sprunt
English edit
Etymology edit
Apparently a variation of sprent or sprint.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
sprunt (third-person singular simple present sprunts, present participle sprunting, simple past and past participle sprunted)
- (obsolete, chiefly regional) To make quick or convulsive movements; to start, to jump. [17th–20th c.]
- 1786 August 16, Hester Thrale Piozzi, Thraliana:
- They acted a Tragedy at Padua when I was there last June 1786 I think: the Actors struggled & bounced, and sprunted as if in Convulsions […] .
- (Scotland, now rare) To make romantic advances to; to flirt. [from 19th c.]
Derived terms edit
Noun edit
sprunt (plural sprunts)
- (obsolete) A sudden movement; a leap or jump. [17th–19th c.]
- (obsolete) Something bouncy or perky. [18th c.]
Adjective edit
sprunt (comparative more sprunt, superlative most sprunt)
- (obsolete) Active; lively; vigorous. [17th–19th c.]
- 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book I, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 35:
- "As for that little sprunt piece of the Brain which they call the Conarion..."
- 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book I, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 35: