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: 1590-1610
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Spindrift, Spenedrift, n. [Of obscure origin. Also in later Sc. speendrift (1754), spoondrift (1769 Falconer) and 19th c. Eng. spoondrift (1840), spindrift (1883). Cf. e.m.E. spoon (1576), spoom (c1620) of a ship, to run before the wind, to scud, with which there may be some confusion in the later period.] Spindrift, driving spray. — c1590 Fowler I 226/2.
No roring sees which … hills off spindrifts rayses on the shore 1600-1610 Melvill 169.
A grait mist, with a tempestous schoure and drow, quhilk … caried us bak almaist to the May, with sic a how wa [= hollow wave] and spene drift, that [etc.]
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"Spindrift n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spindrift>
