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.
Span, n.1 Also: spann(e, spane. [ME and e.m.E. spane (Cursor M.), spanne (c1380), span (c1400), spayn (Cath. Angl.), ME also sponne (a1310), OE (rare) span(n, spon(n. Cf. ON spǫnn, spann-, MDu. spanne, OF espan (1150 in Larousse).] A span, the measurement. Also fig. and attrib.?1438 Alex. ii 4101.
Weill ane span and mare [F. j espan et demi] I weyn Mycht of the speir … be sein ?1438 Alex. ii 4226.
The trunscheonis Rycht to thare neiffis to-fruschit ar; Athir had ane span [F. un pié] or lytill mare 1460 Hay Alex. 1643. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 983. 15.. Sym & Bruder 115.
The first rynk raif his mowth a span 1540 Lynd. Sat. 490.
Kiss hir and clap hir [sc. Sensualite] and be nocht affeird. Scho will not hurt, thocht ȝe hir kiss a span within the beirdfig. (also attrib.). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 160.
With that sprang up hir spreit be a span hechar —1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 184.
My little, feckless span-length and hand-breadth of love 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 258.
Our sand-glass is not so long as we need to weary; … our span-length of time will come to an inch 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1743) 298.
A carnal man's faith … goeth not one span length within the lists of eternityattrib. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 556.
His [sc. Mars'] nek was greit a span lenth weill or mair
b. A small extent or space.a1568 Bann. MS 143b/25.
Feill ȝe nocht me & I so neir I am nocht fra ȝour hairt a span 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 49.
[Patrik Fleming] patt him to tortour in … the caschielawis … drawing his body, nek, armes, and feit togidder within the boundis of ane span
c. In phrases and proverbs, contrasted with inch.c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 7.
Luf most thi God … for ilk ynch he wyll thé quyte a spane a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 150.
An inch of a nage is worth the span of an aver a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 235.
Drive out the inch as thou hast done the span a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 398.
Of wilfull persons … He will not give an inch of his will, for a span of his thrift a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vii 1.
Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span, My gentle hairt, and die not in dispair 1641 Ancram & Loth. Corr. I 109.
I can not fynde any to sase me in the charge I have heare, soe I must … doe the inch as I have doune the spanne c1651 Douglas Corr. 264.
I know you wold … haue bidden (as they say) the inshe as yow haue done the spann
