Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4–6 spourge, 5 spowrge, 6 sporge; 5 spurgyn, 5–7, 9 dial. spurge. [ad. OF. espurgier:—L. expurgāre: cf. PURGE v.1]
† 1. trans. To cleanse, purify (a person, the body, etc.); to free from or rid of impurity. Also fig., to clear of guilt (= PURGE v.1 5). Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 10917. Of flyes men mow her weyl spourge.
a. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2226. At londen on a day Mark wald spourge þe quen.
1483. in Lett. Rich. III. & Hen. VII. (Rolls), I. 3. When that a king annoynted ys deceassed,… his body [is] spurged.
1530. Palsgr., 729/1. I sporge, I clense, jespurge. Ibid. I shall do the best I can to sporge it.
1546. in Strype, Ann. Ref. (1824), VI. 267. Commandment was given to the apothecaries … and others, to do their duties in spurging, cleansing, bowelling [etc.],… the said corps.
† 2. With away or out. To remove by some cleansing or purifying process. Obs. rare.
a. 1395. Hylton, Scala Perf., II. xxix. (1494). Vntyll the wyne hath boylled & spourged oute all vnclennesse.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, iij. Another ensample I shalle telle yow of Mary Magdalene whyche dyd wasshe and spurge awey her synnes and mysdedes by the water of her eyen.
3. intr. Of ale, wine, or other fermenting liquor: To emit or throw off impure matter by fermentation; to cleanse or purify itself in this way; to ferment or ‘work.’ Cf. PURGE v.1 7.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 32/2. Bermyn, or spurgyn as ale, or other lyke, spumo.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlv. 364 (Addit. MS.). A mouse on a tyme felle into a barell of newe ale, that spourgid, and myght not come oute.
1530. Palsgr., 731/1. This ale spurgeth a great deale better for the cariage.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 184. The hony,… after the straining,… worketh like newe wine, and spurgeth.
1658. trans. Porta’s Nat. Magick, IV. xi. 135. When these liquors are incorporated together, they wax hot, and begin to spurge.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Spurge,… to emit yeast from beer, when it is first tunned.
fig. 1626. B. Jonson, Staple of N., Induct. (1905), 7. Yonder he is within,… rowling himselfe vp and downe like a tun, i’ the midst of ’hem, and spurges, neuer did vessel of wort or wine worke so!
b. refl. Of a vessel.
14[?]. Medical MS., in Anglia, XIX. 85. Take of eytherys water and put it in-to sondre vessell; sythen put to eyþer barlyche and horssys dong, and whether wessel sporgyth hym, is noȝt bareyn.
† c. To come or rise up in fermentation or ‘working.’ Obs.–1
1634. Levett, Ordering of Bees, 50. And if any rosse worketh or spurgeth up.
4. To empty or relieve the bowels by evacuation. Cf. PURGE v.1 4 b.
1530. Palsgr., 729/1. I sporge, I have a great laxe, jay la foyre. Ibid., 730/2. I spurge, as a man dothe at the foundement after he is deed.
a. 1643. Cartwright, Siege, V. vi. The body’s something noysome; ’tis a stale one; Good troth it spurgeth very monstrously.
