spry

Meaning

1. Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active.
2. Vigorous; lively; cheerful.

Synonyms

agile

nimble

lively

active

sprightly

quick

energetic

vigorous

adroit

alert

perky

deft

brisk

sprited

keen

swift

svelte

vivacious

animated

mischievous

nippy

rapid

smart

mobile

poignant

prompt

resolute

sharp

slippy

spirited

supple

vanquishable

vincible

volant

waspish

yare

smoothtongued

light footed

acrid

fluttersome

acrimonious

acute

assets

audacious

bold

cheerful

dapper

dexterous

enterprising

fast

fresh

humorous

joking

kinky

lissom

lissome

lithe

lurid

merry

natty

nifty

observing

playful

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɹaɪ/

Etymology

From British dialectal sprey, from Old Norse sprækr (“nimble, lively”) from Proto-Germanic *sprēkiz (“lively”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)preg- (“to strew, jerk, sprinkle, scatter”). Cognate with Icelandic sprækur (“lively, spry”), Norwegian sprek (“lively, healthy”), dialectal Swedish sprygg (“brisk, very active, skittish”). More at spark. Related to sprack, sprig, sprug, freckle.
From more general origins, it has come to be restricted in usage almost entirely to remark on one being more spry than expected, e.g. being spry for one’s age.