Sc. Also 6–7 sprayng, sprang. [app. of Scand. origin; cf. MIcel. and Norw. sprang fringe, lace.] A glittering or brightly colored stripe, streak or ray.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VII. iii. 82. Wyth fyty sparkis lyke to goldin bemys, Or twynkland sprayngis with thair giltin glemys.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. p. xli. The thrid kind [of hounds] is … reid hewit, or ellis blak, with small spraingis of spottis.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., s.v. Actilia, Partial gilt, with spranges or streames of Gold fuilȝie.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 57. Thair wes sein … ane gryt blaseing star like to ane comet,… haueing lang broyndis or sprayngis spredding fra the samen.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. A tartan plaid,… the borders blue: With spraings like gowd, and siller, cross’d with black.
1808. Mayne, Siller Gun, II. xiv. The mark … Far glist’ning, circled white and red, Wi’ spraings o’ blue.
1813–24. in Eng. Dial. Dict.
