sprung

Sprung is primarily the past participle of the verb spring in English, used to describe something that has been propelled or released by a spring or by a sudden movement. It appears in phrases such as sprung from a trap, sprung a leak, or a door that is sprung with a spring mechanism. As an adjective or noun, sprung often indicates that a component is mounted on springs or relies on spring action, as in a sprung floor or other sprung mechanisms.

Etymology and usage

The form sprung derives from the Old English verb springan “to leap or jump,” which is related to other Germanic languages’ words for jumping. The past participle is used in modern English to denote completed action (he has sprung into action) or to qualify objects influenced by spring action (a sprung floor).

Engineering and design

In vehicle dynamics, sprung mass refers to the portion of a vehicle’s weight supported by springs, including the body and passengers, as opposed to unsprung mass, which includes wheels and brakes. This distinction matters for ride quality and handling. Sprung components in general cover anything mounted on springs to absorb shocks or store energy, such as cushions, springs in furniture, or mechanisms in doors and traps.

Poetry

Sprung rhythm is a term in poetry, associated with the 19th-century English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. It describes a metrical pattern based on individual stressed syllables at the start of rhythmic units, followed by varying numbers of unstressed syllables, intended to mirror natural speech more closely than traditional meters.

Other uses

Sprung also appears as a surname and can be encountered in place names or product names.