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
- A fine, gentle, dispersed mist of liquid; A...
Ancestry of “spray”, step by step
spray traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Dutch sprāien
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | sprāien | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | sprēwijaną | to spray, sprinkle |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)per- | to strew, sow, sprinkle; to sow, sprinkle, strew;... |
via Middle English spray
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spray | branch, shoot, or twig of a tree |