An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To scatter (a liquid, powder, etc.) in drops or particles.
   

2. The act or an instance of sprinkling.

Etymology (EN): M.E. sprenklen (v.); cognate with Du. sprenkelen, Ger. sprenkeln; O.E. sprengan “to sprinkle, make (something) spring, scatter.”

Etymology (PE): Peškidan, from (Malâyeri, Hamedâni) peška “sprinkle, water drop,” variant of (Dehxodâ) pašang “sprinkle,” pešanjidan “to sprinkle, spray;” (dialects of Khorâsân, Bandar Abbâs, Kermân, Dari Kermân, Lâ) pešang “spraying;” ultimately from Proto-Ir. *pati-haic- from *haic- “to pour (out), moisten);” cf. Av. patihaēc- “to sprinkle all over, pour on;” Mid.Pers. pšnc-/paššinj- “to sprinkle;” related to Pers. xēs, xis, hēs “wet;” O.H.G. sīhan “to sift;” O.E. sēon “to flow away, to sift;” PIE root *seik^w- “to pour” (Cheung 2007).