Old English spreawlian "move convulsively," with cognates in the Scandinavian languages (such as Norwegian sprala, Danish sprælle) and North Frisian spraweli, probably ultimately from PIE root *sper- (4) "to strew" (see sprout (v.)). Meaning "to spread out" is from c. 1300. That of "to spread or stretch in a careless manner" is attested from 1540s; of things, from 1745. Related: Sprawled; sprawling.
sprawl (n.)
1719, from sprawl (v.); meaning "straggling expansion of built-up districts into surrounding countryside" is from 1955.
中文解释
spread 伸展 + crawl 爬行→伸展手脚地爬，卧着2. perhaps the word influenced or related with spread and crawl.3. -awl, -rawl 表示那种爬行、拖动、拖行、蔓延、延伸这类含义：crawl, drawl, sprawl, trawl, scrawl.
实用例句
1. Recline & Sprawl is an amusingly named furniture shop in London.
Recline&Sprawl是伦敦一家店名有趣的家具店。
来自柯林斯例句
2. They sprawl at ease across the sofa, arms draped over the back.
他们惬意地躺在沙发上，胳膊搭在后面。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The whole urban sprawl of Ankara contains over 2.6m people.
安卡拉整个肆意扩展的城区容纳了260多万人口。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He would take two aspirin and sprawl out on his bed.
他会吃两片阿司匹林，然后摊开手脚躺在床上。
来自柯林斯例句
5. I found a refreshing absence of industrial sprawl.