Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Spraing,) Sprang, v. Also: spraying, spreyng, speingȝe. [ME spreng (Ancr. R.) to sprinkle, MDu. sprengen, ON and Icel. sprengja, MSw. spängia; Spraing n. Also in the later dial.] tr.

1. To ornament (cloth, etc.) with coloured stripes or streaks; to variegate with a colour, etc.The 1569 quot. in (2) may be a misreading for springȝeit; cf. Spraingit ppl. adj.(1) 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 74.
For xxiiij elnis reid and ȝallow bucram to spraying the said pailȝeoune 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 401.
Ane quarter and ½ quarter of ȝallow to sprang the said hois 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 305.
To sprang thair hois, v elnis dimmegrane(2) 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 123.
A claith of estait of claith of gold damaskit spraingit with reid equalie in breadis of claith of gold and crammosin satine 1569 Edinb. Test. I 237.
xiij elnis … of canues speingȝeit with blew worsat 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 191b.
Thrie elne of glansing gawis sprangit with gold & siluer

2. To stain or sprinkle (a cloth) with blood. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. xix 13.
He was clethit with a claath spreyngit [P. spreynt] with blude; and the name of him was callit the sonn of God