sprit

American  

[sprit] / sprɪt /

noun

Nautical.

1. a small pole or spar crossing a fore-and-aft sail diagonally from the mast to the upper aftermost corner, serving to extend the sail.

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sprit British  

/ sprɪt /

noun

1. nautical a light spar pivoted at the mast and crossing a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail diagonally to the peak

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Etymology

Origin of sprit

before 900; Middle English spret, Old English sprēot; cognate with Dutch, German Spriet; akin to sprout

Example Sentences

That is far from the sprit of the McCleary lawsuit settlement.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2023

“They reflect the sprit of the Croatian people. They’ve been through so much. We give them faith in a better tomorrow.”

From Washington Post • Dec. 5, 2022

Whatever the case, I am sure many Kenyans are hoping that the sprit with which the new governors have begun in office will continue, even if this means rubbing their predecessors the wrong way.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2022

In his view, the group has become “too 21st century” and betrayed the sprit of Christopher Morley.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2018

“I may not like the little sprit very much, but I’m not cruel enough to buy him a lute with a sour neck.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss