Where does “sprawl” come from?

Sprawl comes from Middle English spraulen, from Old English spreawlian, of unknown origin.

sprawl (English): To sit with the limbs spread out; To spread out...

Definitions

  1. To sit with the limbs spread out; To spread out...

Ancestry of “sprawl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishspraulento sprawl
2Old Englishspreawlianto sprawl
3Proto-Indo-Europeansper-to fidget, twitch; to push; to be quick; to...

Words derived from “sprawl”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sper- →Every word from Old English spreawlian →Every word from Middle English spraulen →