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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.

Spurn(e, v. Also: spwrn(e, sporne, sperne. [ME and e.m.E. spurne(n (a1225), spurn (Cursor M.), sporn (Lydgate), OE spurnan, spornan.]

1. tr. To strike or push (a person) from one. ?1415 Sciennes Conv. Pref. l.
If any … pusche or sperne any suster from her withe armes or scholders, handes or fete, violently

2. intr. Used allusively: To kick aganis (something), to resist or reject (it). b. tr. To strike with the foot. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 475.
Quhy spurnis thow aganis the wall, To sla thyself c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxii 7.
It is hard to thee to spurn aganis the prickb. a1500 Henr. Abbay Walk 30 (see Spur(e v. 5).

c. fig. To show resistance to or rejection of (something). Const. at. 1573 Bann. Memor. 300.
At whais godly governement … it is a wonder how far sum of the pairtineris of the murther, … have spurnit to reject and abolishe the same 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 5.
Spurning at the righteousnes of Jesus Christ

3. intr., fig. To meet with disaster or failure, to suffer a blow. Freq. in contrastive collocation with Sped(e v. 1.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 909 (W).
He … than wes slane at Bannoburne With mony Inglis at thar couth spurne c1420 Wynt. viii 1343.
Jamys off Douglas, that … Gert mony off oure fays spwrne 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 761.
He suld bewar that seis his fellow spurne. Mischance of ane suld be ane vtheris loir(2) c1420 Wynt. v 5091.
He spurnyd offtyr than he spede That blyslys bryde that browcht to bede c1420 Wynt. vi 688.
Quha God to greve will [haf] na drede, He sall offt spwrne, quhen he wald spede, And at hys last end wrechydly c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 186.
Quhen thai wald faynest speid that thai may spurn 1460 Hay Alex. 2538.
Spurn c1460 Thewis Wysmen 362.
Spwrn 1535 Stewart 49936.
Quha spurnis airlie cumis lidder speid