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

“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

Swith, in some beggar’s haffet squattle; There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle Wi’ ither kindred, jumping cattle, In shoals and nations; Whare horn nor bane ne’er daur unsettle Your thick plantations.

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

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 Redgauntlet by Scott, Walter, Sir

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

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 A Year in the Fields by Burroughs, John