spriten.[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. (Zol.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.() See Sprightful, Sprightfully, Sprightliness, Sprightly, etc.()