Defn: 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
Sprain, n.
Defn: 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 Spraints, n. pl. Etym: [OF. espraintes, espreintes, F. épreintes from espreinte a desire to go to stool, from espreindre. See Sprain, v. t.]
Defn: The dung of an otter.
SPRANG
Sprang,
Defn: imp. of Spring.
SPRAT Sprat, n. Etym: [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.
SPRAWL Sprawl (sprall), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprawled (spralld); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprawling.] Etym: [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.