Definition of sprout

The origin of the word "sprout" can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled "sprōt" or "sprō banda." The term was derived from two separate words in the language: "sprōtan," meaning "to shoot forth," and "band," meaning "offspring" or "sprig." The Old English word "sprōtan" itself was composed of "spra," meaning "spread out," and "ūtan," which meant "up" or "out." Thus, the original meaning of "sprōtan" was "to spread out upwards," or "to shoot forth." Over time, the Old English word "sprōt" came to be used as a noun to refer to the small, shoot-like structures that emerge from seeds or underground plant stems. This usage became popular in Middle English, where it continued to be spelled "sprōt" or "sprout." Interestingly, the term "sprout" has also been used figuratively to describe social or economic growth or progress. This figurative use can be traced back to the 17th century, where the term "sprouting" meant "beginning to flourish" or "grow rapidly." Today, "sprout" is widely used in agriculture, horticulture, and food production to describe the small plantlets that develop from seeds, as well as the edible sprouts that are produced from various vegetable, legume, and cereal grains. Its use in fields beyond agriculture is still common, as it connotes the idea of growth, expansion, and improvement.