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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.

Spark, n. Also: sparke, sparck, sperk, Sprak. [ME spark(e (c1300), sparc (Cursor M.), sperke (a1225), OE spærca, spearca, MDu. sparke, spaerke, MLG and LG sparke.]

1. Chiefly in similes or comparisons: A spark struck from metal on metal, from a burning torch, etc., also as the type of something or someone moving at great speed. Also proverb.(1) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 48.
A ruby … That, as a sperk of lowe … Semyt birnyng vpon hir quhyte throte 1513 Doug. ix ix 68.
The pres … hes hym slane As spark of gleid wald in the sey remane 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 456 (see Sponk(e n. 2).(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 857.
Thai … hewit on hard steill, hartlie but houne Thus thai faught vpone fute, without fenyeing; The sparkis flaw in the feild, as fyre out of flynt c1500 Makc. MS xiii 50.
Hec fanella, [erron. for favella] a spark 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9536.
Speirs sprang like sparks as fyre dois of the flint 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics i 392.
Scintillare, castis sparkisproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 184.
A spark coud li[ch]t fyre, if it be forced to burne(3) 1513 Doug. xi xiii 158.
And furth scho sprent as spark of gleid or fyre [L. pernicibus ignea plantis] 1535 Stewart 34137.
Tha tuke sic terrour … As ony spark out of ane fyrie brand, Tha fled als fast 1535 Stewart 42223.
Tha fled with all thair speid Als fast as fyre or spark out of ane gleid

b. fig. or in fig. context. A spark seen as an indication or result of great anger. c1500 Rowll Cursing 218 (M).
Thir … dewillis … haue … dyuers faceis repleit of ire Spittand vennum and sparkis of fyre 1513 Doug. ii iii 55.
Hir [sc. the statue of Pallas] eyn glowit as ony gleide for ire Quharfra thar flaw mony sparkis of fyre

c. transf. Particles of light. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 39.
Furth … ischit Phebus … The fyry sparkis brastyng from hys eyn, To purge the ayr, and gylt the tendyr greyn

d. fig. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 512.
Ane spark of lufe than till his hart culd spring, And kendlit all his bodie in ane fyre c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 18.
So fyry sparkis of dispyt fra the splene … Within this land was nevir hard nor sene 1611-57 Mure Sonn. vii 5.
Bright spark of beutie, paragon'd by few; Wnspotted pearle, quhich doth thy sex adorne

2. fig. A man, chiefly derogatory. 1562-3 Winȝet II 81/13.
That vnkynd spark and vnnatural monstre of man … quha [etc.] 1604-31 Craig v 28.
Or that the fatall sparke, whereon thy loines might lout 1639 Baillie I 204.
My Lord Boyne, a verie fyne sparke 1697 Annandale Corr. 131.
The sparck that is heer is capable of it and wors

3. fig. A miniscule portion, a trace (of something); the tiny beginning or last trace (of a moral quality, feeling, etc.). Freq. in negative context. Also without constr.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 21/3.
Suppois my sensualite Subject to syn hes maid my saule … Sum spark of lycht and spiritualite Walkynnis my witt c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxx 11.
Father … Ane spark of thy hie excellent prudence Giff ws 1549 Compl. 144/3.
There is nocht ane sperk of nobilnes nor gentrice amang … ȝou c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 30.
Ane spark of peirtnes in his breist than grew 1558 Knox IV 439.
If any sparke of humanitie remained … wordlie shame shuld impede them to lie a1578 Pitsc. I 38/8.
As to this present discord … raissit amangis ws … I wald it war sa sloknit furtht … that thair sould nocht be so mekill as ane spark or any kynd of memorie thairof in tyme coming 1600-1610 Melvill 165.
My … travelles for halding upe the wark of the Collage of Theologie, or rather hadding in anie spark of lyff in it(2) 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 4.
Tharin [sc. the works of the nobility] merkis wysdome, vtilyte, Na vilyte, nor sic onthryfty sperkis c1590 Fowler I 116/120.
With thair knawlege … and … thair learned artis, arayse lykwyse that poysned spark within thair bowdned hartis

b. fig. or in fig. context. A fragment (of something) (hence retaining the characteristics of its origins). c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 408.
Quho wants thir fruts [sc. Godly deeds] … lat thaim grant thaim branchis, imps, & sperks To be of Sathan 1606 Calderwood VI 529.
And sall the dregs or rather sprowttings therof be brought in again into Scotland? … Sall these cockatrice egges be hatched in our kingdom … and suche as have beene sparked therewith doe cry as if they were stung with a viper? … The Lord save our kirk … from suche sparkes! 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 9.
These sparkes of perdition, caries the name of gentle-mens sonnes 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 344.
It is no less strang for immortal sparks [v.r. spirits] and souls to come and be immersed into gross terrestriall elementary bodies [etc.]

4. A drop (of liquid), also in later dial. 1513 Doug. xii vi 76.
Hys swift stedis hovys … Spangit vp the bludy sparkis [L. rores sanguineos] 1541 St. P. Henry VIII V 196.
Sparkis of blude apon thair facis 15.. Wyf Awcht. 72.
He het the milk our hett And sorrow spark of it wald ȝyrne

5. In heraldry: A representation of a fragment of light on a coat of arms. 1494 Loutfut MS 13a.
Thair is litil rayes and sum callis thaim sternes And quhen thai ar brokin in twa … thai ar nemmyt sparkis as may be sene of the armes of Hototeneaux

6. A small precious stone, chiefly, a ruby.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 24.
Hevinly beriall droppis … birnyng as ruby sperkis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 111.
His dowblet was of goldin buird richt fine … With rubie sparkis ane greit number to se 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 85.
Being the goodliest plot, the diamond sparke, and the honny spot of all candy 1661 Edinb. Test. LXX 58b.
A large gold woupe and gold ring with rubie sparks 1692 Wedderburn Bk. II 61.
Ane purse sett with pearles, quhairin is ane reigne wth nyne diamond sparks(2) 1567 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 643/2.
Ane cheyn maid in forme of lytill kyngis, full of sparkis of rubeis 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI 205.
Tuelf sparkes of turkesis 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII 313b.
Ane spark of ane diamont(3) 1632 Montgomery Mem. 291.
A … ring, with aucht sparks lyke saphirs