A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1499-1560
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Spayman, Spaman, n. Pl. also spyne. [ON spámann, -maðr, f. spá; Spay v.] A man who can predict the future, a seer, a prophet. Also attrib.c1420 Wynt. v 3400.
Quhare[evyr] he past, At wychys and at spaymen [C. spa-men] fast He … speryt gyve that he Mycht ewyre opteyne [etc.] a1500 Henr. Orph. 563.
Ticius … sett his entencion To fynd the craft of diuinacion And lerit it vnto the spamen all, To tell before sik thingis as wald fall 1513 Doug. xii i 71.
All the spa men [Ruddim. spaymen] and goddis revelyng Declarit plane that was onlesum thyng 1513 Doug. xii v 93.
Tolumnyus … That was a spa man and diuinour sle 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 131.
Thir wounderfull signis gaif grete terrour to the pepill, for the spa men [1821 devinouris] interprett thaim to signify grete dammage appering to Caratak 1531 Bell. Boece II 201.
The spaymen conjecturit gret effusion of blude to cum on the Scottis 1533 Boece 131.
Spamen and divinouris consultit quhat herethrow was signifyit, ansuerit [etc.] 1533 Gau 12/12.
Thay sine aganis this command quhilk … traistis efter as the astronomurs and spaymen makis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 5098.
We ar spa men, suithsayaris and deuinouris … And can discus all dreames … And tell thairof the treuth … And all hid geir … We can it findattrib. 1513 Doug. vi iii 77.
Prayand thus, efter the spamen werd 1533 Gau 13/26.
Vichchraft spayman chraft or to ony oder siclik abusione
