Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

†SPRENT, v., n.¹ Also spraint; sprint; sprend, sprind.

I. v. 1. To dart forward, bound, spring, run, sprint (Sc. 1825 Jam., sprent, sprend). Also in n.Eng. dial.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 73:
But I'm content, to see ye spraint, Right free o' dool an' care ay.Per. 1881 D. MacAra Crieff 182:
Thomas and the other servant made for the nearest dyke, and “sprindit” over at a bound.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws i.:
Here am I sprainting after ye this mile past.

¶2. To sprout, spring (of plants).Ayr. a.1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage (1892) 303:
Rare plants that beautify the Spring Aft sprint frae roughest spot.

3. To sprinkle, bespatter (†Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial.

II. n. †1. “The spring or elastick force of anything” (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis).

2. Specif, the spring or clasp of anything, esp. the metal clasp that fastens down the lid of a chest or trunk and flies back on the catch being released in the lock-hole (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Comb. back-sprent, id., the spring of a clasp-knife, the catch on a yarn reel, also fig. the backbone, spine. See Back-sprent.Kcd. 1853 W. Jamie Emigrant's Family 48:
Some queer auld knives wi' double sprint, Toothpicks and little saws.Peb. 1875 W. Welsh Peb. Cotter 67:
If ye'll open that auld kist wi' the sprent.