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.
Quotation dates: 1567-1597
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Spare, Spair, n. [ME and e.m.E. spaier (Cursor M.), spayre (?a1400), spayere (c1430), spayre (a1529).] An opening in a woman's gown or petticoat. — a1568 Bannatyne MS 143b/10.
He put his hand in at hir spair, And graipit dounwart c1590 Fowler I 108/126.
That … quene, with one tres of hir hair knitt wpp when that the other hang evin sparpled to hir spair 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bastardus.
And that part of weemens claiths, sik as of their gown, or petticot, quhilk vnder the belt, and before, is open, commonlie is called, the spare
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"Spare n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spare_n>
