Obs. [f. SPURGE v.1]
1. The action on the part of ale, wine, etc., of throwing off impurities by fermenting; fermentation. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 470/1. Sporgynge, of ale or wyne spumacio.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 85. By cause such ale and biere hathe taken wynde in spurgyng.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 28 b. That whiche commeth of the spurging, is kept both for brewing and baking.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 153. The liquor of wine gets all the force and strength that it hath by working, spurging, and seething … in the lees while it is Must.
1720. Strype, Stow’s Surv., V. xi. (1754), II. 289/1. Such [vessels] as were carried in drays … would by reason of spurging and working in the Carriage want near a gallon in every barrel.
2. Purgation, purging; matter purged out or exuded. rare.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 50 b. Without any dreuelyng or spurgyng in any place of his body.
1609. B. Jonson, Masque of Queens, Wks. (1640), 166. The spurgings of a dead-mans eyes.
