Now dial. Also 5 spronge. [Of obscure origin: cf. PRONG sb.2] = PRONG sb.2 1 and 2. Hence Sprongful.
1492. Ryman, Poems, lxxxv. 5, in Archiv Stud. neu. Spr., LXXXIX. 255. When dredefull deth to the shal come And smyte the with his spronge.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, I. 146. She threw a fork at me that had three sprongs.
1870. Kennedy, Fireside Stories, 58 (E.D.D.). For every sprong-full he threw out, two came in.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 704. One o’ the sprongs is a-brokt out o’ the dung clow.
a. 1904. in Eng. Dial. Dict. (Kent and Somerset).
