n. [ Cf. Icel. sprettr a spurt, spring, run, spretta to spirt, spring. ] A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. [ 1913 Webster ]
The long, steady sweep of the so-called “paddle” tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
v. i. [ Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i. ] To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt. [ 1913 Webster ]
Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock,
Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice;
n.
Spurt grass (Bot.),
v. t. [ Freq. of spurt. ] To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]