The term ‘spring’come from the old England word ‘springan’which means ‘to leal, burst forth, fly up; spread, grow’. The origin may be traced to the Proto-Germanic ‘sprengan’. It was originally referred to the source of a well or stream. This word soon extended its application to the first sign or beginning of something. From 1380 to 1600, the expressions like ‘the spring of the day’, ‘the spring of thedawn’, ‘the spring of the year’‘spring of dai’(sunrise), ‘spring of one’ (moonrise)were commonly used. By the middle of the16th century, it replaced the Celt word ‘lent’ which was the name of the first season of the year.It was the season of new growth.
At present ‘lent’is used only in religious context which refers to the period of ‘fasting’ and repentance between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The other extended the sense of word ‘spring’ is a metalic coil. It is a device, such as coil or strip of steel, that stores potential energy when it is compressed, stretched, or bent and releases it when the restraining force is removed.This meaning was suggested by the verb sense ‘to come out or jump up suddenly’. As slang it refers to the release from prison or other confinement. There are also recorded note of the word in association.In 1843 ‘spring fever; means ‘surge of romantic feelings’. It has developed from the earlier sense of a type of disease or head-cold prevalent in certain places in spring season. In 1780 ‘spring chicken’ referred to ‘small roasted chicken’(usually 11 to 14 weeks). Later this sense was transferred to ‘young person’1906.
From the book ‘The English Language’ by C.L.Wrenn
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