spark

Etymology 1

From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-West Germanic *sparkō (compare Saterland Frisian Spoorke, West Frisian spark, Dutch spark, German Low German Sparke, German Sparke), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *sparkaz (“lively, energetic”), from Proto-Indo-European *sperg- (“to strew, sprinkle”) (compare Breton erc’h (“snow”), Latin spargō (“to scatter, spread”), sparsus (“scattered”), Lithuanian sprógti (“to germinate”), Ancient Greek σπαργάω (spargáō, “to swell”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀 (frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य (parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).

noun

1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
2. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
3. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
4. (figurative) A small amount of something, such as an idea or romantic affection, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
   , Book IV, Chapter XVII But though we have, here and there, a little of this clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge
   Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks one certain arrival but Moyes, who also saw United held to a draw by Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday, needs even more of a spark in a midfield that looked laboured by this team's standards. 1 September 2013, Phil McNulty, BBC Sport
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
6. (in plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
7. (UK, slang) An electrician.
   At the other extreme, with limitless budgets all they have to do is dream up amazing lighting rigs to be constructed and operated by the huge team of gaffers and sparks, with their generators, discharge lights, flags, gobos and brutes. 1999, Des Lyver, Graham Swainson, Basics of Video Lighting, page 103
8. (cellular automata) A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.

verb

1. (transitive, figurative) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
   The introduction of substitute Andy Carroll sparked Liverpool into life and he pulled a goal back just after the hour - and thought he had equalised as Kenny Dalglish's side laid siege to Chelsea's goal in the closing stages. May 5, 2012, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
2. (transitive) To light; to kindle.
   Byron sparked the cigarette. He sucked it dramatically and thrust it into Marko's hand. 2009, Alex Jenson, The Serotonin Grand Prix, page 12
3. (transitive, of a gun) To shoot; to fire
   [Streetlife]:Fuck a peace talk, let the gun spark, on the streets of New York. 1998-11-10, “Grid Iron Rap” (track 17), in Tical 2000: Judgement Day, performed by Method Man,Streetlife (rapper)
   All of a sudden, everybody tuggin', everybody dark. Everybody gums runnin', 'til the guns spark. 2004, “U Ain't A Killer” (track 10), in The War Mixtape, performed by Akala (rapper)
   Guns spark in the dark, it was all just a part of the eighties Bronx scene that created all. 2022-02-22, “Raw Hip Hop” (track 2), in IMAMCRU12, performed by KRS-One
4. (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.

Etymology 2

Probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr (“sprightly”).

noun

1. A gallant; a foppish young man.
   The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
   He will retrieve his errors yet—their worthy Father, once my honour'd master, was at his years nearly as wild a spark. 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, I.ii
2. A beau, lover.

verb

1. (intransitive, archaic) To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.