A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1643-1686
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Speld, Spell, n. [Norw. dial. spjell a strip of ground, also spol, spole pl. spelir a strip of cultivated ground, a small division of arable land, Icel. spilda a tract, extent, strip of land. Also in the later dial.] Only in Orkney: A land measure, appar. similar or identical to a rig (Rig n. II 4). — 1643 Mirbister Sasine in Marwick The Orkney Norn 175/2.
9 riggs or spelds called Quoynabrenda 1664 Easter Voy in Marwick The Orkney Norn 175/2.
Two riges called the Pockie Spelds 1666 Division of lands in Clouston in Marwick The Orkney Norn 175/2.
In Upper Briggan ten riggs parted in 9. Mair in the same shed 4 spelds parted in 9 1674 Peramb. of Wideford in Marwick The Orkney Norn 175/2.
The inquest passed upon the bear land and spells allanerlie … and measured each rigg and speld with an lyne 1686 Clouston Hist. Orkney 353.
In Stackaspelds his fourth part of a head rig and a spell which ought to pay for the head rig of Quoy James
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Speld n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/speld>
