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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spilt, Spylt, ppl. adj. Also: spelt, speilt, spilled. [ME and e.m.E. spilte (c1400), spyllt (1483), spild (1574), spilt (1636); Spil(l v.]

1. Of blood: Shed (through violent action), also, allusively, referring to (a person's) death. 1533 Boece 71b.
Thai wald be ane ewrous batell … revenge the innocent spylt blude of thare forebearis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1930.
He … Fand the barne haill, and als mekill spilt blude

2. Of a thing: Damaged; spoiled; rendered unfit for its intended purpose. 1549–50 Treas. Acc. IX 375.
To Jhonne Rob baxter in Dunde for spilt breid of aittis send to the campe at my lorde of Sanctandros commande v s. iiij d. 1570 Edinb. Test. II 134b.
Twa polkis of spilt wald 1590 Welwod 41.
Of contributioun for spilt gear 1590–1 Exch. R. XXII 171.
14 s. of certain speilt mader 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Rancida caro, spilt flesh 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Vappa, spilt wine 1605 Glasgow Chart. I dcxvii. 1616 Aberd. Council Lett. I 136.
Weit or spilt gear or any guids that ar amissing in the schipis default 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 146.
To Ralffs man for the fyneing and corneing up againe of xviii pund of spilt powder 1631 Lanark B. Rec. 127.
That the said deacone and twa of the brethereine of the said craft sould intromett withe all spilt cloathe … and swa oft as the samyn sould happin to be tryit spilt … in default of the walker … they to exact … sick penalties [etc.] 1651–2 Peebles B. Rec. II 193.
Phillop Scottes, 7 gallones and 2 pyntes soure, spilt, dead and dewed beir, is unpayit 1697 Edinb. Test. LXXX 228.
In his seller … 4 gallanes of spelt wynes worth iiij lb

b. Of something non-material: Damaged, spoiled, ruined. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 432.
[Fortresses have never preserved this realm from invasion, … an enemy finding no place to plant himself, but only burning a small part of the country, and then retiring—] and that better it is to have a spylt countrye than a tynt countree 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 219.
Our spilled works, losses, deadness, coldness, wretchedness, are the ground upon which the Good Husbandman laboureth 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 386.
Many spilled salvations, and many ill-ravelled hesps hath Christ mended 1646 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 630.
The vessel is almost marred, the furnace and rod of God spilled

3. a. Of a woman: Not a virgin. 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 279.
Thomas Arnot … allegis the sayd Cristen wes deflorit and lost hyr virginite befoyr he knew hyr carnalye … Cristen desyris Thomas to be decernit to tak hyr to his wyf becaus he hes grantit that he had carnall deyll wyth hyr, and can nocht prev sche wes ane spilt woman befoir he meld wyth hyr

b. Of a child: Indulged, spoiled. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 241.
The sick bairn is ofttime the spilled bairn; he shall command all the house

c. Of a person: No longer fit (morally or in character) for a particular sort of life. 1689 Hay Fleming Six Saints II 22.
As for David Jamie, there is a good scholar lost, and a minister spilt; I have no hope of him

4. Of a liquid: Spilt, that has been allowed to run out or flow over.The 1594 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) quot. may be a further example of 2 above. 1594–5 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6a.
He is rebet for spelt wyne x Ss. 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 254.
There wes not ane conveenient conveyance made for carieing away spilt water wherby the streits are exceidinglie dirtie 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 346.
Robert Young … [craves] libertie to convoy the spilt water that falls from the cisterne … by a lead pyp to be laid be him upon his own charges from that cisterne to his brewhous