Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “spray” come from?

Spray derives from Old English sprei, from Proto-Germanic sprēwijaną, from Proto-Indo-European sper-, a root of uncertain meaning.

spray (English): A fine, gentle, dispersed mist of liquid; A...

Definitions

  1. A fine, gentle, dispersed mist of liquid; A...

Ancestry of “spray”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchsprāien—
2Proto-Germanicsprēwijanąto spray, sprinkle
3Proto-Indo-European(s)per-to strew, sow, sprinkle; to sow, sprinkle, strew;...

Words derived from “spray”

  • spraying
  • electrospray
  • sprayer
  • overspray
  • electrospraying
  • nanospray
  • thermospray
  • nanoelectrospray
  • sprayable
  • respray
  • seaspray
  • sprayskirt
  • spraylike
  • sprayhood
  • cryospray
  • spraydeck
  • spray-dry
  • sprayboard
  • sprayproof
  • resprayer
  • unsprayable
  • nonsprayable
  • espray
  • spray
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)per- →