[Of obscure origin.]

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  † 1.  A lively young fellow. Obs.

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1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 52. He’ll often tell ye what a Sprag he was in the Days of Yore.

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  2.  a. A young salmon.

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1790.  Grose, Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Suppl., Sprag, a young salmon.

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1882.  Day, Fishes Gt. Brit., II. 63. Salmon;… from one to two years old … it is known as … sprag … (Northumberland).

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  b.  A young cod.

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1875.  F. T. Buckland, Log-Bk., 92. These sprags are a distinct species of Cod.

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1886.  Field, 23 Jan., 106/3. Sprags (half-grown cod), 2s. 6d. to 3s. each.

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