sprinkle

Meanings

1. To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).
2. To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.
3. To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.
4. To rain very lightly outside.
5. To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

1. A light covering with a sprinkled substance.
2. A light rain shower.
3. An aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling.
4. A small hard piece of sugar and starch, or chocolate, used to decorate cakes etc.

1. A surname.

Etymology

From Middle English sprenkelen, sprynklen, from Middle Dutch sprenkelen, equivalent to sprink + -le (frequentative suffix). Cognate with Dutch sprenkelen (“to sprinkle”), German Low German sprenkeln (“to sprinkle; dapple”), German sprenkeln (“to sprinkle”).