A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

spinneret --- silk-spinning organ of a silkworm or spider, coined 1826, dim. of spinner (n.), from spin. Spinner is attested from c.1220 as "spider," from 1393 as "person who spins textile thread."

spinster --- 1362, "female spinner of thread," from M.E. spinnen (see spin) + -stere, feminine suffix. Spinning commonly done by unmarried women, hence the word came to denote "an unmarried woman" in legal documents from 1600s to early 1900s, and by 1719 was being used generically for "woman still unmarried and beyond the usual age for it."

spiral (adj.) --- 1551, from M.Fr. spiral, from M.L. spiralis "winding, coiling" (1255), from L. spira "coil," from Gk. speira "coil, twist, wreath," from PIE *sper- "to turn, twist." The verb is attested from 1834; the fig. sense is from 1922. The noun is first recorded 1656; U.S. football sense is from 1896. Spiral galaxy first attested 1913.

spirant --- breathy consonant, 1862, from L. spirans (gen. spirantis), prp. of spirare "to breathe, blow" (see spirit).

spire --- O.E. spir "sprout, shoot, stalk of grass," from P.Gmc. *spiraz (cf. O.N. spira "a stalk, slender tree," M.L.G. spir "a small point or top"), from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (see spike (n.1)). Meaning "tapering top of a tower or steeple" first recorded 1596 (a sense attested in M.L.G. since 1392 and also found in the Scand. cognates). The verb is first recorded c.1325.

spirit (n.) --- c.1250, "animating or vital principle in man and animals," from O.Fr. espirit, from L. spiritus "soul, courage, vigor, breath," related to spirare "to breathe," from PIE *(s)peis- "to blow" (cf. O.C.S. pisto "to play on the flute"). Original usage in Eng. mainly from passages in Vulgate, where the L. word translates Gk. pneuma and Heb. ruah. Distinction between "soul" and "spirit" (as "seat of emotions") became current in Christian terminology (e.g. Gk. psykhe vs. pneuma, L. anima vs. spiritus) but "is without significance for earlier periods" [Buck]. L. spiritus, usually in classical L. "breath," replaces animus in the sense "spirit" in the imperial period and appears in Christian writings as the usual equivalent of Gk. pneuma. Meaning "supernatural being" is attested from c.1300 (see ghost); that of "essential principle of something" (in a non-theological sense, e.g. Spirit of St. Louis) is attested from 1690, common after 1800. Plural form spirits "volatile substance" is an alchemical idea, first attested 1610; sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1678. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768).

spirit (v.) --- 1599, "to make more active or energetic" (of blood, alcohol, etc.), from spirit (n.). The verb meaning "carry off or away secretly (as though by supernatural agency)" is first recorded 1666. Spirited "lively, energetic" is from 1599.

spiritual (adj.) --- of or concerning the spirit (especially in religious aspects), 1303, from O.Fr. spirituel (12c.), from L. spiritualis, from spiritus "of breathing, of the spirit" (see spirit). Meaning "of or concerning the church" is attested from 1338. The noun sense of "African-American religious song" first recorded 1866. Spirituality (1417) is from M.Fr. spiritualite, from L.L. spiritualitatem (nom. spiritualitas), from L. spiritualis). An earlier form was spiritualty (1377).

spiritualist --- 1852, "one who believes in the ability of the living to communicate with the dead via a medium," from spiritual (see spirit).

spirochete --- 1877, from Mod.L. Spirochæta, the genus name, from spiro- Mod.L. comb. form of Gk. speira "a coil" (see spiral) + Gk. chaite "hair."

spissitude --- c.1400, "density, thickness, compactness," from L. spissitudo, from spissus "thick, dense, compact, close" (cf. It. spesso, Sp. espeso, O.Fr. espes, Fr. épais).

spit (n.) --- sharp-pointed rod on which meat is roasted, O.E. spitu, from P.Gmc. *spituz (cf. M.Du. spit, Swed. spett, O.H.G. spiz, Ger. Speiß "spit," Ger. spitz "pointed"), from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (see spike (n.1)). This is also the source of the word meaning "sandy point" (1673). O.Fr. espois, Sp. espeto "spit" are Gmc. loan-words. The verb meaning "to put on a spit" is recorded from c.1205.

spit (v.) --- expel saliva, O.E. spittan (Anglian), spætan (W.Saxon), from PIE *sp(y)eu-, of imitative origin (see spew). Not the usual O.E. word for this; spætlan (see spittle) and spiwan (see spew) are more common. Meaning "to eject saliva (at someone or something) as a gesture of contempt" is in O.E. The noun is attested from c.1300. Meaning "the very likeness" is attested from 1602 (e.g. spitting image, attested from 1901); cf. Fr. craché in same sense. Military phrase spit and polish first recorded 1895. Spitball is from 1846 in the schoolboy sense, 1905 in the baseball sense.

Spitalfields --- district east of London, famed for the work of Huguenot refugee weavers who took up residence there, from St. Mary Spital, a M.E. shortened form of hospital.

spite (n.) --- c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to M.Du. spijt, M.L.G. spyt, M.Swed. spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.

spitfire --- 1600, from spit (v.) + fire (n.). Replaced earlier shitfire (cf. Florentine cacafuoco).

spitoon --- 1823, Amer.Eng., from spit (1) + -oon, Eng. spelling of Fr. -on (from L. -onem). A rare instance of a word formed in Eng. using this suffix (octoroon is another). Replaced earlier spitting box (1687).

spittle --- 1481, "saliva, spit," probably an alteration (by influence of spit (v.)) of O.E. spætl, spatl, from P.Gmc. *spætlan, related to O.E. spætan "to spit."

Spitz --- breed of small Pomeranian dog, 1842, from Ger. Spitz (occasionally Spitzhund), from spitz "pointed" (see spit (n.)). So called from the shape of its muzzle.

spiv --- petty crook who will turn his hand to anything so long as it does not involve honest work, 1934, British slang, probably dating back to late 19c. and connected with spiff (see spiffy) in one of its various senses. Being a flashy dresser was a spiv characteristic.

splanchic --- 1694, "pertaining to the viscera," from Gk. splankhnon, usually in pl., splankhna "the innards, entrails" (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys); related to splen (see spleen).

splash (v.) --- 1715, probably an alteration of plash with an intensive s-. The noun is attested from 1736; meaning "striking or ostentatious display" is first attested 1804. Splashy "sensational" first attested 1836. Splash-down in the spacecraft sense is attested from 1961.

splat --- to land with a smacking sound, 1897, probably of imitative origin.

splatter (v.) --- 1784, but earlier in splatterdash (1772), perhaps a blend of spatter and splash.

splay (v.) --- to spread out, c.1330, shortened form of desplayen (see display). Pp. adj. splayed "spread out" is attested from c.1547.

spleen --- c.1300, from O.Fr. esplen, from L. splen, from Gk. splen, from PIE *splegh- (cf. Skt. plihan-, Avestan sperezan, Armenian p'aicaln, L. lien, O.C.S. slezena, Lith. bluznis, O.Prus. blusne, O.Ir. selg "spleen"). Regarded in medieval physiology as the seat of morose feelings and bad temper. Hence fig. sense of "violent ill-temper" (1594).

splendid --- 1624, probably a shortening of earlier splendidious (1432), from L. splendidus "magnificent, brilliant," from splendere "be bright, shine, gleam, glisten," from PIE *(s)plend- "bright" (cf, Lith. splendziu "I shine," M.Ir. lainn "bright"). An earlier form was splendent (1474).

splendiferous --- considered a playful elaboration since its re-birth in 1843, but it was a perfectly good 15c. word, from M.L. splendorifer, from splendor (see splendor) + ferre "to bear" (see infer).

splendor --- c.1450, from M.Fr. esplendour, from L. splendor "brilliance," from splendere "be bright, shine" (see splendid).

splice (v.) --- 1524, originally a sailors' word, from M.Du. splissen "to splice," ult. from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint). The Du. word was borrowed in Fr. as épisser. Used of motion picture film from 1912; of DNA from 1975.

spliff --- conical cannabis cigarette, 1936, a West Indian word, of unknown origin.

splint --- c.1300, "plate of armor," probably from M.L.G. splinte, splente "thin piece of iron," related to M.Du. splinte "splint," probably ult. from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint). Cognate with Dan. splint "splinter," Swed. splint "wooden peg, wedge." Meaning "slender flexible slip of wood" is recorded from c.1325; specific surgical sense is attested from c.1400.

splinter --- 1398, from M.Du. splinter, splenter "a splinter," related to splinte (see splint). The verb is from 1582; fig. sense from 1603. The adjective (as in splinter party) is first recorded 1935, from the noun.

split (v.) --- 1590, from M.Du. splitten, from P.Gmc. *spl(e)it- (cf. Dan., Fris. splitte, O.Fris. splita, Ger. spleißen "to split"), from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint). Meaning "leave, depart" first recorded 1954, U.S. slang. Of couples, "to separate, divorce" from 1942. To split the difference is from 1715; to split (one's) ticket in the U.S. political sense is attested from 1842. The acrobatic feat first so called in 1861. Meaning "sweet dish of sliced fruit with ice cream" is attested from 1920, Amer.Eng. Splitting image "exact likeness" is from 1880. Split screen is from 1953; split shift is from 1955; split personality first attested 1919. Split-level as a type of building plan is recorded from 1952. Split-second first attested 1884, in ref. to a type of stopwatch with two second hands that could be stopped independently; adj. meaning "occurring in a fraction of a second" is from 1946.

splotch --- 1601, perhaps a blend of spot, blot, and botch.

splurge (n.) --- 1828, "ostentatious display," perhaps a blend of splash and surge. The meaning "extravagant indulgence in spending" is first recorded 1928. The verb, in this sense, is attested from 1934.

splutter (n.) --- 1677, perhaps a variant of sputter, intensified by the prefix of splash, splatter, etc. The verb is from 1728.

Spock-marked --- 1967, "affected by upbringing in accordance with the principles of Dr. (Benjamin M.) Spock" (1903-1998), U.S. physician and child-care specialist, author of "Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" (1946).

spode --- fine sort of porcelain, 1869, named for first maker, Josiah Spode (1754-1827), potter in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

spoil --- c.1300, from O.Fr. espoillier "to strip, plunder," from L. spoliare "to strip of clothing, rob," from spolium "armor stripped from an enemy, booty;" originally "skin stripped from a killed animal," from PIE *spol-yo-, perhaps from base *spel- "to split, to break off" (cf. Gk. aspalon "skin, hide," spolas "flayed skin;" Lith. spaliai "shives of flax;" O.C.S. rasplatiti "to cleave, split;" M.L.G. spalden, O.H.G. spaltan "to split;" Skt. sphatayati "splits"). Sense of "to damage so as to render useless" is from 1563; that of "to over-indulge" (a child, etc.) is from 1648 (implied in spoiled). Intransitive sense of "to go bad" is from 1692. To be spoiling for (a fight, etc.) is from 1865, from notion that one will "spoil" if he doesn't get it. The noun meaning "goods captured in time of war" is from c.1300. Spoiler "one who ruins an opponent's chances" is from 1950. Spoil-sport attested from 1801.

spoke --- (of a wheel), O.E. spaca "spoke," related to spicing "large nail," from P.Gmc. *spaikon (cf. O.S. speca, O.Fris. spake, Du. spaak, O.H.G. speicha, Ger. speiche "spoke"), probably from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (see spike (n.1)).

spokesman --- 1519, "an interpreter," 1540 in the sense of "person who speaks for another or others." Irregular formation from spoke, past tense of speak (actually a back-formation from spoken). Spokeswoman is from 1654; spokesperson is from 1972. Spokesmodel is attested from 1990.

spoliation --- c.1400, from L. spoliationem (nom. spoliatio) "a robbing, plundering, pillaging," noun of action from spoliare "to plunder, rob" (see spoil).

spondee --- c.1390, "metrical foot consisting of two long syllables," from O.Fr. spondee, from L. spondeus, from Gk. spondeios (pous), the name of the meter originally used in chants accompanying libations, from sponde "solemn libation," related to spendein "make a drink offering," from PIE base *spend- "to make an offering, perform a rite," hence "to engage oneself by a ritual act" (cf. L. spondere "to engage oneself, promise," Hittite shipantahhi "I pour out a libation, I sacrifice").

spondulicks --- 1856, Amer.Eng. slang, "money, cash," of unknown origin, said to be from Gk. spondylikos, from spondylos, a seashell used as currency (the Gk. word means lit. "vertebra"). Used by Mark Twain and O.Henry and adopted into British English, where it survives despite having died in Amer.Eng.

sponge (n.) --- O.E. sponge, spunge, from L. spongia "a sponge," also "sea animal from which a sponge comes," from Gk. spongia, related to spongos "sponge," borrowed from an unknown source. The Latin word is the source of O.S. spunsia, M.Du. spongie, O.Fr. esponge, Sp. esponja, It. spugna. To throw in the sponge "quit, submit" (1860) is from prizefighting, in ref. to the sponges used to cleanse the faces of combatants between rounds (cf. later throw in the towel). Sponge-cake is attested from 1808. Spongy "soft, elastic" is from 1539.

sponge (v.) --- 1392, "to soak up with a sponge," from sponge (n.). The slang sense of "to live in a parasitic manner" is attested from 1673; sponger (n.) in this sense is from 1677. Originally it was the victim who was known as the sponge (1602), since he or she was being "squeezed."

spongiform --- resembling a sponge, 1805, from L. spongia "sponge" + forma "form, shape."

sponsor (n.) --- 1651, from L.L. sponsor "sponsor in baptism," in L. "a surety, guarantee," from sponsus, pp. of spondere "give assurance, promise solemnly" (see spondee). Sense of "person who pays for a radio (or, after 1947, TV) program" is first recorded 1931. The verb is attested from 1884, "to favor or support;" commercial broadcasting sense is from 1931.

spontaneous --- 1656, from L.L. spontaneus "willing, of one's free will," from L. (sua) sponte "of one's own accord, willingly," of unknown origin. Spontaneous combustion first attested 1795.

spoof (n.) --- hoax, deception, 1884, spouf, name of a game invented by British comedian Arthur Roberts (1852-1933); sense of "a parody, satirical skit or play" is first recorded 1958, from verb in this sense, attested from 1914.

spook (n.) --- 1801, from Du. spook, from M.Du. spooc "spook, ghost," from a common Gmc. source (cf. Ger. Spuk "ghost, apparition," M.L.G. spok "spook," Swed. spok "scarecrow, Norw. spjok "ghost, specter," Dan. spøg "joke"), of unknown origin. Possible outside connections include Lettish spigana "dragon, witch," spiganis "will o' the wisp," Lith. spingu, spingeti "to shine," O.Pruss. spanksti "spark." Meaning "undercover agent" is attested from 1942. The verb is first recorded 1867 in sense of "to walk or act like a ghost;" meaning "to unnerve" is from 1935. The derogatory racial sense of "black person" is attested from 1940s, perhaps from notion of dark skin being difficult to see at night. Black pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute during World War II called themselves the Spookwaffe. Spooky is from 1854.

spool --- c.1325, from O.N.Fr. spole, espole "a spool" (13c.), from M.Du. spoele "a spool," from P.Gmc. *spolon (cf. Norw., Swed. spole, O.H.G. spuola, Ger. Spule), from PIE base *spel- "to cleave, split" (see spoil). The verb is recorded from 1603.

spoon (n.) --- O.E. spon "chip, shaving," from P.Gmc. *spænuz (cf. O.N. spann, sponn "chip, splinter," Swed. spån "a wooden spoon," O.Fris. spon, M.Du. spaen, Du. spaan, O.H.G. span, Ger. Span "chip, splinter"), from PIE *spe- "long, flat piece of wood" (cf. Gk. sphen "wedge"). The meaning "eating utensil" is c.1300 in Eng., probably from O.N. sponn, which meant "spoon" as well as "chip, tile" (development of the "eating utensil" sense is specific to M.E. and Scand., though M.L.G. spon also meant "wooden spatula"). Spoon-feed is from 1615; fig. sense is attested by 1864. To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth is from 1801. Spoonbill is attested from 1678, after Du. lepelaar (from lepel "spoon").

spoon (v.) --- 1715, "to dish out with a spoon," from spoon (n.). The meaning "court, flirt sentimentally" is first recorded 1831, from slang noun spoon "simpleton" (1799), a fig. use based on the notion of shallowness.

spoonerism --- 1900, but perhaps as early as 1885, involuntary transposition of sounds in two or more words (cf. "a well-boiled icicle" for "a well-oiled bicycle;" "scoop of boy trouts" for "troop of Boy Scouts"), in allusion to the Rev. William A. Spooner (1844-1930), warden of New College, Oxford, who was famous for such mistakes.

spoor --- track, trace, 1823, from Afrikaans spoor, from M.Du. spor, cognate with O.E. spor "footprint, track, trace" (see spurn).

sporadic --- 1654 (implied in sporadical), from M.L. sporadicus "scattered," from Gk. sporadikos "scattered," from sporas (gen. sporados) "scattered," from spora "a sowing" (see spore). Originally a medical term, "occurring in scattered instances;" the meaning "happening at intervals" is first recorded 1847.

spore --- 1836, from Mod.L. spora, from Gk. spora "seed, a sowing," related to sporos "sowing," and speirein "to sow," from PIE *sper- "to strew" (see sprout).

spork --- 1909, from spoon + fork.

sporran --- 1818, from Gaelic sporan, Irish sparan "purse," of uncertain origin. Familiarized by Walter Scott (first attested in "Rob Roy").

sport (n.) --- c.1440, "pleasant passtime," from sport (v.). Meaning "game involving physical exercise" first recorded 1523. Original sense preserved in phrases such as in sport "in jest" (c.1440). Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, Amer.Eng., probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. Meaning "good fellow" is attested from 1881 (e.g. be a sport, 1913). The sport of kings was originally (1668) war-making. Sportswear is from 1912. Sports car first attested 1928. Sportscast first recorded 1938. Sportsman first recorded 1706. Sporting "characterized by conduct constant with that of a sportsman" is attested from 1799 (e.g. sporting chance, 1897). Sportsmanship is from 1745.

sport (v.) --- c.1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Anglo-Fr. disport, from O.Fr. desport "pastime, recreation, pleasure," from desporter "to divert, amuse, please, play" (see disport). Sense of "to amuse oneself by active exercise in open air or taking part in some game" is from c.1483. Meaning "to wear" is from 1778.

spot (n.) --- c.1200, "moral stain," probably from O.E. splott "a spot, blot, patch (of land)" infl. by M.Du. spotte "spot, speck." Other cognates are E.Fris. spot "speck," N.Fris. spot "speck, piece of ground," O.N. spotti "small piece." It is likely that some of these are borrowed, but the exact evolution now is impossible to trace. Meaning "speck, stain" is from c.1340. The sense of "particular place" is from c.1300. Meaning "short interval in a broadcast for an advertisement or announcement" is from 1923. Proceeded by a number (e.g. five-spot) it originally was a term for "prison sentence" of that many years (1901, Amer.Eng. slang). To put (someone) on the spot "place in a difficult situation" is from 1928. Colloquial phrase to hit the spot "satisfy, be what is required" is from 1868. Spot check first attested 1933. Spot on "completely, accurately" is attested from 1920.

spot (v.) --- c.1412, "to stain, sully, tarnish" from spot (n.). Sense of "to stain with spots" is attested from c.1440. Meaning "to see and recognize," is from 1718, originally colloquial and applied to a criminal or suspected person; the general sense is from 1860.

spotlight (n.) --- 1904, from spot (n.) + light (n.). Originally a theatrical equipment; fig. sense is attested from 1916. The verb is first recorded 1923.

spotty (adj.) --- 1340, "marked with spots," from spot (n.). Meaning "unsteady, uneven" is attested from 1932, from a more specific use with ref. to painting (1812).

spouse --- c.1200, "a married woman in relation to her husband" (also of men), from O.Fr. spus (fem. spuse), from L. sponsus "bridegroom" (fem. sponsa "bride"), from masc. and fem. pp. of spondere "to bind oneself, promise solemnly," from PIE *spend- "to make an offering, perform a rite" (see spondee). Spouse-breach (c.1225) was an old name for "adultery."

spout (v.) --- c.1330, related to M.Du. spoiten "to spout," N.Fris. spütji "spout, squirt," Swed. sputa "to spout," and probably M.Du. spuwen "to spit" (see spew). Meaning "to talk, declaim" is recorded from 1612. The noun is first recorded 1392. It was the slang term for the lift in a pawnbroker's shop, up which articles were taken for storage, hence fig. phrase up the spout "lost, hopeless, gone beyond recall" (1812).

sprain (n.) --- 1601, of uncertain origin. The verb is attested from 1622. A connection has been suggested to M.Fr. espraindre "to press out," from L. exprimere, but the sense evolution is difficult.

sprat --- small European herring, 1597, variant of sprot, from O.E. sprot "a small herring," related to Du. sprot, and probably connected to sprout.

sprawl --- O.E. spreawlian "move convulsively," with cognates in the Scand. languages and N.Fris. spraweli, probably ult. from PIE base *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Meaning "to spread or stretch in a careless manner" is attested from 1541; of things, from 1745. The noun is first attested 1719; meaning "straggling expansion of built-up districts into surrounding countryside" is from 1955.

spray (n.) --- small branch, 1297, possibly related to O.E. spræc "shoot, twig" (see sprig).

spray (v.) --- sprinkle liquid in drops, 1527, from M.Du. sprayen, from P.Gmc. *spræwjanan (cf. Ger. sprühen "to sparkle, drizzle," Spreu "chaff," lit. "that which flies about"), from PIE base *sper- "to sow, scatter" (see sprout). The noun is attested from 1621. Spray-painting is from 1902; spray-paint (v.) is from 1928.

spread (n.) --- 1691, "extent or expanse of something," from spread (v.). Meaning "copious meal" dates from 1822; sense of "food for spreading" (butter, jam, etc.) is from 1812. Sense of "bed cover" is recorded from 1848, originally Amer.Eng. Meaning "degree of variation" is attested from 1929. Spreadsheet is first attested 1982. Meaning "ranch for raising cattle" is attested from 1927.

spread (v.) --- c.1200, "to stretch out, to send in various directions," probably from O.E. -sprædan (especially in tosprædan "to spread out," and gesprædung "spreading"), from P.Gmc. *spraidijanan (cf. Dan. sprede, O.Swed. spreda, M.Du. spreiden, O.H.G., Ger. spreiten "to spread"), probably from PIE *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Reflexive sense of "to extend, expand" is attested from 1340.

spread-eagle --- lit. "splayed eagle," 1570, a heraldic term; the figure is that of the seal of the United States (hence spreadeagleism "extravagant laudation of the U.S.," 1858). Meaning "person secured with arms and legs stretched out" (originally to be flogged) is attested from 1785.

spree --- frolic, drinking bout," 1804, slang, perhaps an alteration of Fr. esprit "lively wit" (see esprit). Ir. spre seems to be a loan-word from O.N. sprakr.

sprig --- c.1400, "shoot, twig or spray of a plant, shrub," probably from O.E. spræc "shoot, twig," of obscure origin.

sprightly --- 1596, from spright, early 16c. variant of sprite.

spring (n.1) --- season following winter, 1547, earlier springing time, (1387), spring-time (1495), spring of the year (1530), which had replaced O.E. Lent by late 14c. From spring (v.); the notion is of the "spring of the year," when plants "spring up" (cf. spring of the leaf, 1538). Other Gmc. languages tend to take words for "fore" or "early" as their roots for the season name, cf. Dan. voraar, Du. voorjaar, lit. "fore-year;" Ger. Frühling, from M.H.G. vrueje "early." In 15c., the season also was prime-temps, after O.Fr. prin tans, tamps prim (Fr. printemps, which replaced primevère 16c. as the common word for spring), from L. tempus primum, lit. "first time, first season." Spring fever was O.E. lenctenadle; first record of spring cleaning is in 1857 (in ancient Persia, the first month, corresponding to March-April, was Adukanaiša, which apparently means "Irrigation-Canal-Cleaning Month;" Kent, p.167). Spring chicken "small roasting chicken" (usually 11 to 14 weeks) is recorded from 1780; transf. sense of "young person" first recorded 1906. Spring training first attested 1897.