Lively, active, alert.
1789. [The snakes] were not so spry as in summer season, so none escaped being killed.—Maryland Journal, March 10.
1815. Pray be spry, sir, said I, for there’s no knowing what my wife may do.—Mass. Spy, June 28.
1825. He was not “over spry” (active); but nobody “thereabouts” could match him at a “dead lift;” so that he was a sort of champion at all the raisings, trainings, and huskings of the neighbourhood.—John Neal, ‘Brother Jonathan,’ i. 116.
1846. I ’ve lived here man and boy 76 year cum next tater diggin, and thair aint no wheres a kitting spryer ’n I be.—‘Biglow Papers,’ No. 1.
1856. Beautiful eyes, which sparkled spry with common-sense.—Knick. Mag., xlvii. 617 (June).
