Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Spred(d)ing, vbl. n. Also: spredin, -ene, spreddand, spreiding, spreading, spryding. [ME and e.m.E spredunge (a1240), spredynge (Wyclif), spreading (1560); Spred v.] The action of Spred v. in senses 1, 2, 2 b, 2 c, 4 a and 5 b.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 206.
Oft for ane caus thy burdclaith neidis no spredding [M. spreiding] 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 17 March.
For hir allegit cummyng to his buith and lying on hir face thairin and spredding of hir armeis 1649 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 866.
In ancring and spreiding thair fishe nettis 1684 Strathendrick 12.
A complaint … upon those … in knocking of ther webs upon ther grave stones and spreading & watering ther clothes in the churchyaird(2) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 70.
To Johne Clerk … for … berand and spreddand the said red in … the kirkyard 1536–7 Ayr B. Acc. 18.
Item gevin to Jok Esdale for spredene of the powder on the hillis 1547 Blackfriars Perth 240.
The … priour and … John Malcolme … sall furneis equallie … half muk and half mukkin, with leding and spredding of the samyn 1601–2 Montrose Treas. Acc. 3b.
For spredding ballast upon the schoir ij s. 1667 Alyth Par. Ch. 97.
Spryding of muck upon the Sabbath(3) 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 645.
Be … spreiding of untreuthis and misreportis 1596 Dalr. I 241/30.
In spreding the Euangel in thir partes 1669 Lauder Jrnl. 197.
The spreading of Christianity upon … the wholle earth(4) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 578.
Eftir the sound of ane drum ringing of thair commoun bell, and spreding of ane handsanȝe(5) 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 16.
The seiknes of pestilens … perseweris still in Sanctandrois, and the spredin tharof was maist be conuersatione of nichtbouris 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 415.
Spreding of the … pestilence to landwart(6) 1531 Bell. Boece I ix.
Thus is no thing in erd bot fugitive, Passand and cumand be spreiding successive. And as ane beist so is ane man consave Of seid infuse in membris genitive