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.
Spech(e)les, adj. Also: speich-, speach-, spicheles, speechless, speaklesse. [ME and e.m.E. specheles (c1290), speechlesse (c1586), OE spǽcléas f. spǽc; Spech(e n.] a. Of a thing: Incapable of speech. b. Of a person: Temporarily deprived of speech through emotion, shock, illness, etc. Also ellipt. —a. 1513 Doug. xiii v 59.
Turnus … Ane lamentabill and wofull corps thou lyis: Now dum and spechles that hed liggis thar c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 16.
The counsels that from other men doe come, Hath no more weight then hath a speaklesse plume —b. 15.. Clar. i 284.
Luif did hir so owercum That lang scho sat all speachles and dumbe 1600-1610 Melvill 632.
This wes the effect, utterit in moist terribill termes … so that the proclamator … or he com to the mides of the proclamatioun settillit doune spicheles 1662 Highland P. III 23.
His dochter … lay sick … without power of hand or foot both speichles and kenured 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 221.
After he got the … snuff … he was strucken speechless, and lost the power of ane of his sides, and thus he continued fourteen days speechless —ellipt. 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 2442.
My prelat … Wha whowsoone he hes hard This warr's so bade successe For verie greef he grew almost Bothe speache and spiritlesse
