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.
Quotation dates: 1581-1658
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Spider, -ar, n. Also: spyddir, speidder. [ME and e.m.E. spiþre (Ayenbite), spyder (Prompt. Parv.), spyther (Caxton), spider (1526), OE *spīþre.] a. A spider. b. As a term of abuse for a person. —a. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 193/746.
Shall I neuer see The spyddiris long & threeddie feit full bussie for to uaue Uithin the houest of a healme 1658 R. Moray Lett. fol. 191.
[Cure for ague] Put a great spider into a box made of 2 wallnut shells and hang it about the neck so as it may be about the slot of the breast —b. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 261 (T).
Spruug speidder [H. spider] of spyt, thow spewis furt[h] springis c1611–c1617 Mure Early Misc. P. i 105.
Ane spytfull spidar, ewer spewing The poysonous potioune of late rewing
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"Spider n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spider>
