From British dialectalsprey, fromOld Norsesprækr(“nimble, lively”) fromProto-Germanic*sprēkiz(“lively”), fromProto-Indo-European*(s)preg-(“to strew, jerk, sprinkle, scatter”). Cognate withIcelandicsprækur(“lively, spry”),Norwegiansprek(“lively, healthy”), dialectalSwedishsprygg(“brisk, very active, skittish”). More atspark. Related tosprack,sprig,sprug,freckle.
From more general origins, it has come to be restricted in usage almost entirely to remarking on one's being sprier than expected, e.g. being spry for one’s (old) age.
spry (comparativesprier,superlativespriest)
- Having great power ofleaping or running;nimble; active.
2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, inThe Onion AV Club[1]:What follows is a bunch of nonstop goofery involving chase sequences, dream sequences, fast-changing costumes and an improbable beard, a little musical help from Flight Of The Conchords, and ultimately a very physical confrontation with a surprisinglyspry Victoria.
- Vigorous;lively;cheerful.
1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,A Study in Scarlet, page37:"I'm not sure about whether I shall go. I am the most incurably lazy devil that ever stood in shoe leather—that is, when the fit is on me, for I can bespry enough at times."
1992, Robert Rankin,The Antipope, page68:The Captain folded his brow into a look of intense perplexity. 'You seem exceedinglyspry for a man who demolished an entire bottle of brandy and better part of an ounce of shag in a single evening.'
'And very nice too,' said the tramp. 'Now as to breakfast?'
