Spruce (sprṳs), a. [Compar.Sprucer (sprṳ″sẽr); superl.Sprucest (–sĕst).] [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See Spruce, n.] 1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; — formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. “Neat and spruce array.” Remedy of Love.
2. Sprightly; dashing. “Now, my spruce companions.” Shak.
He is so spruce that he can never be genteel. Tatler.
Syn. — Finical; neat; trim. See Finical.
— Spruce″ly, adv. — Spruce″ness, n.