the word 'sprayer' is a modern english agent noun formed by combining the verb 'spray' with the agentive suffix '-er'. the verb 'spray' entered english in the early 17th century from the middle dutch or middle low german 'sprāyen', meaning to sprinkle or scatter liquid, which itself likely has an onomatopoeic origin imitating the sound of scattering particles. the suffix '-er' is a prolific agent-forming suffix from old english, derived from proto-germanic '-ārijaz', which often indicated a person or thing performing an action. thus, the literal construction 'one who or that which sprays' directly and logically yields the modern meanings of a device or person that disperses a liquid in fine droplets.

Structure: spray (to scatter liquid) + er (agent suffix) spray (origin: middle dutch/middle low german 'sprāyen', meaning to sprinkle, to scatter); er (origin: old english '-ere', agent noun suffix, from proto-germanic)