Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1877, 1947
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SPROOT, v. Also sprut. Used tr. and absol. To spout, eject in a gush, emit sparks; to spirt from the mouth, spit (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1971). Comb. sprootin braand, a torch made of a burning peat. [sprut]Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 13:
Sprootin' da soe weel oot till da water is clear wi' da lumie.Sh. 1947 Sh. Folk Bk. (Tait) I. 2:
Travelling across moorland bogs was no easy matter on a pitch dark night. . . . This difficulty was generally overcome to some extent at least, by making use of a sprootin' braand. A long straight peat was selected, and one end stuck in the fire until it was alight. The burning peat was held aloft, and fanned by the breeze, made a fairly serviceable torch.
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"Sproot v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sproot>
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