Sprone

Sprone is a term with multiple senses, primarily in Italian. In ordinary usage, sprone denotes a spur or goad—an instrument used to urge a horse or ox, typically a small metal projection on a rider's boot or on a horse's harness. Metaphorically, sprone can refer to anything that acts as an incentive or stimulus, or as a motive for action.

The word derives from the verb spronare, meaning to spur or urge, with attestations in medieval and modern Italian. It is common in agricultural, equestrian, and literary contexts, where it may appear in figurative expressions related to motivation or impetus.

In specialized or historical texts, sprone may also designate a supporting brace or strut within a framework or mechanism; this usage is rare and jurisdiction- or field-specific.

In English-language contexts, the term is chiefly encountered in translations from Italian, where the direct equivalent is usually "spur."