6th July, 1692/3.
The above Abigail Barker was examined before their Majesties Justices of the Peace in Salem.
(Atest.) John Higginson, Just. Peace.
Owned before the Grand Jury.
(Atest.) Robert Payne, Foreman.
6th January, 1692.
SPRING, ETC.
Our ancestors had three verbs and three corresponding substantives to express the growth of plants, namely, spring, shoot, and sprout,—all indicative of rapidity of growth; for sprout, (Germ. spriessen) is akin to spurt, and denotes quickness, suddenness. The only one of these which remains in general use is shoot: for sprout is now only appropriated to the young growth from cabbage-stalks; and spring is heard no more save in sprig, which is evidently a corruption of it, and which now denotes a small slip or twig as we say, sprigs of laurel, bay, thyme, mint, rosemary, &c.