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.
Spit(t)al(l, Spit(t)ell, n. Also: spit(t)ale, spittaill, spitle, spytaile, spetale, (spitel, spyttal(e, spytel, spetalle, spetel(l). [ME and e.m.E. spitel (Ancr. R.), spitele (Wyclif), spitell (c1425), spyttell (a1529), spitall (1634), aphetic f. Hospital(e n. Cf. MLG spittel, spettel, MDu. spit(t)-, spetael, med. L. spitalerius (1342 in Du Cange).]In earliest uses and, also common in the later period, attrib. in place-names, probably chiefly applied to lands the revenues of which supported a hospital but, in some instances, the reference maybe to the site of a hospital.Also as a personal name. For further examples see Acts XII Index s.v. Spittal.(1) 1208–14 Reg. Paisley 21.
Et medietatem piscarie de Spetelcrag ?a1300 Coldstream Chart. 22.
Tres acras terre in cultura que vocatur Spitelfat 1310 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 40.
Venditio crofti de Spyttalhillis 1363 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 283.
Le Spytel hylle 1375–6 Reg. Great S. 213/1.
Terras de Prestisfelde, Grangie Sancti Egidii et Speteltona c1391 Reg. Episc. Morav. 129.
Terra que vocatur Spetelflat 1457 Exch. R. VI 340.
Et de xx s. per firmas terrarum de Spittallande 1477–8 Reg. Dunferm. 370.
Terras de Spittalefeld 1540 Lynd. Sat. 897.
Ȝe sall conqueis … Spittelfeild, and the realm of Spane. Ȝe sall haive at ȝour govirnance Renfrew and the realme of France 1547 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 432.
Crofti apud ly Spittaill hyll 1565–6 Reg. Privy S. V ii 23/2.
Vulgo the Thretty Schilling land of Westir Spittaltoun 1612 Acts IV 500/2.
The kirkis of Craling Nisbet and Spittell 1624 Retours II Inq. Spec. Peebles (64).
In terris de Spittelhauche(2) 1365 Reg. Great S. (1814) 69/1.
Waltero del Spetalle 1381 Exch. R. III 69.
Symonis de Spetale 1382 Exch. R. III 100.
Symonis de Spitell 1387 Exch. R. III 152.
Per Symonem de Spyttale 1388 Exch. R. III 182.
Johannis de Spitale 1395 Reg. St. A. 3.
Johannis de Spitale 1457 Reg. Dunferm. 346.
Willelmus Spetell de Lochalde 1531–2 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 406.
Alexandro Spittale rectore de Clatt 1565–6 Reg. Privy S. V ii 23/2.
Finlai Spittale 1647 Acts VI i 814/2.
Alexander Spittel of Blairlogie
1. A house or place of refuge for the sick and destitute.For further information see J. D. Comrie History of Scottish Medicine I (1932) p. 105f.1582 Retours II Inq. Spec. Dumbarton (100).
4 mercatis terrarum … de Nether Ardardane-McCaulay … cum lie Spittal vocata Ostellarie de Brigend 14.. Burgh Laws c. 69 (B).
Gyf ony be put oute of the toun for mysal that dwellis in the burgh or was borne in it gyf he has ryches to lyf wyth … and to be cled he sal be put in the spytaile of the burgh And gyf he has nocht of his awyn the burges of the toun sal ger be gadryt amang thaim qwhar of he may be cled that is to say xv s. 14.. Acts I 32/2.
Spytaile [L. hospitali] 1445 Ayr B. Ct. 4 Oct.
Thai haf ordanit four men to be at the spetale 1447 Ayr B. Ct. 17 Nov.
Spetale 1636 Rec. Old Aberd. I 60.
Ane roll of the haill inhabitantis of the auld toune chanrie and spittell thair bairnes and servandis as also ane roll of all the other poor folkes within the said toune 1641 Stirling Chart. 134.
Pro tempore zenodochii burgi nostri de Stirling nuncupati Spittellis Hospitell 1655–6 Glasgow B. Rec. II 531.
Receavit … fra Thomas Stein in Finick, tennent for the tynd tak dewtie of thes landis and spittell thairof 1656–7 Glasgow B. Rec. II 534.
Receavit be him fra Thomas Stein, in Phinick, for the tynd tack dewtie of his landis and spitell for the crope 1655 22 li. 10 s. 1705 Stitchill Baron Ct. 154.
Adam Hogart … decerned to pay to Thomas Lawrie in Smailholme Spitle the soume of [etc.]
2. attrib. Chiefly in reference to land pertaining in some way to a hospital. Also, rarely, in reference to buildings and people.(1) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 2.
Item componit in Faucland with Williame Broune for the mariage of ane Spittale tennand of Rossith(2) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 391.
He … Delyuerit hir in at the spittaill hous, And daylie sent hir part of his almous c1616 Montrose Treas. Acc. (Mary Hospital Rental) MS.
The teind schewis of Newmanswallis spitell schellis and the claysched sett to the feufermoris for [etc.] 1646 Aberd. Council Lett. III 64 (see (3) below).
Spittall kirk(3) 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 124/1.
The cornez … sawin on the spittale land liand besid the toun of Dumbertane 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 124/1.
The cornez of the spitale ackar 1646 Aberd. Council Lett. III 64.
The distance … betwixt the seicke house and the houses lying above the Spittalheid betwixt the spittall kirk and Powis bridge 1654 Argyll Sas. II 283.
The 20 s. land of Spittal … together with the fishing thereof called the Spittal Shoot
