[sprue] n [origin unknown] (1880) 1: the hole through which metal or plastic is poured into the gate and thence into a mold
2: the waste piece cast in a sprue
[2]sprue n [D spruw; akin to MLG spruwe, a kind of tumor] (1888) 1: celiac disease
2: a disease of tropical regions that is of unknown cause and is characterized by fatty diarrhea and malabsorption of nutrients--called also tropical sprue