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.
Spel(l, Spelle, n. [ME and e.m.E. spel(le (c1175), spell (c1200), OE spel, spell-.] Something said, talk; a tale or story; to set spel on hand, to start to talk, to begin to tell a story.a1400 Leg. S. xxi 447.
Thane sat thai spel one hend, & tald Hale that awenture a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 362.
Wes nane that euire hard tel Of ony of thame in red na spel c1420 Wynt. i 1413.
Quhat I have mysdone in my spelle Ymago Mundi kane wele telle c1420 Wynt. i 1520.
Thar-for hym [sc. Saturn] god off erde or helle Poetys callys in thare spelle [C. spel, W. spell]
b. A spell in magic, a charm.1658 R. Moray Lett. fol. 248.
I may light upon a spell [that] will do the turn when it is time, without casting cantripes for it 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 402.
That the good words in the spels, are but the policy of the counterfeit angel of light 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 426.
When he has muttered the spel to himself, he [etc.]
