sprig

[ sprig ]

noun

1. a small spray of some plant with its leaves, flowers, etc.
2. an ornament having the form of such a spray.
3. a shoot, twig, or small branch.
4. Facetious. a scion, offspring, or heir of a family, class, etc.
5. a youth or young fellow.
6. glazier's point.
7. a headless brad.
8. Metallurgy.
   1. a small peg for reinforcing the walls of a mold.
   2. a metal insert, used to chill certain portions of cast metal, that becomes an integral part of the finished casting.

verb (used with object)

, sprigged, sprig·ging.

1. to mark or decorate (fabrics, pottery, etc.) with a design of sprigs.
2. to fasten with brads.
3. Horticulture. to propagate a plant, especially grass, by planting individual stolons.
4. Metallurgy. to reinforce the walls of (a mold) with sprigs.
5. to remove a sprig or sprigs from (a plant).

sprig

/ sprɪɡ /

noun

1. a shoot, twig, or sprout of a tree, shrub, etc; spray
2. an ornamental device resembling a spray of leaves or flowers
3. a small wire nail without a head
4. informal.
   a youth
5. informal.
   a person considered as the descendant of an established family, social class, etc
6. another name for stud 1

verb

1. to fasten or secure with sprigs
2. to ornament (fabric, wallpaper, etc) with a design of sprigs
3. to make sprays from (twigs and branches)

Derived Forms

• ˈspriggy, adjective
• ˈsprigger, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprig¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sprigge (noun); origin uncertain; sense “peg” perhaps of distinct origin; sprag ¹, spray ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprig¹

C15: probably of Germanic origin; compare Low German sprick, Swedish sprygg

Example Sentences

Add a few sprigs of mint, if desired.

From Salon

However, Gail's "well, here's a cilantro sprig" when asked to identify the Mexican component of that dish got a chuckle out of me.

From Salon

Four of the plants included in the analysis are already extinct, including the Guadalupe Island olive, which was sequenced using a dried sprig from 1875.

From New York Times

Beatrice wore a sprig of baby’s breath over one ear.

From Literature

Other fellow mint lovers recommended brewing fresh sprigs of mint with various herbal teas, like chamomile, hibiscus, valerian and rooibos.

From Salon

Related Words

• sprout
• twig