Spring, verb. (colloquial).—(1) To bring to notice suddenly; (2) to pay out, to give alms; (3) to provide; and (4) to extort. To spring to = to be able to accomplish, pay, give, &c., &c.
1614. Jonson, Barthol. Fair, v. 3. I may, perhaps, spring a wife for you anon.
d. 1701. Dryden, Ovid, x. [Chalmers, Eng. Poet., xx. 511, 2, 1]. Surprised with fright, She starts, and leaves her bed, and springs a light.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., I. 53. It's a feast at a poor country labourer's place when he springs sixpenn'orth of fresh herrings.
1878. J. F. Sullivan, The British Working Man, &c. Wot's 'e sprung?
1885. D. Tel., 21 Nov. Such a man is not likely to spring upon his associates and allies a scheme of English surrender to Irish demands.
1901. Troddles and Us, 106. It's seven pound fifteen, and we can spring to that between us.
Springal (Spring or Springer),
subs. (old).—A youth.
1535. Coverdale, Tr. Bible [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 443. Among his Romance phrases Coverdale has . . . spryngald (juvenis).]
d. 1555. Latimer, Sermons, 190 b. Joseph when he was sold to Potiphar . . . was a faire young springall.
1570. Levins, Manip. Vocab. [E. E. T. S.], 16. A springald, adolescens.
1578. North, Plutarch, 90 E. He commaunded the women to departe, and . . . put lusty beardles springalles into their apparell.
1585. Nomenclator, Adolescens, . . . Un jouvenceau. A lad; a youth; a springall.
1590. Spenser, Muiopotmus, 292. The one his bowe and shafts, the other Spring A burning Teade about his head did move. Ibid. (1596), Fairy Queen, v. v. 6. Amongst the rest . . . There came two springals of full tender years.
1606. Wily, Beguiled [Hawkins, Orig. Dr., iii. 332]. Pray ye, maid, bid him welcome . . . he is a good proper springold.
1611. Beaumont and Fletcher, Kn. of Burning Pestle, ii. 2. Sure the devil . . . is in this springald.
1657. Middleton, More Dissemb. Beside Women, v. 1. Ha, well done! excellent boy! dainty, fine springal.
1661. Davenport, City Night Cap [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), xi. 325]. That lusty springal, Millicent, is no worse man Than the duke of Milan's son.
1692. Dryden, Juvenal, x. Your Springal, by his beauty curst. . . . His form procures him journey-work; a strife Betwixt town madams and the merchant's wife.
Spring-ankle warehouse, subs.
phr. (old).—A prison: spec.
Newgate (Grose).
Springers (The), subs. (military).—The
Lincolnshire Regiment,
formerly The 10th Foot: the
nickname is also borne by the
late 62nd Foot.
Springer-up, subs. phr. (Hotten).—A
slop-tailor. Sprung-up
clothes = garments 'blown'
together.
Sprinkle, verb. (colloquial).—To
christen.
Sprout, subs. (American).—1. A
course of severe discipline; a
birching. Also 2. (Yale) = a
department of study—classics,
mathematics, &c.; and 3. (in pl.)
= a bunch of twigs. A bunch
of sprouts = (1) the closed fist,
and (2) the chambers of a revolver.
Sprug. To sprug up, verb. phr.
(provincial).—To dress neatly;
to spruce.
Sprung, adj. (common).—Drunk:
see Screwed.
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred, I. 87. He reckoned they were a little bit sprung.
1870. Judd, Margaret, I. 13. Ex-Corporal Whiston with his friends sallied from the store well-sprung.
