Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡SPRAING, n., v. Also sprainge, sprang -(ue); sprain, spren (Sh.) and deriv. forms spra(i)ngle. [spreŋ]
I. n. 1. A streak, stripe or ray of colour (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., sprain, 1908 Jak. (1928), spren); a distinguishing tint or shade (Sc. 1818 Sawers). Also fig.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. i.:
Scarlet and green the Sets, the Borders blew, With Spraings like Gowd, and Siller.m.Lth. 1728 Caled. Mercury (27 May):
A black Spraing from the Maine to the Tail.Sc. 1736 J. Dunbar Smegmatalogia 15:
Soap with blue Spraings.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 176:
Sure Nature herried mony a tree, For spraings and bonny spats to thee.Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 145:
The meiths o' sorrow down frae baith your een In muddy spraings upo' your cheeks.Dmf. 1813 A. Cunningham Songs 13:
She may show those diamond spraings Which truss her inky hair.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 60:
Ere I wan o'er, the sun wis just gaen tee, Wi' spreadin' spraings.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
He's gjaan ta be a shange a wadder, de wir sprains doon frae da sun dis mornen.
2. The tobacco rattle virus disease of potatoes (see quot.).Sc. 1970 Week-End Scotsman 4:
Potatoes which look quite sound, yet when cut they show brown spots or arc-shaped streaks in the flesh. The name given to these symptoms is “spraing.”
II. v. To variegate or diversify with stripes or streaks (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 179; Abd. 1931). Freq. in ppl.adj. sprainged, spra(i)ngit, spra(i)ngled, -it, striped, streaked; of hens: speckled (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Ork. 1701 J. Brand Descr. Ork. (1883) 81:
Also he saw another, all stripped or sprainged on the back, which Birds were beautiful to behold.Sc. 1734 J. Spotiswood Hope's Practicks 540:
A Pair of spraingled Bed-plaids.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 115:
Sprangit Flow'rs that scent the gale.Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 146:
'Ere light began to spraing the east.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 176:
Gowan spranglit smilin' spring.Ags. 1834 J. Nevay Peasant 216:
Teuk its sprainglit eggs To be a necklace to my luve.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 304:
A silk vest bonnily spraingit with various colours.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 57:
The glimmerin' beams o' the settin' sin stoured throwe, spraingin' the russet an' broon o' the hindmist o' the fa'in' leaves.
