sprue2Pronunciation: /spruː/Definition of sprue noun [mass noun] disease of the small intestine causing malabsorption of food, in particular: (also tropical sprue) a disease characterized by ulceration of the mouth and chronic enteritis, suffered by visitors to tropical regions from temperate countries. (also non-tropical sprue)another term for coeliac disease.Origin: late 19th century: from Dutch spruw 'thrush'; perhaps related to Flemish spruwen 'sprinkle'sprue in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of sprue in the US English dictionary
