Sprag, a. See Sprack, a. Shak.
Sprain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprained (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Spraining.] [OF. espreindreto press, to force out, F. épreindre, fr. L.
exprimere. See Express, v. t., and cf. Spraints.] To weaken, as a
joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by
wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation;
as, to sprain one's ankle.
Sprain, n. The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by
spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist.
Sprain fracture (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its point of
insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone to which the tendon
is attached.
Spraints (?), n. pl. [OF. espraintes, espreintes, F. épreintes from
espreinte a desire to go to stool, from espreindre. See Sprain, v. t.]
The dung of an otter.
Sprang (?), imp. of Spring.
Sprat (?), n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.]
(Zoöl.) (a) A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied
to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called also garvie. The name
is also applied to small herring of different kinds. (b) A California
surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); -- called also alfione, and perch.
Sprat borer (Zoöl.), the red- throated diver; -- so called from its
fondness for sprats. See Diver. -- Sprat loon. (Zoöl.) (a) The young of
the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The red- throated diver. See
Diver. -- Sprat mew (Zoöl.), the kittiwake gull.
<! p. 1393 !>
Sprawl (sprl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprawled (sprld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Sprawling.] [OE. spraulen; cf. Sw. sprattla to sprawl, dial. Sw.
spralla, Dan. spælle, sprælde, D. spartelen, spertelen, to flounder, to
struggle.] 1. To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a
horizontal position; to lie with the limbs stretched out ungracefully.
2. To spread irregularly, as vines, plants, or tress; to spread
ungracefully, as chirography.
3. To move, when lying down, with awkward extension and motions of the
limbs; to scramble in creeping.
The birds were not fledged; but upon sprawling and struggling to
get clear of the flame, down they tumbled.
L'Estrange.
Sprawls (?), n. pl. Small branches of a tree; twigs; sprays. [Prov.
Eng.] Halliwell.
Spray (spr), n. [Cf. Dan. sprag. See Sprig.] 1. A small shoot or
branch; a twig. Chaucer.
The painted birds, companions of the spring, Hopping from spray,
were heard to sing.
Dryden.
2. A collective body of small branches; as, the tree has a beautiful
spray.
And from the trees did lop the needless spray.
Spenser.
3. (Founding) (a) A side channel or branch of the runner of a flask,
made to distribute the metal in all parts of the mold. (b) A group of
castings made in the same mold and connected by sprues formed in the
runner and its branches. Knight.
Spray drain (Agric.), a drain made by laying under earth the sprays or
small branches of trees, which keep passages open.
Spray, n. [probably from a Dutch or Low German form akin to E. spread.
See Spread, v. t.] 1. Water flying in small drops or particles, as by
the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and
the like.
2. (Med.) (a) A jet of fine medicated vapor, used either as an
application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a
disinfectant or a deodorizer. (b) An instrument for applying such a
spray; an atomizer.
Spray condenser (Steam Engine) an injection condenser in which the
steam is condensed by a spray of water which mingles with it.
Spray, v. t. 1. To let fall in the form of spray. [Poetic] M. Arnold.
2. To throw spray upon; to treat with a liquid in the form of spray;
as, to spray a wound, or a surgical instrument, with carbolic acid.
Spray`board (?), n. (Naut.) See Dashboard, n., 2 (b).
Spread (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spread; p. pr. & vb. n. Spreading.]
[OE. spreden, AS. sprædan; akin to D. spreiden, spreijen, LG. spreden,
spreen, spreien, G. spreiten, Dan. sprede, Sw. sprida. Cf. Spray water
flying in drops.] 1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth
only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to
open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail.
He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent.
Gen. xxxiii. 19.
Here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch.
Byron.
2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or grater
extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider
space.
Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches
hung with copious fruit.
Milton.
3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more
extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a
report; -- often acompanied by abroad.
They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that
country.
Matt. ix. 31.
4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a
disease.
5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous
plants spread their fragrance.
6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread
lime on the ground.
7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a
table.
Boiled the flesh, and spread the board.
Tennyson.
To spread cloth, to unfurl sail. [Obs.] Evelyn.
Syn. -- To diffuse; propogate; disperse; publish; distribute; scatter;
circulate; disseminate; dispense.
Spread, v. i. 1. To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or
in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand.
Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall.
Bacon.
Governor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a
church a large, spreading tree.
B. Trumbull.
2. To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with
difficulty.