spawn
UK[spɔːn]US[spɔːn]
v
(of fish, frogs, etc.) to lay eggs
v
to cause something new, or many new things, to grow or start suddenly
n
the eggs of fish, frogs, etc.
Etymology
The journey of "spawn" begins with the Latin verb expandere, meaning "to spread out" or "to extend." This sense of expansion and release was semantically narrowed in Old French to specifically describe the shedding or spreading of fish eggs. Upon entering Middle English, the word's form simplified to "spawn," solidifying its primary zoological meaning. The modern figurative sense, "to generate or produce in large numbers," is a logical extension of this core image of abundant, prolific release.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman espoundre or Old French espandre, meaning "to shed roe," which ultimately derives from Latin expandere meaning "to spread out, extend."
Examples
The salmon return to the river where they were born to spawn.
The economic boom spawned a host of new businesses and industries.
The pond was filled with frog spawn.