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: 1570-1597, 1683
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(Spelk,) Spelch, Speck, n. [Late ME and e.m.E. spelke (Prompt. Parv.), spelk (1563), OE spelc. Also in the later dial.] a. ? A rod or bar used in building (a roof, etc.). b. A splinter. —a. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 388.
The portcullious … beand rasit vp, fell doun to the ground agane, and a part of a spelch [Bann. Memor. 264, spelise] therof fleing of, hurt Harie Balfour in the heid 1683 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 1 Aug.
For work furnissed … to the ferry boat viz. seame roofe and specks [? erron. for spelks] —b. 1597 Lowe Chirurgerie 354.
The seaventh kinde [of fracture] is, when a little part of the bone is superficially separated like unto a little spelch or sclat, called by the Greekes Apotrasis or Acopape
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"Spelk n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spelk_n>
