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.
Spel(l, v.1 [ME and e.m.E. spelle(n (a1200), spell (Cursor M.), OE spellian, MDu. and MLG spellen; Spel(l n.] a. intr. To discourse, preach; to speak, say. b. tr. To tell (someone) (something). —a. c1450-2 Howlat 99 (A).
He suld spedely speike, and spair nocht to spell c1450-2 Howlat 879 (A).
Ȝe sall be specialy sped or ȝe mayre spell a1568 Bann. MS 134b/72.
Syne he went out of hir sicht How it wes eftir I can nocht tell For speiking spair I nocht to spell —b. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 131.
I spek to thé into sport; spell [Ruddim. spel] me this thyng [etc.]
