I. ˈsprau̇t verb
Etymology: Middle English spruten, from Old English -sprūtan; akin to Old High German spriozan to sprout, Lithuanian sprausti to squeeze, thrust
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
1. : to grow, spring up, or come forth as or as if a sprout
2. : to send out new growth
transitive verb
: to send forth or up : cause to develop : grow
II. noun
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : shoot 1a ; especially : a young shoot (as from a seed or root)
b. plural
(1) chiefly British : brussels sprout 2
(2) : edible sprouts especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa or mung beans)
2. : something resembling a sprout: as
a. : a young person
b. : scion 2