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.
Spar, Spare, v.1 Also: sper. [ME and e.m.E. sperre(n (c1200), spere(n (Ancr. R.), sperre (Manning), sper, sparr (both Cursor M.), spar (a1400), spayr (c1400), spare (c1450), sparre (1484), MLG speren, MDu. sperren; Spar n.1] tr. a. To close, bar, secure (a gate, door, etc.). b. To confine (a person) in a prison, fetters, etc. c. To shut (a person) owt.a. 1375 Barb. v 390 (E).
The yhattis then he gert sper [C. thame spare] 1375 Barb. x 230.
It [sc. the wagon] wes set … Betuix the chekis of the ȝat Swa that men mycht it spar na gat 1375 Barb. x 464.
The wardane … sparryt the entre hastily a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 187.
Scho rase, & agayne hyme can spare Dure and ȝetb. 1375 Barb. iv 14.
Thai stythly speryt [them] Bath in fetrys and in presounec. c1420 Wynt. viii 4949.
The portculys come downe … And sparyt Mwntagw thare-owt
d. Spardur, spare the dure, etc., as a nickname, or surname.1428 Exch. R. IV 460.
Johannis Spardur 1429 Exch. R. IV 495.
Per Georgeum Sparedur 1431 Exch. R. IV 551.
Per Johannem Sparder 1434 Exch. R. IV 586.
Per Johannem Spare the dur 1474 Treas. Acc. I 49.
To Spardure, passande with sic like lettres, to his expensis 1474 Treas. Acc. I 52.
Spardoure 1474 Treas. Acc. I 53.
Spardour 1488 Treas. Acc. I 91, etc.
To Sperdour to pas to Abirdene with letteris
