Sprattle, sprat′l, v.i. (Scot.) to scramble.
Sprawl, sprawl, v.i. to toss or kick about the limbs: to stretch the body carelessly when lying: to spread ungracefully.—n. a sprawling posture.—n. Sprawl′er. [There is an A.S. spréawlian, to move convulsively; but the word is most probably for sprattle or sprottle—Sw. sprattla, to sprawl; cf. Dan. sprælle, to toss about the limbs.]
Spray, sprā, n. small particles of water driven by the wind, as from the top of waves, &c.—adj. Spray′ey, consisting of spray. [Skeat suggests that the word is from Dut. spreiden, to spread, scatter.]
Spray, sprā, n. a small shoot of a tree.—adj. Spray′ey, branching. [Akin to Ice. sprek, a twig, Dan. sprag; Doublet sprig.]
Spread, spred, v.t. to scatter abroad or in all directions: to stretch: to extend: to overlay: to shoot out, as branches: to circulate, as news: to cause to affect numbers, as a disease: to diffuse: to set with provisions, as a table.—v.i. to extend or expand in all directions: to be extended or stretched: to be propagated or circulated:—pa.t. and pa.p. spread.—n. extent: compass: expansion of parts: that which is spread out, a feast: a cover for a bed or a table.—adj. having a broad surface: shallower than the standard.—adj. Spread′-ea′gle, like an eagle with the wings stretched out, bombastic, boastful.—n. (naut.) a person seized in the rigging, a passenger thus made to pay his entrance forfeit.—ns. Spread′-ea′gleism, a bombastic and frothy patriotism; Spread′er, one who, or that which, spreads, one who publishes or extends: any machine or implement for helping to scatter.—p.adj. Spread′ing.—adv. Spread′ingly, increasingly.—Spread a fleet, to keep more open order. [A.S. sprǽdan; Dut. spreiden, Ger. spreiten.]
Spreagh, spreh, n. plunder.—n. Spreagh′ery, cattle-lifting. [Gael. spreidh, cattle.]
Spreckled, sprek′ld, adj. speckled.
Spred, spred, pa.p. and n. an obsolete form of spread.—Also Spred′den.
Spree, sprē, n. a merry frolic: a drunken bout.—v.i. to carouse. [Prob. Ir. spre, a spark, spraic, vigour.]
Sprent, sprent, adj. sprinkled. [M. E. sprengen (pa.t. sprente)—A.S. sprengan, to cause to spring.]