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.
Spauld, Spald, n. Also: spad. [ME and e.m.E. spaude (1320), spald (1338), spaulde (1430), spawde (1483), OF espalle, espalde (1080 and 1120 in Larousse), L. spatula.]
1. The shoulder of a person or animal.(1) 1513 Doug. v iii 62 (Sm.).
The roweris, … With spaldis nakit [L. nudatosque umeros], schene with oil anoynt a1568 Bann. MS 94a/37.
Thay red amang our durris With splent on spald and rousty spurris a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 330/48.
Quhone ȝoung men cwmis fra the grene At the futball playing had bene with brokin spald a1605 Montg. Flyt. 298 (T).
The ringbane, the banescheven, on thy sprung spauld c1590 J. Stewart 66/63.
Heeds, spalds, arms, thies, and legs, dissouerit flew From metelit bluidie bodies tumbling doune c1590 J. Stewart 241 § 167.
Ydilnes … In vo did vander vith ane nakit spauld 1607 Crim. Trials II 525.
Scho drew the said Margaret be the spald out of her bed 1620 Crim. Trials III 485.
[He] tuik hir be the spaldis, and violentlie flang hir over tua kyis bakis(2) 1513 Doug. x xii 60.
The bustuus swyne … With spaldis hard and harsk 1513 Doug. x xiv 157.
The stalwart steid … Foundris fordwart flatlyngis on hys spald [L. armo] 1513 Doug. xi x 26.
The curser … Out our his spaldis and nek … His lokkyrrit mayn schakand 1513 Doug. xii ii 139.
Lyke as the bull, … Lenand hys spald to the stok of a tre 1568 Crail B. Ct. MS 27 July.
He hard ane crouik … but Jhone Dauidsoun said he kneu nocht quhidder it wos into the hors spad or leg a1585 Polwart Flyt. 723 (T).
Thow puttis the spaven in the former spauld, Quhilk vsis in the hinder hocht to be 1616 Crim. Trials III 384.
Thair [sc. the sheep's] spaldis and legis wer strukin away fra thame in maist barbarous maner
b. The shoulder of an animal used for food.1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 41.
Giggot of mutton and a spald of mutton, but that's commonly a shoulder 1305–6 Cal. Doc. IV 392.
Pro cxxxvj carcosiis bovium et ij spauld et ccciij baconibus 1513 Doug. v ii 118.
To royst in threyt The raw spaldis ordanyt for the mulde meyt 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 95.
We ordand bouchouris, … that thai magyll and stoir and flauch nocht thair fleich and specially under the spauld 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 221.
And dischairgis the laityn doun the spauldis 1591-2 Rob Stene 14.
Sum ruggit a geigget from a spald Sum raschit thair heidis vnto thar belly 1609 Peebles B. Rec. I 359.
That na flesche be blawin … That nane haif merkis one the rumpillis of bestiallis bot onlie ane cros merk on the spald
2. transf. One of the quarters of an animal, a limb; also a ‘quarter’ of an executed criminal, publicly displayed.c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 127/42.
Ȝett to weir trapperis at this Ȝuill I wald be spurrit at everie spald 1535 Stewart 2955.
Gif ony beist to mannis meit war slane … The theif takar suld haif the forder spald 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 607.
His hors … whois forder spalds wer putt out of lith —1570 Sat. P. xxiv 47.
At euerie port a spald of thé to hing, As tratouris sould, for schuitting vnder trest
3. The shoulder of a piece of horse armour.1507 Treas. Acc. III 255.
For j unce grene ribanes to … tua pair bardis … for ijc nales to the spaldis of the samyn
