 The cake of Silver after it grows cold springs or rises up into branches. 1882 Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 544 Three or five large broad protuberances..spring from the periphery of the floral axis. |
b. To attain to a certain height or point by growth. Also
fig.| c 1400 Rom. Rose 6954 Therof alle perseners be we, And tellen folk where so we go, That man thurgh us is sprongen so. 1530 Palsgr. 730 Howe you be spronge sythe I sawe you. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 51 According to the height that I would haue the Hedge to spring. 1627 May Lucan vi. 118 Corne as yet not sprong To the full height. 1651 J. Davies Civ. Warres 365 They could not digest to see a young sprig..sprung up to be a commander. a 1861 T Woolner My Beautiful Lady, Day Dream 13 Beholdest thou Thy babe, now sprung a man? |
c. Of arches, etc.: To take a curving or slanting upward course
from some point of support. Also without
const.| (a) 1739 C. Labelye Piers Westm. Bridge 8 Semi-circular Arches, springing from about 1 Foot higher than Low-water Mark. 1814 Scott Diary 12 Aug. in Lockhart, Doubtless an arched roof sprung from the side walls. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 573 The inclined ridges, springing from the angles of the walls, are called hips. 1859 Jephson Brittany v. 54 A fine massive round tower with a turret springing from it about halfway up its height. 1881 Young Ev. Man his own Mechanic §962. 458 A wall plate is nailed to receive the rafters, one of which springs from each of the front posts. |
| (b) 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 14 The Arch..springs at high Water Mark. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost xi. 308 The piers rise until the arch begins to spring. |
d. In
pa. pple.: Set out, extended.
| 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 351/1 The ribs must be well ‘sprung’ from the spine. |
12. With
up. Of a breeze: To begin to blow.
| 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 479 A Breeze of Wind springing up the same Evening, we weighed and set Sail for the Brasils. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. (ed. 4) 349 When a gale sprung up, it constantly blew off the land. 1805 Nelson 25 Spet. in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 50 As the breeze is now springing up from the NW. 1877 A. B. Edwards Up Nile v. 111 By and by a little breeze springs up. |
II. Transitive senses.
****
13. † a. To sprinkle (a liquid, etc.);
= sprenge v. 1.
Obs.| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 23 Reyn is y-seie arered vppon þe hilles and anon i-spronge aboute in þe feeldes. Ibid. V. 7 He ordeyned holy water..to be spronge in Cristen mennis hous. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 170 Whanne þou hast sewid þe wounde bineþe..þanne springe þeron poudre consolidatif. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 907 Also the fleen wol sleen, on thy pament oildreggis ofte yspronge. c 1485 E.E. Misc. (1855) 78 Sprynge of that water alle abowte. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 416 Spryng holy water, sing Masses for the quicke and the dead. |
b. To sprinkle (a person or thing);
= sprenge v. 2. Usu.
const. with.
Obs. exc. dial. WFlem.
springen is similarly employed in place of
sprengen. See also
bespring v.
| 1382 Wyclif Isaiah lii. 15 He shal springe manye Jentiles. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 331 Israel toke wiþ hem mele and floure i-spronge wiþ oyle. 1392 in Warner Antiq. Culin. (1791) 17 Set hem adoun and spryng hem with vynegar. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 7 Bray hit a lytelle, with water hit spryng. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 569 Olyues that me fyndeth lying crispe, With rugis drawe, in salt it is to sprynge. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 178 b, Take a lytell pece of erthe and spryng it with water. 1576 G. Baker tr. Gesner's Jewell of Health 239 A certaine vessell..both sproungen rounde about, and covered with Chimney soote. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., To spring clothes is to moisten them a little previous to ironing. |
† 14. a. To grow (a beard).
Obs.—1| a 1330 Otuel 1445 A yong knight, that sprong furst berd, Of no man he nas aferd. |
† b. To produce, bring forth.
Obs.| 1525 Fitzherb. Husb. §130 There be trees wil..growe well, and sprynge rotes of them-selfe. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 545 The same fig trees when they begin to spring leaf and look green. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 84 A seed which will spring any thing in corrupt minds. 1692 Dryden Cleomenes iii. ii, If, as we dream, Egyptian earth, impregnated with flame, Sprung the first man. |
† c. In
fig. use. Also with
up.
Obs.| (a) 1475 Paston Lett. III. 130 Iff Sporle woode sprynge any sylver or golde, it is my wyll that fyrst of alle ye [etc.]. 1593 Lodge Phœnix Nest Misc. Pieces A ij b, Striue no more, Forspoken ioyes to spring. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. i, Their indulgence must not spring in me A fond opinion, that he cannot erre. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 494 Thy tears can spring no deeds To help thee, nor recall thy son. 1649 Lovelace Poems 67 When Joy wip't it [sc. the tear] off, Laughter straight sprung 't agen. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 72 He that has Such a burning Zeal, and springs such mighty Discoveries, must needs be an admirable Patriot. |
| (b) 1624 Massinger Parl. Love v. i, The too much praise..Could not but spring up blushes in my cheeks. 1639 ― Unnat. Combat iii. iii, Nor shall the raine of your good counsell fall Upon the barren sands, but spring up fruit. |
† 15. To cast
out or
in; to drain
off.
Obs.| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. x. (Bodl. MS.), [The adder] biteþ and springeþ oute venym. c 1440 Jacob's Well 248 Þat castyth out synne & springeth in vertewe. 1579 Langham Gard. Health 667 Steepe the leaues in cold water, & at night spring off the water. |
† 16. To cause to well up or flow out of the ground.
Obs.| c 1440 Jacob's Well 2 Þanne þi welle is depe ynow..for to springe watyr of grace. Ibid. 275 Þis grace in þe ground of equyte, þat spryngeth vp þise vij. stremys of vertuys. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 112 A well whiche..sholde sprynge fayre water & swete. 1667 Phil. Trans. II. 485 Lakes, some changing Copper into Iron, and causing storms, when any thing is cast into them; and others, sprung up by Earth-quakes. |
† 17. To cause to appear or rise to view.
Obs.| c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. (1908) 50 This day the sonne of riȝtwisnesse..sprang openly his bemes of mercy. c 1646 Crashaw Poems (1904) 254 Thine was the Rosy Dawn that sprung the Day Which renders all the starres she stole away. |
18. To cause (a bird,
esp. a partridge) to rise from cover.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. (1580) 61 The men sprange the Birdes out of the bushes. 1575 Painter Pal. Pleas. ii. (1890) 4 His spaniells sprong a Partrich. 1592 Lyly Midas iv. iii, Thou shouldest say, start a hare, rowse the deer, spring the partridge. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iii. (1651) 240 A Hawk,..when the game is sprung, comes down amain, and stoopes upon a sudden. 1682 Wheler Journ. to Greece vi. 260 We sprang Ducks and Snipes. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 108 ¶4 Honest Will began to tell me of a large Cock-Pheasant that he had sprung in one of the neighbouring Woods. a 1793 G. White Observ. Birds in Selborne (1833) 293 [The] land-rail..flies in a very..embarrassed manner.., and can hardly be sprung a second time. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ 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. |
b. In
fig. contexts.
| 1589 ? Lyly Pappe w. Hatchet (1844) 39 That there is not a better Spanniell in England to spring a couie of queanes than Martin. c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon (1630) 16 Here's good game for the hawke,..a couie of Cockscombes, one wise man I think would spring you all. 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair v. iv. (1904) 130, I may perhaps spring a wife for you, anone. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. ii. 1203 Your greedy slav'ring to devour..sprung the Game..Before y' had time to draw the Net. a 1721 Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) II. 162 Which can hardly fail of springing some game in such an ample field of fame and glory. 1774 Foote Cozeners i. Wks. 1799 II. 148 What new game have you sprung? 1812 [see plant n.1 7]. |
c. To make (a horse) gallop.
| 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 165 A Horse happens to be sprung out at his full Speed. 1837 C. J. Apperley Chase, Turf, & Road (1845) 62 We always spring 'em over this stage. 1874 Reynardson Down Road (1887) 160, I must spring them a bit,..or we shall never get up the Lodge Hill. |
| fig. 1849 De Quincey Eng. Mail Coach i. Misc. (1854) 302 He unloosed, or, to speak by a stronger word, he sprang, his known resources: he slipped our royal horses like cheetahs. |
19. Naut. Of a vessel, or those on board: To have (a mast, yard, etc.) split, cracked, or started.
† Also of the wind: To cause to split.
For the phrases
to spring a butt,
one's luff, see
butt n.7 and
luff n.1 3.
| 1595 Drake's Voy. (Hakl. Soc.) 11 The Exchange, a small shippe, spronge her mast, and was sunke. c 1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 20 A boisterous wind..Springs the..mast. 1669 Lond. Gaz. No. 421/1 Off the Lizard she sprang her main Mast by the board. 1671 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiv. §71 The Ship in which himself was, that sprung a plank in the Indies. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 23 We sprung the Main-top-sail Yard. 1799 Hull Advertiser 13 July 1/4 St. Joaquim..sprung her foremast;..St. Paulo sprung her tiller. 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arct. Reg. I. 106 The ice which fell, struck the ship so high and so forcibly, that it..sprung the bowsprit. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xxxv, We snapped off three flying-jib booms..; sprung the spritsail yard. |
b. To have or make (a leak) open or start.
| 1611 [see below.] 1624 [see leak n. 1]. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. I. 17 In an hours time, we were got off, without springing the least leak. a 1721 Prior Vicar of Bray & Sir T. More Wks. 1907 II. 252 You would not have stopped that part of the Ship where the Leak was sprung. 1782 [see leak n. 1]. 1851 Dixon W. Penn xviii. (1872) 159 The vessel sprang a leak. 1894 Times (weekly ed.) 2 Feb. 91/3 After she left Swansea she sprang a leak. |
| fig. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Philaster iv. i. (1620) 40 The wench has shot him betweene wind and water, and I hope sprung a lake. 1623 Massinger Dk. Milan iii. ii, He hath sprung a leak too, Or I am cozened. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 206 His Talent has but sprung the greater Leak. |
20. a. Mil. To explode (a mine).
| 1637 in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 112 As thay had sprung there mine. 1677 Lond. Gaz. No. 1244/2 This morning we Sprung a Mine under a Ravelin.., which did considerable execution. 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 108 They..blow them up, by placing..Barrels of Powder at the Foot of them, to which they give Fire,..and this they call Springing a Mine. 1744 M. Bishop Life & Adv. 187 They sprung several Mines and blew up a great Number of our Men. 1810 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1836) VI. 463 To be prepared to spring the mines in these bridges if the enemy should advance. 1894 Wolseley Marlborough I. 121 The enemy sprang two mines. |
| fig. 1679 Alsop Mel. Inq. ii. vii. 346 When we are mounted he springs his Mine, and blows us all up with his Retractation. 1792 S. Rogers Pleas. Mem. ii. 119 Go, spring the mine of elevating thought. 1816 Wordsw. Sonn. Liberty ii. xlv. 93 He springs the hushed Volcano's mines. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxxiv, I only grieve that I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all! |
b. To sound (a rattle).
Also in
pres. pple. springing = being sprung.
| 1812 Ann. Reg., Chron. 26 Mr. Johnston sprung a rattle. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xix, We made him [sc. the rattlesnake] spring his rattle again, and began another attack. 1842 C. Whitehead R. Savage (1845) III. 335 Men calling, rattles springing,..doors unlocking and unbolting in every court. 1887 Stevenson Misadv. J. Nicholson ii. 4 He heard the alarm spring its rattle. |
21. † a. To start (something); to set going.
Obs.| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xvi. 50 The Yorkists..thought it now a fit season to spring their practice. 1667 Pepys Diary 10 Nov., To spring nothing in the House, nor offer anything but just what is drawn out of a man. 1700 Dryden Ovid's Met., Cinyras & Myrrha 153 Surpriz'd with Fright, She starts, and leaves her Bed, and springs a Light. |
† b. To utter or pass (bad coin); to let off (a joke).
Obs.| a 1658 Cleveland Lond. Lady 80 Down Fleet-street next she rowls..To spring clip'd-half-crowns in the Cuckow's Nest. 1686 F. Spence tr. Varilla's Ho. Medicis 234 They saw him..not valuing to lose a Friend, rather than not have the Pleasure of springing a Witticism. |
c. colloq. To give, pay, or disburse (a sum of money); to buy (a certain amount).
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 53 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 in Odd Places 244 In hope that he might spring a few shillings more than he had promised. 1904 M. Pemberton Red Morn xi, I'll spring one hundred pounds, sir, if you will tot it up. |
d. To bring (an announcement, etc.) suddenly
(up)on a person or persons. Also without following
prep.| 1876 ‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer xxxiv. 265 Old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people here to-night. 1884 Manch. Exam. 20 June 5/4 The hole-and-corner arrangement by which Sir Henry Peek's resignation was sprung upon the constituency. 1891 H. Herman His Angel 167 The threat of springing the naked facts upon the young lady. 1895 Roberts & Morton Adventures of Arthur Roberts xi. 145 ‘Dinner!’ ejaculated Johnson. ‘Yes, we shall have to spring the landlady for that at once. That's where she will want a bit of the ready money on account.’ 1896 ‘Merriman’ Sowers xxvii, She was one of those mothers who rule their daughters by springing surprises upon them. 1922 Ladies' Home Jrnl. July 72/1 But one day she sprang a surprise; she sprinkled the salad with Dromedary [Shredded Coconut]—father actually smiled. 1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger i. 1 ‘One I didn't mind,’ he admitted. ‘Two's plenty. But to spring it on a man like this.’ His tone was one of outrage. 1969 Listener 14 Aug. 204/1 The official French government spokesman sprang the wholly unexpected news: the franc was to be devalued. 1979 D. Eden Storrington Papers xiii. 149 She's a bit upset. I did rather spring it on her. |
e. To cast or throw suddenly.
| 1884 E. Jenkins Week of Passion I. iv. 110 He must expect to be countermined, to have a thousand ingenious obstacles sprung in his way. |
22. To cause (a thing) to spring, move suddenly, fly with a jerk, etc.
| 1665 Hooke Microgr. 210 These six leggs he [a flea] clitches up altogether, and when he leaps, he springs them all out. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 102 If but the breezy wind their floats should spring. 1828 Examiner 436/1 The Page's cloak had ‘sprung’ its shoulder-button. 1831 Ibid. 675/2 It blows a gale enough..to spring the teeth from out your jaws. 1878 C. Tuttle Border Tales 73 He mounts up on the platform, and begins to spring it up and down. |
| fig. 1865 Meredith R. Fleming xlvi, He uttered a threat that sprang an answer from her bosom in shrieks. 1880 ― Trag. Com. v, It sprang Clotilde a stride nearer to reality. |
b. Mil. To shift (a weapon, etc.) smartly from one position to another.
| 1780 Encycl. Brit. VI. 4438 Make ready: i.e. Spring the firelock briskly to the recover. 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 232 Carbines sprung, and unstrapped. 1833 Reg. Instr. Cavalry i. 29 Each man springs his ramrod as the officer passes him, and then returns it. Ibid. 98 The carbine is ‘sprung’ by the right hand seizing the swivel, and securing it through the ring. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artill. Man. (1862) 46 Spring arms—Two. Load. |
c. To cause (some mechanism, etc.) to work with a sudden movement; to force open by pressure. Also
fig. and in
fig. contexts.
| 1828 Lytton Pelham III. xix, Until I had hit upon the method of springing the latch, and so winning my escape from the house. 1894 Cornh. Mag. Mar. 293 The inquiring bee, on his collecting rounds, can thus see at a glance whether any particular flower has been ‘sprung’ or not, as we technically call it. 1897 Ld. H. Tennyson Mem. Tennyson I. 19 He would spring all their traps. 1930 D. Hammett Dain Curse xv. 165 ‘All right, spring it,’ I said, as we sat down in his..living room. ‘Any trace of Gabrielle yet?’ he asked. ‘No. But spring the puzzle. Don't be literary with me, building up to climaxes and the like... Just spread it out for me.’ 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. |
d. To apply or adjust by force applied to some elastic or resilient body.
| 1842 Browning Count Gismond xi, What says the body when they spring Some monstrous torture-engine's whole Strength on it? 1872 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. Apr. 307/1 Pieces of brass tube, on which are ‘sprung’ lengths of flexible gas tubing. |
e. To bend or deflect from a straight line.
| 1873 Routledge's Yng. Gentl. 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 G. 28 May 8/1 It is so stiff that the utmost power of a man is required to spring it even very slightly. |
23. To release (a person) from custody or imprisonment,
esp. to contrive such a release by means of bail. Also, to contrive an unlawful escape from prison.
slang (
orig. U.S.).
| 1900 ‘Flynt’ & ‘Walton’ Powers that Prey 62 It cost his push a thousand plunks to spring him from the coppers. 1911 C. B. Chrysler White Slavery ix. 70 If you get nicked..you can ‘raspberry’ the ‘bull’ and get ‘sprung’. 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. 1936 J. Steinbeck In Dubious Battle iii. 24 They'll give him the works if George doesn't get busy. Tell George to try to spring him for a drunk... If a sanity board ever gets hold of that poor devil, he's in for life. 1963 Security Gaz. V. 187/3 Those who may be preparing to ‘spring’ an inmate. 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, the English school-teacher who has spent more than four years in Indian jails awaiting trial, is to be returned to a high security prison this week in case militant Maoists try to ‘spring’ her. 1977 J. Cheever Falconer 13 I'm in cellblock F... Last Tuesday they forgot to spring us for supper. 1980 Observer 3 Apr. 9/5 What the Minister has in mind is the ‘springing’ of the dockers in 1972 following the intervention of that hitherto mysterious figure, the Official Solicitor. |
24. techn. a. Arch. To commence the curve of (an arch).
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 273 The level of the place, whence you begin to spring the Arch. 1807 Sir R. C. Hoare Tour Irel. 198 The arches which were sprung to support it. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 339 Impost or Springing—The upper part..of a wall employed for springing an arch. |
b. Shipbuilding. (See
quot.)
| c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 151 To Spring, is to quicken or raise the sheer. |
c. Naut. To move, haul, or swing (a vessel) by means of a spring or cable.
Cf. spring n.1 24.
| a 1865 W. H. Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. (1867) 646 Sprung..the ship slued round by means of guys. 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. |
d. Boot-making. To raise (the toe or waist of a last) above the ground-line (see also
quot. 1953).
| 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 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. 1953 A. V. Goodfellow in J. H. Thornton Textbk. Footwear Manuf. ii. vii. 89 The effect of springing a pattern, or changing the relationship between one part and another of the same pattern is to lengthen one line and shorten another. |
*****
† 25. a. = leap v. 9.
Obs.| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxxi. 154 [They] sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares. |
b. To leap over; to cover with a spring.
| 1825 Scott Talism. xxvi, He that would climb so lofty a tree, Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee. 1854 Orr's Circ. Sci., Org. Nat. 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. |
▪ V. spring, v.2 [f. spring n.1, in various senses.] † 1. trans. To allow (timber or ground) to send up shoots from the stools of felled trees.
Obs.| 1690 Let. in Hunter MSS. VII. No. 200, 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. intr. To pass or spend the season of spring
at a place.
rare—1.
| 1835 Fraser's Mag. XI. 507 Every third man has wintered at Naples, springed at Vienna. |
3. trans. To give spring or elasticity to.
| 1843 E. Jones Poems, Sens. & 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 [etc.]. |
4. To provide or fit with a spring or springs.
| 1884 [see sprung ppl. a.2 1]. 1905 Automobile Topics 27 May 491 (Cent. Suppl.), Having learned to properly spring horse-drawn and railway carriages. |