Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†SPELD, n. A measure of land; a small piece of land, originally one of a series into which a field was divided by ploughing in a special manner. Deriv. spieldo, an angular piece of land, a triangular corner of a field, any odd strip of land (Ork. 1929 Marw.)Ork. 1707 Marw. (1929):
3 rigs laboured by Newark and a little speld by Rob. Sinclair.Sh. 1758 Session Papers, Graham v. Tyrie (18 Jan.) 10:
Two Spelds or little Rigs, which he delves with a spade.