spring

Where does the word "spring" come from? It comes from Old English springan, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).

Spring’s story begins in Old English: springan meant “to leap.” 'to leap, burst out', as water from a spring. It reached English by 1540s as spring. Short for 'spring of the year' (1520s), when plants burst out; it replaced the older season name lencten, 'lengthening (of days)', which survives as Lent. Today, spring means the season after winter; a coiled wire; a source of water.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval springan "to leap", 'to leap, burst out', as water from a spring.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1540s spring "the season after winter", short for 'spring of the year' (1520s), when plants burst out; it replaced the older season name lencten, 'lengthening (of days)', which survives as Lent.