Old English ofspring "children or young collectively, descendants," literally "those who spring off (someone)," from of "away, away from" (see off (prep.)) + springan "to spring" (see spring (v.)). Similar formation in Old Norse afspringr. The figurative sense "that which is produced by something" is recorded from c. 1600. In Middle English often oxspring, ospring. Spelled with one -f- (except by Orm) before c. 1500.