catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Spring \Spring\ (spr[i^]ng), v. t.
     1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to
        cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to
        spring a pheasant.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to
        spring a surprise on someone; to spring a joke.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              She starts, and leaves her bed, and springs a light.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The friends to the cause sprang a new project.
                                                    --Swift.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To cause to explode; as, to spring a mine.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To crack or split; to bend or strain so as to weaken; as,
        to spring a mast or a yard.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To cause to close suddenly, as the parts of a trap
        operated by a spring; as, to spring a trap.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. To bend by force, as something stiff or strong; to force
        or put by bending, as a beam into its sockets, and
        allowing it to straighten when in place; -- often with in,
        out, etc.; as, to spring in a slat or a bar.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. To pass over by leaping; as, to spring a fence.
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     8. To release (a person) from confinement, especially from a
        prison. [colloquial]
        [PJC]
  
     To spring a butt (Naut.), to loosen the end of a plank in a
        ship's bottom.
  
     To spring a leak (Naut.), to begin to leak.
  
     To spring an arch (Arch.), to build an arch; -- a common
        term among masons; as, to spring an arch over a lintel.
  
     To spring a rattle, to cause a rattle to sound. See
        Watchman's rattle, under Watchman.
  
     To spring the luff (Naut.), to ease the helm, and sail
        nearer to the wind than before; -- said of a vessel.
        --Mar. Dict.
  
     To spring a mast or To spring a spar (Naut.), to strain
        it so that it is unserviceable.
        [1913 Webster]

  
  
        She starts, and leaves her bed, amd springs a light.
                                                    --Dryden.
  
        The friends to the cause sprang a new project. --Swift.
  
     3. To cause to explode; as, to spring a mine.
  
     4. To crack or split; to bend or strain so as to weaken; as,
        to spring a mast or a yard.
  
     5. To cause to close suddenly, as the parts of a trap
        operated by a spring; as, to spring a trap.
  
     6. To bend by force, as something stiff or strong; to force
        or put by bending, as a beam into its sockets, and
        allowing it to straighten when in place; -- often with in,
        out, etc.; as, to spring in a slat or a bar.
  
     7. To pass over by leaping; as, to spring a fence.
  
     To spring a butt (Naut.), to loosen the end of a plank in a
        ship's bottom.
  
     To spring a leak (Naut.), to begin to leak.
  
     To spring an arch (Arch.), to build an arch; -- a common
        term among masons; as, to spring an arch over a lintel.
  
     To spring a rattle, to cause a rattle to sound. See
        Watchman's rattle, under Watchman.
  
     To spring the luff (Naut.), to ease the helm, and sail
        nearer to the wind than before; -- said of a vessel.
        --Mar. Dict.
  
     To spring a mast or spar (Naut.), to strain it so that it
        is unserviceable.