What is the meaning of Sprue?

A tropical disease causing a sore throat and tongue, and disturbed digestion; psilosis.

The hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold.

Material that cools in the feed channels to a mold.

To remove the sprues (material left in feed channels) from a cast piece.

sprue

sprue

Source: wiktionary.org