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.
Spey, n. [Late ME speye (1415), spey (1429), spay (1451), MFlem. speye (14th c.).] A sluice on the river Tay in Perth. Also attrib. with tour. —1461 Liber Plusc. I 282.
Abbas … de Lundoris portam de Spey et turrim quæ in angulo aquæ sita est construxit 1510–11 Reg. Privy S. I 332/2.
A ȝard liand in the toun of Perth on the south side of the spey utouth the south port —attrib. 1536 Crim. Trials I i 177.
[The Provost, Bailies [etc.] … of the Burgh of Perth … ] band and oblist thaim … that thai sall saufly and surely keip … thare spey toure, and all vtheris strenths and fortalices … fra … inlowping of hostile assalȝearis [etc.] 1546–7 Perth Guildry p. 238 (8 March).
To Andro Hammiltoun capitane of Lynlythgow for keping of the spey tour at my lord gouernouris command fyfty lib. 1546–7 Perth Guildry p. 238 (8 March).
Four lib. viij s. gevin to the gunnaris of the spey tour
