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.
Spens, n.2 [ME and e.m.E. spense (Ancr. R.), spens (a1350), OF espense (Godefroy).] Expense, expenditure. —c1420 Ratis R. 1261.
Sum gud sciens Ma help thé to vphald thi spens a1500 Bernardus 50.
Sumpteus spens is foly and barnage a1500 Seven S. 872.
Thai … tuke of moble sic plente That all his dettis he couth discharge And of his spens was als large As of befor
