A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Kenspekill, Kendspekle, adj. [In mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. in similar use; also, more rarely, in mod. (19th c.) Sc. dial. use (1) = perceptive, intelligent, (2) as a noun = a mark or feature by which anyone may be recognised: for the derivation, Thorson (see Kenspecke) suggests ken and speckle = speck as in Kenspecke. Cf. Conspeckell.] Conspicuous. —a1538 Abell Chron. 1 a.
Twa cont[ra]rius thingis opponit till othir ar maide kenspekill in thare awne kynd hes blak anentis quhite 1616 Haigs of Bemersyde 159.
He could not have seen … the taking out … of Fadunsyd's writs, unremembering so kendspekle a thing wherein they were put
