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.
Sperver, n. Also: spervoure, (sparwort). [Late ME and e.m.E. (freq. north.) sperver (1440-1), sparver (1444), OF esprevier (1080 in Greimas), espervier, Frankish *sparwari.] A canopy for a cradle. —1436 Exch. R. IV 682.
Pro quadam circumferencia pro lecto domini nostri regis vocata sperver 1448 Exch. R. V 299.
In viginti ulnis panni linei lati … pro uno spervoure pro rege … xxxiij s. iiij d. Et pro filo empto et deliberato eidem pro predicto spervoure, xvj d. 1474 Treas. Acc. I 41.
For iiij½ elne of tartar for a sparwort abone his [sc. the prince's] creddil
