Sprout (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprouting.] [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. sprta, AS. spreotan, D. spruiten, G. spriessen, Sw. spruta to squirt, to spout. Cf. Sprit, v. t. & i., Sprit a spar, Spout, v. t., Spurt.]
1.
To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants.
2.
To shoot into ramifications.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
© Webster 1913.
Sprout, v. t.
1.
To cause to sprout; as, the rain will sprout the seed.
2.
To deprive of sprouts; as, to sprout potatoes.
© Webster 1913.
Sprout, n. [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See Sprout, v. i.]
1.
The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.
2. pl.
Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts.
Johnson.
Brussels sprouts Bot. See under Brussels.
© Webster 1913.