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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.

Sped(e, Speid, n. Also: speide, speyd, speed(e, spead. [ME and e.m.E. spede (c1340), spied (Gower), spyd (c1425), speede (1548), speed (1577-87), OE spéd.]

I. 1. Success, good fortune, prosperity; advancement, progress; also, it is no speyd, it is no use, it does no good.(1) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 113.
Sche will, in thy nede, Hir counsele geve to thy welefare and spede 1456 Hay I 166/5.
Bot and that diligence war done for the spede and the gude of the commoun prouffit, it were wele done a1568 Mersar Bann. MS 269a/13.
Thocht he haif no doubt of speid Ȝit will he sich [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 4/10.
That this wark may haue the bettir speid To pray me think it is verray necessarie 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 602.
Spede 1600-1610 Melvill 129.
An uther Generall Assemblie was conveinit … wherat Jhone Dury … was accusit; bot hoping for na speid thair, he was callit befor the king and counsall(2) c1420 Wynt. v 2775.
It is no speyd for to supprys Wyth fecht … oure innymys, Gyffe we wyth mare cruawte Amang oure-self discumfyt be

b. To cum (good, better, huly, lidder, etc.) spede, to cum na spede, to succeed (in the manner described); meet with success, achieve a desired aim. See also Huly adj. and Lidder adj. (adv.) (n.) 1 d for further examples.(1) 1513 Doug. viii i 69.
I sall thé lern in quhat wordis, quhat way Thow may cum speid … Twichand this instant mater 1582 Conv. Burghs I 143.
He may nocht … cum speid in the cawse foirsaid 1598 Melvill Propine 62.
Certainely thou shal come speede For ease in all thy noy a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii 19.
If I come speid, I think my tyme weill spent; And if I mis [etc.] c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 57. 1634 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 93.
True and sincere humiliation come always speed with God 1638 Cant Serm. 13 June 1638 (1741) 71.
O prelates, if I had hope to come speed with you I would exhort you … to lay down your worldly dignity, and help us to exalt the kirk of Christ a1651 Calderwood VII 580.
Travell was taken, but they could not come speede … The fault was not in them [etc.](2) 1513 Doug. i Prol. 383.
I mycht also percace cum lyddir speid For ‘arbor’ and ‘lignum’ intill our leid To fynd different proper termys twane 1535 Stewart 1152. 1535 Stewart 47478.
King Edward had cumid litill speid In that mater 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 210.
Gif we come not better speed in the work of reformation … I fear that we leave not this work only unended but unbegun 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 434.
Without the knowledge of them it is but huly speed that ye will come in your journey to heaven 1604-31 Craig v 10.
The leilest in loue commeth aye the worst speede 1638 Henderson Serm. 291.
Thou cannot come such speed in mortifying sin as thou wishes c1650 Spalding I 8.
[They] willinglie confessit trusting to get moir fauor at the Erllis handis, bot thay cam littil speid a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 44.
If the word were taken as from His mouth, we should come better speed than we do a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 419.
This storm being by discovered enemies, Satan cometh not so good speed a1658 Durham Subtile Self 116.
We thrive so ill, and come so little speed in following of Christ a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 278.
Whoever … essayes believing and opening their heart to him shall certainly come good speed, and without fail attain their design 1664 Sel. Biog. I 457. 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 47.
Whatever duty ye can come best speed in, make it your care to go about it(3) 1513 Doug. ix xiii 43.
Thocht he wald, for all hys … mycht … To pres fordwart may he cum na speid 1535 Stewart 16362.
He saw that he culd cum na speid, To do his devoir 1535 Stewart 46542. 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 66.
I beleif to cum na speid of ony thyng that is gwid or proffetable withowt your gracis help 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 66. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 347.
In case … the person be ignorant … in sik sort that the person … is … wearied with continual admonition … and cometh no speed at his hands … that at the last the pastor himself … conceiveth a despair of the recovery of that person 1595 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 98.
That they wer in travelling bot culd cum na speid for lack of provisioun c1600 Montg. Suppl. vi 2. c1650 Spalding II 388.
The Erll Marschall labourit mekill for his lyf, bot cam no speid, throw the malice of the kirk, the burrowis [etc.] a1680 Blair Autob. 60.
When night was approaching and I had come no speed at all … I threw myself upon my bed, there to pray and meditate

c. To do one's spede, to do as one chooses, to do one's best or utmost. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 112.
Of thingis laid in wede til a certan terme … Gif he said in court that thing nocht his to be it salbe gevyn lef to his creditour tharof to do his speid & his likyng as of his awn propyr thing 1456 Hay I 232/9.
All men of were ar free to do thair spede apon the kingis inymyes, but excepcioun. For he that has poware apon the maist has power apon the leste

d. In proverb. and quasi-proverb. use, also in collocation with Haste n.(1) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 879.
Oft in romanis I reid: Airly sporne, late speid 1535 Stewart 54714 (see Spurning vbl. n.). a1699 Sel. Biog. II 273.
Little and little makes good speed at last(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1682.
It happinnis oft … That of fule haist cummis no speid For quho so haistis him … To pas a gait our-hastely He sall haue let and perchaunce he Sall neuir cum quhare he wold be 1535 Stewart 1146.
Than spak ane man of greit authoritie, The wysest man him semit weill to be, ‘Oftymes,’ he said, ‘it preues weill to [reid], That ouir greit haist cumis hulie [speid] 1535 Stewart 24615.
Lidder speid cumis of airlie spurne a1585 Maitl. Q. 214/13.
Sen fuilhaist cummis not greatest speid I wald thow souldest learne to knaw How to mak vertew of thy neid a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1283 (Wr.).
Fooles haste comes hulie speede a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1282.
Quhen the woman wowis the man may come speid 1658 R. Moray Lett. fol. 306.
Short-nebbed sparrowes would come litle speed at your back dore

II. 2. a. Quickness in moving from one place to another, usually involving special exertion; swiftness. b. Quickness or promptness in carrying out an action or operation.a., b. c1420 Wynt. iv 1741.
He … All his pyth put in tyll spede [W. to the speid] c1450-2 Howlat 292 (A).
Letteris … ȝald To the swallowe so swyft … To ettill to the empriour … He wald nocht spair for to spring on a gud speid 1460 Hay Alex. 2384.
This day thai fecht … bot thow mak better speid 1535 Stewart 11477.
Behind thair bak thai [sc. the Romans] lichtit sone but lat. Galdus … quhen he persauit that, For all that speid thocht that thai suld spur[ne] 1549 Compl. 42/7.
For mair speid the galliasse pat furtht hir stoytene salis, ande ane hundretht aris on euerye syde 15.. Christis Kirk 169 (M).
He suld be swyft that gat him throw speid c1590 J. Stewart 32/94.
Bot he vas eildit, and his ase did tyre Till imitat hir passing paise be speid, Vith nigromance heirfore he did conspire 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 132.
To the end that ye might … proceed in the work of this triall with the better speed, and with the better fruits … we laid down this ordour. First of all [etc.] 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 251.
Mr. Patrick Hammiltoun wes laitlie dischargit be the burrowes … and to erect ane other so quicklie in his place wald be thought a praeposterous speid

c. In adverbial use: (Full, etc.) gude spede, (very) quickly, at once; better speid, quicker, more quickly. 1375 Barb. iv 507.
Ȝone is the king but dreid, Ga we furth till him better speid 1375 Barb. vi 411.
The catell folowit he gud speid a1400 Leg. S. ii 523.
He sped hym rycht gud spede To the preste a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 473.
Than can the emperoure gud-sped The suthfastnes spere of that ded ?1438 Alex. i 1454.
With spurris tit straik he the steid, And he come lansand wale gude speid ?1438 Alex. ii 306.
He vnclethed him full gude speid c1420 Wynt. v 1963.
The lady … that … saw this cas … full gud spede Owte of the tempyll gretand yhede a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 492.
Thay [sc. lepers] gaif ane cry, and schuik coppis gude speid c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 161/24.
He fled away gud speid a1540 Freiris Berw. 516 (B).
Our the stair se that thow ga gud speid

d. In, with, or at (gud, mast, etc.) spede, quickly; as quickly as possible; at once, immediately. Also at one's speed.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 801.
Scho went in sped To the gret maister of the knychtede a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 232.
Ta thi horse in spede & pas in haste fra this stede 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1694.
Ane dog … Passand throw Tweid, with speid 1575 Douglas Corr. 200.
I … humbly crave … that … your lordship wyll … help me to hir [sc. his hawk] agane with sped 1581 Sat. P. xliv 208.
To Geneue haist vith speid c1590 Fowler I 183/3.
With speide I merche, with als muche I reteire c1590 Fowler I 241/31.
O Atropos … My lyflye threid with speid in sunder los 1596 Dalr. I 25/25.
Thay are sa greidie that gif thay sie ony fishe mair diligate neir the craig, the pray quhilke … thay brocht far aff, with speid thay wap out of thair mouth, and violentlie wil now that pray invade 1596 Dalr. II 15/28.
The Balie … bangs vp on a horsse, and fled at speid 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 77.
Let vs a navie then prepair with speid 16.. Hist. Kennedy 16.
I awow, and ȝe mean it nocht with speid, I sall [etc.] — 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi 259.
[He] stroke at me with his halfe-pike; but his horse being at his speed, I preuented his cruelty(2) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 844.
I speryt gyf he cuth … Kene me the gat, that mycht me led To the flume Jordane in mast sped c1420 Wynt. v 177.
Thai twa wyld bestys … syne wyth gud speyd [C. speide] Till wyldyrnes away thai yheyd c1420 Wynt. viii 787.
In hy and in gud spede He come till Norhame c1420 Wynt. ix 845.
Thai thame armyd hastily, But that wes dwne wyth swa gret spede, That mony falyhyd in that nede c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 515.
Ane better steid … was brocht to him with gude speid a1568 Bann. MS I p. 7/14.
All my tormentis sall tak end With suddane speid Quhen thow sic confort sall me send 1571 Douglas Corr. 371.
That I may have the sayd cast of falcons sent to Barwike withe convenyent spede 1572 Buch. Detect. E ii b.
Thay iumbil vp mariages: ane is diuorcit, ane vther is couplit, and that in sic poisting speid as [etc.] 1576 Orkney Oppress. 91.
That thai report thair full findingis … with all speid and diligence a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 389.
[He] haisted himself towart Scotland with all spead for the purpose — a1500 Sir Eger 140.
He rode upon a sturdie steed, He let him come with all his speed: Our horse together rushed keen [etc.]

3. Swiftness seen as an attribute (of a person or animal); the capacity to move quickly, or the potential for moving quickly. c1420 Wynt. i 714.
Thar sum folk bot a fute has, And yhit for sped the dere ourtays c1420 Wynt. i 783.
A best thai call Manticora … off spede he is mare lycht Than ony foule is apon flycht 1456 Hay I 155/16.
He mycht pas, throu spede of hors, till his falouschip … and semble mare company 1533 Boece 194.
Thare awne houndis in spede, fairnes, lang rynnyng and audacite war mekill behind the Scottis 1533 Boece 194.
Ane [hound] … weill made, of spede and audacite abone the commoun cast of vtheris 1535 Stewart 16863.
Greit doggis for slauchter of the deir; And small houndis to bring thame to the burne, sum for the speid and vther sum to turne 1547–8 Cal. Sc. P. I 82.
The Master of Maxwell chaiced alone over the tope of a mountane with spede of a geldingproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 57.
All the speid is in the spurres

b. Be (throu, with) (the) speid of fute (feitt), with speid of spurris.(1) 1513 Doug. vii xiii 63.
Camylla … was weil accustumate … throu the speid of fut [L. cursuque pedum] in hir rynnyng The swift wyndis prevert and bakwart dyng 1513 Doug. x vii 28.
Do nevir … onto ȝour self that lak, To lyppyn in speid of fute and gyf the bak 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V 539.
He … straik the said Walter cruellie … and be speid of feitt ran away 1602 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 1072. 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 202.
[They would have slain him if he had not escaped] be speid of foote(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1596.
The maister … With speid of spurris to the palice him sped