Sprite \Sprite\, n. [OE. sprit, F. esprit, fr. L. spiritus. See Spirit, and cf. Sprightly.]

1. A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.

Gaping graves received the wandering, guilty sprite. --Dryden.

2. An elf; a fairy; a goblin.

3. (Zo["o]l.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)