A permanent flow of water issuing from the earth: = SPRING sb.1 2. Also fig. Now chiefly in echoes from the Bible.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 238. To deluyn ȝoure pyt deppere in lownes tyl ȝe fyndyn a watyr-spryng of grace.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cvi[i]. 33. Which turneth the floudes in to drie londe, and drieth vp the water sprynges. Ibid., 35. He maketh the wildernes a stonding water, and water sprynges of a drye grounde.
1573–80. Tusser, Author’s Belief, in Husb. (1878), 195. That ioyned brookes to dales, to hilles fresh water springs.
1595. Locrine, IV. iii. Huge Hidras … which haue drunke vp the flowing water springs.
1607. Bp. Hall, Ps. i. 18. He shall be like the tree, Set by the water-springs.
1766. M. Bruce, Lochleven, 147. Her pleasing task to tend The flow’rs; to lave them from the water-spring.
1780. Von Troil, Iceland, 245. Among all the curiosities of Iceland … nothing can be compared to the hot spouting water-springs.
1866. Lytton, Lost Tales Miletus, Secret Way, 12. The cool marge of rush-grown watersprings.
1890. D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, vi. 146. Friends, whose intercourse had been as refreshing to me as the water-spring to the traveller in the wilderness.
