Sprit
/sprɪt/noun
A spar or pole projecting from a ship's mast to support a sail, or a small pointed rod or pole.
Did you know?Sprit is historically connected to the same Germanic root that gave English sprint, originally carrying the idea of something that shoots or springs out suddenly.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sprutaną
“to shoot out, sprout, burst forth”
Old English
OE
spryttan
“to sprout, cause to spring up”
Middle Low German
MLG
sprit
“a spar, pole, or projecting beam”
Middle Dutch
MDu
spriet
“a pole, spar, or pointed stake”
Late Middle English
English
sprit
“a spar projecting from a ship's mast”