▪ I. sprinkle, n.1
(ˈsprɪŋk(ə)l)
Forms: 4 sprynkil, 6 -kill, sprinkil(l; 5–6 sprenkylle (5 sprenkle), 6 spryn-, 6–7 sprinkell(e; 5 spryncle, 6–7 sprinc(k)le, 6– sprinkle.
[Related to sprinkle v.1 Cf. MDu., MLG., obs. G. and Da. sprinkel, MDu. and Du., G. sprenkel, speckle, spot, freckle.]
† 1. A sprinkler, esp. one for sprinkling holy water. Obs.
Also freq. in holy-water sprinkle, for other senses of which see holy water 2.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xii. 22 The litil sprynkil of ysop wetith in bloode. c 1475 Pict. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 756 Hoc aspersorium, a sprenkylle. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 34/1 Four crosses..besprent with Holy Water styck or spryncle. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 16 b, Geue me holy water with the sprinkell. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. xvi. 42 b, These men..in their Pagodes, who with a sprinkle tooke water out of a certaine fountaine. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. i. Tropheis 683 This black Sprinkle, tuft with Virgin's tress, Dipt, at your Altar, in my Kinsman's bloud. 1619 Fletcher Mons. Thomas v. vi, Give me my holy sprinkle... Give me my holy water-pot. 1647 Hexham i, A Sprinkle, een quispel. |
† 2. A spot or speckle. Obs. rare.
| 1481 Caxton Reynard xxxii. (Arb.) 82 The thirde colour was grene lyke glas, But ther were somme sprynklis therin lyke purpure. 1577 Frampton Joyful News i. (1596) 18 The blood stone is a kinde of Iasper of diuers colours..full of sprincles like to blood. |
3. An (or the) act of sprinkling; a quantity which is sprinkled.
| 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. ii, Baptizing the Christian infant with a solemne sprinkle. 1665 Locke in Fox Bourne Life (1876) I. iii. 114, I had a good sprinkle of holy water. 1818 Art Bookbinding 53 They throw on a finer sprinkle, and save much colour. 1854 Greenwood Haps & Mishaps 122 Where,..for baptismal and holy waters, [were] the sprinkle and gush of their blood. 1888 Stevenson Black Arrow 172 A thin sprinkle of snow and thin flakes of foam came flying. |
| fig. 1862 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xiv. iv. (1872) V. 188 Is it in a sprinkle of disconnected factions that you will wait Prince Karl? |
b. A small number or quantity; a sprinkling.
| 1768 Ann. Reg., Projects 109/1 We had but a small sprinkle of the common turnip cabbage among the whole. 1825 E. Hewlett Cottage Comforts vi. 43 The only tree..that had a good sprinkle of fruit. 1844 Maitland Dark Ages 126 A thicker and more extensive sprinkle of better-instructed persons. 1890 Daily News 2 Sept. 2/7 There has been a good sprinkle of the new growth on the market to-day. |
4. techn. A colour effect produced by sprinkling; a mixture for producing this.
| 1835 J. Hannett Bibliopegia 101 On the fancy colours and sprinkles it is usual to attach lettering pieces of morocco. 1885 W. J. E. Crane Bookbinding iii. 27 Bole Armenian, for making sprinkle for edges. |
▸ In pl. (orig. and chiefly N. Amer.). Tiny confections, esp. particles or short strands of chocolate or coloured sugar (freq. in the form of a multicoloured mixture), used to decorate cakes, ice-creams, etc. Cf. hundreds and thousands at hundred n. and adj. 7 and nonpareil n.
| 1921 Western Confectioner June 63/2 Chocolate Sprinkles for Sundaes. A new product is being put on the market..in the form of ‘Chocolate Sprinkles’. They are made of chocolate and are used to decorate chocolates by sprinkling on chocolates after dipping; to decorate bon bons, cakes, pastry; also for sprinkling on chocolate sundaes at the fountain. 1978 Washington Post 29 Oct. 36/2 For dessert, a great cut of rum-drenched cake with red and green sprinkles on top. 2000 Fairlady (Cape Town) 21 July 127/2 (caption) Having chocolate sprinkles on your bread for breakfast is as common in Holland as a bowl of cereal is here. |
▪ II. ˈsprinkle, n.2
[Imitative.]
A light, tinkling sound.
| 1846 Landor Imag. Conv., Tasso & Cornelia Wks. II. 183/1 At Sorrento you hear nothing but the light surges of the sea, and the sweet sprinkles of the guitar. |
▪ III. ˈsprinkle, v.1
(ˈsprɪŋk(ə)l)
Forms: α. 5–6 sprencle, -kle, sprenkyll(e, 5 -kel. β. 5–6 sprynkil(l, 6 sprinkil(l, -kel; 5–6 spryncle, 6 -kle, sprincle, 6–7 sprinckle, 6– sprinkle.
[Related to Du. sprenkelen (Kilian sprenckelen), G. sprenkeln, NFris. sprēnkeli, and to WFris. sprinkelje, LG. sprinkeln (MLG. in pa. pple. sprinkelt).]
1. trans. To scatter in drops; to let fall in small particles here and there; to strew thinly or lightly.
| α c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xviii. 85 Þai..takes þaire blude and sprenklez it apon þaire mawmets. c 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 74 After þe fomentyng be sprenkled aboue puluis of bole, of sanguis draconis,..and sich like. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 470/2 Sprenkelyn, or strenkelyn, aspergo, conspergo. 1509 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. li. Wks. (1876) 110 He was made clene..with ysope dypped in the blode of certayne beestes and sprencled vpon hym. 1535 Coverdale Exod. ix. 8 Let Moses sprenkle it [sc. ashes] towarde heauen before Pharao. |
| β 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 179 b, Some of her systers counseyled her to haue holy water euer redy at hande, & to spryncle it vpon hym whan he cometh. 1551 More Utopia ii. v. (1895) 166 They burne swete gummes and speces for perfumes, and pleasaunt smelles, and sprincle about swete oyntmentes and waters. c 1613 Middleton No Wit like Woman's iv. ii, If I sprinkled on the widow's cheeks A few cool drops. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 118 Sprinkle sordid Ashes all around. 1736 Bailey Househ. Dict. s.v. Pork, Sprinkle upon them a little common salt. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 101 Afterwards let water be sprinkled over the shot. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xviii. (1842) 486 It is best mixed by..sprinkling the powder into it. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxv, Some of the poison was sprinkled on a leaf of lettuce. |
| fig. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. iv. 124 Oh gentle Sonne, Vpon the heate and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle coole patience. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 102 If he sprinkle any Grace over the Platter, it's a plain Symptom, that his Maw's out of order. |
| absol. 1611 Bible Lev. xiv. 7 He shall sprinckle vpon him..seuen times. |
b. fig. To disperse, distribute, or scatter here and there.
| 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshman (Percy Soc.) 29 Now are they sprencled & sparcled abrode, Lyke wyse as shyppes be docked in a rode. 1530 Palsgr. 730/1 He sprenkylleth his monay abrode as thoughe he cared nat for it. 1591 Harington Orl. Fur. Pref. ¶vi b, Some things that Virgill could not haue,..you finde, in my author sprinckled ouer all his worke. 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. ix. 187 Besides cities, many private dwellings were sprinkled on mount Ephraim. 1686 Snape Anat. Horse ii. vii. 82 Small branches do spring from this coronary vein, and are dispersed or sprinkled all down the surface or outside of the Heart. 1719 Young Busiris v. i, Behold thy troops are thin, Thy men are rarely sprinkled o'er the field. 1827 Keble Chr. Y. 6 Sprinkled along the waste of years Full many a soft green isle appears. 1879 Spencer Data of Ethics x. 184 There are sprinkled throughout society men to whom active occupation is a need. |
2. To bedew, bespatter lightly, or powder (a thing or surface); to besprinkle. Usu. const. with.
| 14.. R. Glouc. Chron. 2761 (MS. Digby 205), Þe werke with his blode..men schulde sprencle. 1414 Brampton Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.) 23 Sprenkle me, Lord! with watyr of terys. 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xvii. xcvii. 663 The threde is..wasshe and sprynclyd wyth water vntyll that it be whyte. 1544 Supplic. Hen. VIII, 41 Whom the blynde prestes doo bothe sence & spryncle with holy water. 1602 Kyd's Sp. Trag. iii. xii a. 67 Duly twice a morning Would I be sprinkling it with fountaine water. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 588 There are diuerse which..sprinkle the streets twice a daie because of the heat and dust. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 553 She sprinkl'd thrice, with Wine, the Vestal Fire. 1727 Swift Descr. Morning Wks. 1755 III. ii. 41 The slipshod 'prentice from his master's door Had par'd the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 311 Care should be used..to sprinkle them with salt if they continue to adhere. 1825 J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. 307 She had sprinkled the face of her baby all over with large tears. 1853 A. Soyer Pantroph. 67 Let the whole stew, and then sprinkle it lightly with pepper. 1878 T. Hardy Ret. Native v. viii, The floor was merely sprinkled with rain, and not saturated. |
| refl. 1535 Coverdale Jer. vi. 26 Gyrde a sacke cloth aboute the,..sprynkle thy self with aszshes. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 153 It is no newes to the Bishoppes..to sprincle, and defile them selves with innocent bloude. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 185 For remedy, they wash their hands and sprinckle themselues..with that water. |
| fig. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 17 If so be my discredit..had been equal..to theirs, which sprinckle us with these blottes of blame. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 23, I meant those, who though sprinckled with some imperfections, yet wrie rather to the good, then the euill. 1614 B. Jonson Barthol. Fair i. i, Why! we were all a little stained last night, sprinkled with a cup or two. 1836 H. Coleridge North. Worthies (1852) I. 25 He takes care to sprinkle his letters with loyalty. |
b. To dot, intersperse, or diversify with something. Usu. in pass.
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iv. 208 The Firmament..Spreads his blew curtain,..Sprinkled with eyes, speckled with Tapers bright. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 675/2 Wherby you wished the Irish to be sowed and sprinckled with the English. 1781 Cowper Task i. 164 A level plain Of spacious meads with cattle sprinkled o'er. 1804 C. B. Brown tr. Volney's View 332 An irregular savannah..sprinkled with a few trees. 1859 Jephson Brittany vi. 67 A wide extent of country..sprinkled with farmhouses. 1892 Mrs. R. T. Ritchie Rec. Tennyson iii. iv. 187 A road..ran across commons sprinkled with geese and with lively donkeys. |
c. To colour with small specks or spots.
Chiefly in passive, or techn. in bookbinding.
| 1750 tr. Leonardus' Mirr. Stones 94 Dionysia has a brown or iron colour, sprinkled over with snow spots. 1818 Art Bookbinding 19 The edges may now be coloured, sprinkled, or marbled, to fancy. 1855 Poultry Chron. III. 374 He may perhaps observe it sprinkled over with black spots. 1885 C. G. W. Lock Worksh. Rec. Ser. iv. 241/2 Books may be sprinkled so as to resemble a kind of marble by using 2 or 3 different colours. |
| absol. 1835 J. Hannett Bibliopegia 90 Sprinkle very finely with black and then with brown. Ibid., Put about a tea⁓spoonful of vitriol to a cup of the black, and sprinkle coarsely over. |
† 3. To cleanse or purify. Obs. rare.
| 1535 Coverdale Heb. x. 22 Sprenkled in oure hertes from an euell conscience. |
4. intr. a. To spring or fly up in fine drops.
| 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 174 Bloud spilt on the ground sprinkles vp to the firmament. 1626 Bacon Sylva §8 It will make the Water friske and sprinckle vp, in a fine Dew. |
b. To rain or fall in fine or infrequent drops.
| 1778 W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. Observations 129 It began..to sprinkle. [Note] To sprinkle (or spit), to rain slow in largish drops. 1828 in Webster. 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Note-bks. II. 249 The rain..continued to sprinkle. |
▪ IV. † ˈsprinkle, v.2 Obs.
Also 5 sprenkle, 6 spryncle, sprinckle (Sc. sprink-, sprynkill), 7 sprinkel-.
[app. related to sprankle v.]
1. intr. To sparkle.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 139 His eghen er so fast stirrand and sprenkland as fyre. 1535 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xvi. xxix, Crisolitus is a lityll stone of Ethiopia shyninge as golde, and sprinkling as fyre. 1542 Boorde Dyetary x. (1870) 254 Wyne..must spryncle in the cup whan it is drawne or put out of the pot. 1573 Twyne æneid xii. 26 From his face with rage that boyles The sparkles sprinckling flie. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xviii. xvi. 318 The heau'nly dew was on his garments spred,..And sprinkled so, that all that palenesse fled. 1630 D. Dyke Myst. Selfe-Deceiuing 201 The wine sprinkling and leaping in the glasse. |
2. Sc. To wriggle; to dart quickly.
| 1513 Douglas æneid xi. xiv. 71 Allthocht scho [a serpent] wreill, and sprynkill, bend, or skyp, Evir the sarar this ern strenis his gryp. Ibid. xii. Prol. 56 The syluer scalyt fyschis on the greit Ourthwort cleir stremis sprynkland for the heyt. |