sprit

[ sprit ]

/ sprɪt /

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noun Nautical.

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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of sprit

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sprit in a sentence

She's a brigantine, and there are sprits'ls on both masts, and only one square sail on the foremast.
Somehow Good|William de Morgan
Qu dict excittus Marius dgns rbus, qus poste gessit, sprits concpit.
Selections from Viri Romae|Charles Franois L'Homond
We also got out, and sent them the masts and regular sails of the boat, which was fitted to carry two sprits.
Miles Wallingford|James Fenimore Cooper
Mozart was always ready to help him, but he frequently made him the butt of his exuberant sprits.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 2 (of 3)|Otto Jahn

A large Dutch coasting trader, fitted with two masts, and sails set with sprits.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth

British Dictionary definitions for sprit

sprit

/ (sprɪt) /

noun

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

Word Origin for sprit

Old English spreot; related to Old High German spriuzen to support, Dutch spriet sprit, Norwegian sprӯta

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012