sprig

Meaning

Noun

1. A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray.
2. An ornament resembling a small shoot or twig.
3. One of the separate pieces of lace fastened on a ground in applique lace.
4. (derogatory, humorous, mildly, sometimes) A youth; a lad.
5. A brad, or nail without a head.
6. A small eyebolt ragged or barbed at the point.
7. A house sparrow.

Verb

1. To decorate with sprigs, or with representations of sprigs, as in embroidery or pottery.
2. To nail the sole onto a shoe.

Synonyms

twig

shoot

sprout

branch

branchlet

spray

scion

offshoot

small branch

stem

stick

nail

bough

slip

pin

pinna

pinnule

posy

rivet

rod

sapling

skewer

spike

staff

switch

tack

tilt

wand

wisp

wreath

youth

glazing sprig

peg out

young branch

fasten with nails

birch

glazing brad

bunch

burgeon

cluster

corsage

flowering

garland

heir

limb

limbs

mullion

offset

offspring

peg

Translations

ramoscello

rameau

Zweig

pimpollo

🌱

tak

ramo

💐

brindille

ramita

brin

galho

Zweigchen

branca

planta

Ast

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɹɪɡ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: sprig

Cognate with English: sprag

Cognate with Old English: spræc

In summary

From Middle English sprig, sprigge, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Middle Low German sprik, spricke (“a dry, easily broken twig that has fallen from a tree; sprig”). Compare also dialectal English sprag (“sprig, twig”), Old English spræc (“a shoot”), German Low German Spricke, Sprick (“dry branch, twig”).