sprattle

[ sprat-l ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a struggle; fight.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprattle¹

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

Example Sentences

Ye see, we will suppose that any friend like yourself were in the deepest hole of the Nith, sand making a sprattle for your life.

From Project Gutenberg