sprattle

American  

[sprat-l] / ˈspræt l /

noun

Scot.

1. a struggle; fight.

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Etymology

Origin of sprattle

1815–25; metathetic variant of spartle to scatter, itself alteration of sparple ( Middle English < Old French esparpeiller < ?)

Example Sentences

Cp. sprattle in Burns. > æ before r in ware. > a before r in karling.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Or thro' the drift, deep-lairing, sprattle, Beneath a scaur.

From Robert Burns by Shairp, John Campbell

“I thought me on the ourie cattle, Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle O’ wintry war; Or thro’ the drift, deep-lairing, sprattle, Beneath a scaur.

From Life of Robert Burns by Carlyle, Thomas

Listening, the doors an’ winnocks rattle, I thought me on the ourie cattle, Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle O’ winter war, And through the drift, deep-lairing sprattle Beneath a scar.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

List'ning the doors an' winnocks rattle; I think me on the ourie cattle, Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle O' winter war, And thro' the drift, deep-lairing sprattle, Beneath a scaur!

From Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2) by Wilson, John Lyde