sprig

From Middle English sprig, sprigge, of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal English sprag (“sprig, twig”), Old English spræc (“a shoot”), German Low German Spricke, Sprick (“dry branch, twig”).

• IPA^(key): /spɹɪɡ/

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• Rhymes: -ɪɡ

sprig (plural sprigs)

1. A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray.

   a sprig of laurel or of parsley

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. (humorous, sometimes mildly derogatory) A youth; a lad.
   • 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], OCLC 742335644:

     a sprig whom I remember, with a whey-face and a satchel, not so many years ago

5. A brad, or nail without a head.
6. A small eyebolt ragged or barbed at the point.
7. A house sparrow.

sprig (third-person singular simple present sprigs, present participle sprigging, simple past and past participle sprigged)

1. To decorate with sprigs, or with representations of sprigs, as in embroidery or pottery.

• PIRGs, grips, prigs