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.
Spaun, Spawn, v. Also: spaund. P.p. also spanned. [Late ME and e.m.E. spawn (c1400), span (Prompt. Parv.), spaune (1570) all intr., AF espaundre, OF espandre (1080 in Larousse), L. expandere.]
1. intr. Of a fish: To cast spawn.1531 Bell. Boece I xliii.
Thir salmond … spawnis, with thair wamis plet to uthir 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 26.
Spaunis 1707 Conv. Burghs IV 433.
The rivers wher salmond usually spaun
2. tr. To produce, generate (something).1494 Loutfut MS 25a.
Giff ony dois thaim [sc. bees] evil or displeseir thai spaund ane evil bitternes in thar hunny to defend … thaim 1531 Bell. Boece I xliii.
The hie fische spawnis his meltis, and the scho fische hir rounis
3. p.p. Contemptuously, of a person: Produced or born out of.1679 J. Somerville Mem. II 366.
Most of them [sc. the clergy], if not all … spanned [sic in pr.] out of the dreggs of the people
