Sprue

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sprue \Sprue\ (spr[udd]), n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
     1. (Founding)
        (a) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is
            poured into the gate, and thence into the mold.
        (b) The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence,
            dross.


            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Med.) Same as {Sprew}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sprue
       n : a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and nontropical
           forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not
           absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and
           emaciation [syn: {tropical sprue}]