Sprogs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term referring to children or young people, often associated with playful or mischievous behavior
2. An informal expression used to denote offspring or descendants, particularly in a light-hearted context
3. A slang term for kids or youths, frequently implying a sense of endearment or annoyance regarding their antics

Etymology: "Sprogs" is the plural of "sprog," a word that began as British and Commonwealth service slang in the 1940s for a newly enlisted recruit or inexperienced trainee. Only later did it drift into the sense of a couple's children, which is the playful use common today. The word "sprog" itself is generally traced to the obsolete "sprag," a term for a lively young man, though where that word came from remains unknown. The surprising part is how far the meaning travelled. A raw recruit in the armed forces was a newcomer who had not yet learned the ropes, and that sense of youth and inexperience carried over into the domestic setting. A baby, after all, is the ultimate novice at life, which makes the jump from "green soldier" to "small child" an easy one to follow.

Synonyms: children, kids