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.
Spark, v. Also: sperk. [ME and e.m.E. spark (c1300); Spark n.] a. intr. To issue in the manner of sparks. b. tr. To (cause to) spatter, with a liquid, etc. Also fig. c. intr. Of water: To spatter. —a. 1513 Doug. iii viii 132, etc.
The grisly Ethna dyd rummyll … thrawing owt … blak … smoke … With gledis sparkand [Sm., Ruddim. sperkand] as the hail als thik —b. 1533 Boece 182b.
Anthone … slew his broder … abone his moderis breist, filing and sparking the samyn be grete effusion of blude 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 304.
My desire is to ride fair, and not to spark dirt … in the face of my only, only well-beloved —fig. 1606 Calderwood VI 529 (see Spark n. 3 b). —c. 1513 Doug. vii vii 126 (Sm.) (see Sparkle v.1 a). 1543 Edinb. Guild Ct. 16 Oct.
And that the watter skatter nocht nor spark at the said Johnis entres
