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Origin and history of sprinkle

sprinkle(v.)

"scatter drops or particles," late 14c., sprenklen (implied in sprynklid), frequentative of sprenge (see spring (v.), also see -el (3)); cognate with or influenced by Dutch sprenkelen, Low German sprenkeln, German sprenkeln; and the nouns Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sprenkel "spot, speck." These are perhaps from PIE root *(s)preg- "to jerk, scatter" (source also of Latin spargere "to scatter, sprinkle").

Because of the preponderance of forms with -k-, this word was probably originally derived from or suggested by MDu, MLG ... but later interpreted as from ME sprengen v. and springen v. plus -el- suf. (3). [Century Dictionary]

The meaning "rain lightly" is recorded by 1778. As a noun from 1640s, "an act of sprinkling;" by 1768 as "that which is sprinkled."

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to sprinkle

spring(v.)

Middle English springen, from Old English springan "to leap, leap up, jump;" of a fountain, spring, etc., "burst forth;" also "fly up; spread, grow" (class III strong verb; past tense sprang, past participle sprungen). This is from Proto-Germanic *sprenganan (source also of Old Norse springa "burst," Old Frisian springa, Middle Dutch springhen, Dutch springen, Old Saxon and Old High German springan, German springen "jump"). This is usually said to be from PIE *sprengh-, a nasalized form of root *spergh- "to move, hasten, spring" (source also of Sanskrit sprhayati "desires eagerly," Greek sperkhesthai "to hurry"). However Boutkan is attracted to an alternative derivation from PIE root *sper- "to spread, to sow" (for which see sparse).

In Middle English, it took on the role of causal sprenge, from Old English sprengan (as still in to spring a trap, etc.). The meaning "to cause to work or open," by or as by a releasing of the spring mechanism, is from 1828.

The transitive meaning "announce suddenly, bring out hastily and unexpectedly" (usually with on) is from 1876. The meaning "to release" (from imprisonment) is from 1900. The slang meaning "to pay" (for a treat, etc.) is recorded from 1906.

besprinkle(v.)

"to sprinkle over," mid-15c., from be- + sprinkle (v.). Related: Besprinkled; besprinkling.

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spree
"a lively frolic, rowdy drinking bout," 1804, slang or colloquial, earliest in Scottish dialect works, a word of uncertain origin. Perhaps [Barnhart] an alteration of French esprit "lively wit" (see esprit). According to Klein, Irish spre seems to be a loan-word from Old Norse sp
patter
"make a quick succession of small taps," 1610s, frequentative of pat (v.). Related: Pattered; pattering. As a noun, "a quick succession of small sounds," by 1844. Phrase patter of tiny (or little) feet, suggestive of the presence or expectation of a child, is by 1858, in an anony
splash
1715 (intransitive), "dabble about in water or some other liquid;" 1722 (transitive), "spatter," probably an alteration of plash with an intensive s-. Related: Splashed; splashing. Splash-board, to protect the occupants of a vehicle from splashing of the horse's feet, is attested
aspersion
from Latin aspersionem (nominative aspersio) "a sprinkling," noun of action from past-participle stem of aspergere "to sprinkle...on," from ad "to" (see ad-) + spargere "sprinkle, strew" (see sparse)....
asperges
from Late Latin asperges, noun use of second-person singular future indicative of Latin aspergere "to scatter, strew upon, sprinkle...," from ad "to" (see ad-) + spargere "to sprinkle" (see sparse)....
pasta
"sprinkled, salted," from passein "to sprinkle," from PIE root *kwet- "to shake" (see quash)....
embrocate
en (see en- (2)) + brekhein "to water, wet, rain, send rain," related to brokhe "rain," from PIE root *mergh- "to wet, sprinkle...
last
c. 1200, "latest, final, following all others," a contraction of Old English latost (adj.) "slowest, latest," superlative of læt (see late); in some uses from late (adv.). Cognate with Old Frisian lest, Dutch laatst, Old High German laggost, German letzt. Meaning "last in space,
salt
Old English sealt "salt, sodium chloride, abundant substance essential to life, used as a condiment and meat preservative," from Proto-Germanic *saltom (source also of Old Saxon, Old Norse, Old Frisian, Gothic salt, Dutch zout, German Salz), from PIE root *sal- "salt." Applied fr
slat
late 14c., earlier sclat (c. 1300), "a roofing slate; a thin, flat stone," from Old French esclat "split piece, chip, splinter" (Modern French éclat), a back-formation from esclater "to break, splinter, burst," which probably is from Frankish *slaitan "to tear, slit" or some othe

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