SPRIG (sprigged, sprigging)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: sprigged    , sprigging   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sprig mean? 

• SPRIG (noun)
  The noun SPRIG has 2 senses:

1. a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

2. an ornament that resembles a spray of leaves or flowers

  Familiarity information: SPRIG used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPRIG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

branchlet; sprig; twig

Hypernyms ("sprig" is a kind of...):

branch (a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sprig"):

brier (a thorny stem or twig)

wand (a thin supple twig or rod)

withe; withy (strong flexible twig)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An ornament that resembles a spray of leaves or flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("sprig" is a kind of...):

decoration; ornament; ornamentation (something used to beautify)

 Context examples 

I like it vastly as it stands, but a touch of red sprig would give it the finish that it needs.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You know I wanted you, when we first came, not to buy that sprigged muslin, but you would.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Here's a Romsey man for you!” cried a young bowman with a sprig of evergreen set in his helmet.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognised shape—a sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Buff and blue are always very gentlemanlike. But a sprigged waistcoat would have been better.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A white surcoat with the lion of St. George in red upon the centre covered his broad breast, while a sprig of new-plucked broom at the side of his head-gear gave a touch of gayety and grace to his grim, war-worn equipment.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, the mull, or the jackonet.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Yes, I know exactly what you will say: Friday, went to the Lower Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue trimmings—plain black shoes—appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)