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.
Spald, Speld, v. Also: speild, spell. [ME and obs. e.m.E. spald (?a1400), spaud (c1400), spawde (Cath. Angl.), MLG spalden, MDu. spouden to split. For the -e- forms cf. OE speld a split or splinter, ON spjeld, spjald a table.]
1. tr. To split open (a bird or fish) for cooking, etc.a1500 Henr. Fab. 1810.
‘Weill,’ quod the swallow, ‘freindes, … Quhen ȝe ar speldit [H. speildit] on ȝone carlis speit' 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 21 Dec.
That na man … spell fisches pak or peill or lay fische to the stanes wnder the pane forsaid
2. a. To spread-eagle or stretch out (a person).(1) a1500 Henr. Orph. 294.
On the bent He saw speldit a wonder wofull wicht Nailit full fast 1513 Doug. vi ix 185.
Sum weltris a gret stane vp the bra, … On quhelis spakis speldyt otheris hyngis 1533 Bell. Livy I 68/1.
He … band … Mecius speldit betuix the twa cheriottis(2) 1513 Doug. viii viii 66.
He … The quyk bodeis, speldit furth on breid, Adionyt to the corps and caryoun ded, Layd hand to hand, baith face to face … Quhil quyk mowthis dyd ded mowthis kys
b. To lay (a person) flat out on the ground as the result of a blow, to knock (a person) flat.1513 Doug. v vii 19.
He quhilk … The campion Butes ourcum and bet doun, Al flat hym speldyt on the dun sand In the dedthrawis 1513 Doug. xii v 138.
This dart … Throw gyrd hys body with a grevos wond, And spaldyt [Ruddim. speldit] hym stark ded apon the grond 1513 Doug. xii v 204.
Syne with hys kne hym possit with sic a plat That on the erd he spaldit [Ruddim. speldit] hym all flat
c. To be stretched out on the ground overwhelmed by grief.1513 Doug. xi ii 73.
Acetes Ourset with … sorow … oft down fallys spaldit [Ruddim. speldit] on the erd With … full petuus rerd
3. Of a wall: To split, begin to crumble.1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II 346.
The back dyick of the colledge yard quhilk is crenisched and speldit … and lickie to faill
