Spurling
/ˈspɜːr.lɪŋ/noun
A small or young fish, especially a young sprat.
Did you know?Spurling is also recorded as an English surname, probably originating as a nickname connected with the small fish rather than with magic or “spurs.”
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
spurling
“A small fish or young sprat; the precise origin is uncertain.”
Late Middle English
English
spurling
“A term for a small fish, possibly formed with the diminutive ending -ling.”
16th Century
English
spurling
“A rare fisheries or regional word for a small fish.”
17th–18th Century
English
spurling
“An increasingly uncommon dialectal noun, also appearing as a personal name.”
Modern English
English
spurling
“An archaic or dialectal word for a small fish; chiefly encountered today as a surname.”