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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPEERIT, n. Also sperit (Ayr. 1889 H. Johnston Glenbuckie v.); spierit. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. spirit (Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 76; Lnk. 1838 J. Morrison McIlwham Papers 19; Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 168; Edb. 1866 J. Smith Poems 11; Abd. 1879 G. MacDonald Sir Gibbie xxvii.; Ags. 1887 Brechin Advert. (25 Oct.); Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 52; Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet vii; Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 161, Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 21; Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 58). Ppl.adj. speeritit (Abd. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 44.) See P.L.D. § 45. [′spirɪt]

Sc. forms of Eng. spirit.Fif. 1985 Tom Hubbard in Joy Hendry Chapman 40 30:
But oor faur-northren fikyness
Gecks at the thocht o sic a mess:
Oor betters wadnae think it meet
Tae tak oor native speirit neat!m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 34:
Ye see what jist a wee drap drink kin dae
tae skaith the strang yauld spierit o the yung?m.Sc. 1991 Robert Calder in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 141:
Burdies, beasties, yer langsyne friend is deid,
foe tae ilk dunderheid, fire and speerit baith.
Weel, the cause o life's forbye the cause o daith!Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 19:
Cam ye fae some idder warl,
Mysterious, oonchancy cat,
A speerit-craiter athoot faat,
To me, a feel, roch human carl?Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web iii:
Dugs merk their territory wi dug-pish. I merk mine wi certain symbols o places thirsels, bi drawin or screivin, like the auld cave fowk that catched the speerit o the deer afore a hunt bi daubin the waas wi picturs.

Sc. usages:

1. Sc. combs. and deriv. (1) speerit-bund, under the influence of some supernatural power, bewitched, spell-bound; (2) speerity, spirited, vivacious, full of energy; of animals: mettlesome. Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. Hence speerity-like, speerity-looking, having a spirited, lively appearance.(1) Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 40:
Sheu was speerit-b'und, or gotten what some ca' the g'aist cramp.(2) Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize xxxviii.:
He was of a spirity disposition, and both eydent and eager in whatsoever he undertook.Sc. 1867 N. MacLeod Starling xxviii.:
She's no strong, but extraordinar speerity.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 205:
Says she, gettin mair speerity-like.Per. 1896 I. Maclaren Kate Carnegie 36:
She's a weel-faured lassie, an' speerity-lookin'.Gall. a.1897 Rob Ringan's Plewman Cracks 8:
My mither was a speerity body, that gar't a'thing gang cheery at hame.Kcb. 1913 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 15:
Davy, tho' speerity eneuch was gettin' auld an' frail.Abd. 1930 Abd. Univ. Mag. (March) 103:
A've kent young speerity chiels never ca'ower the birstin' at they got that wy.m.Sc. 1932 O. Douglas Priorsford i.:
He's a steerin' callant. . . . Speerity too.

2. An inquisitive person (Dmf. 1971), with a pun on spier it (see Spier).