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sprit

American

[sprit] / sprɪt /

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.

sprit British

/ sprɪt /

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of sprit

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In terms of Pauline’s sprit: It’s about this openness and trust.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 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

Bush and Vice President Kamala Harris both called for that long-dissipated sprit of unity to return.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2021

“I got a chance to use it and show a little Aloha sprit to the guys,” Kasitati said.

From Washington Times • Aug. 4, 2016

“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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023