Also 7 sprein. [prob. f. SPRAIN v.]
1. A severe wrench or twist of the ligaments or muscles of a joint, causing pain and swelling of the part. Also fig.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 334. The ioints if they haue gotten a sprein by any rush, find remedy by the dung of bore or sow, if it be laid to hot in a linnen cloth. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 124. Anger … resembleth not … the sinewes of the soule, but is like rather to their stretching spreines and … convulsions.
1677. Temple, Cure of Gout, Misc. (1680), 202. I confest I was in pain, and thought it was with some sprain at Tennis.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Sprain, a violent contortion or wresting of the Tendons of the Muscles.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 219. He contracted a great lameness from a sprain.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., ix. He still feels the sprain which he received in his spring after yonder chamois.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 383/1. The treatment to be adopted for sprains is the immediate application of leeches.
1882. ‘Edna Lyall,’ Donovan, xx. ‘Only a sprain, I think,’ he answered, faintly.
2. Without article: The condition of being sprained.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XIV. 459. Dr. Kinglake’s last argument … remains to be examined, the analogy of common sprain to gout.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 174. It is not easily met when it is present as the vague condition called sprain of the back.
