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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.

Spil(l)ing, -yng, vbl. n. Also: spillyn(e, spylling, -yng, -yne, -en. [ME and e.m.E. spillynge (a1340), spyllynge (Prompt. Parv.), spilling (1593); Spil(l v.] The action of Spil(l v. in senses 4, 4 c, 5 b and 6; the damage or ruin so caused.Also const. to the person harmed.Quot. 1520 Wigtown B. Ct. in (1) is not clear and may refer to the hair on the head or haircloth or something of the sort.(1) 1434–5 Reg. St. A. 424.
Leif … to brek stanys and away leid thru the landis of the said Waltyr Monypenyis withoutyn grete foilyng and spillyng of his soilie and his teleland 1460–1 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 414 (17 March).
The said assis determyit … that the said spillyng & wettyng come nocht throu … mysgouernance of the said maister … bot al anerly of storme wedder 1478–9 Acta Aud. 82/1.
To the said William Henrisoun … for the scaitht of his hors ryding & spilling x s. 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 43.
The quhilk day the actionis debatabill betwix Adam Man … and John Rows … for the spillyn of a wob and of his werkmanschip and of his werkyn at he sulde haue wrocht witht him for a yer 1493 Acta Conc. I 307/1.
The wrangwis distructioun & spilling of his chemys & punfald in Auchinane 1499–1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 106.
Spillyne 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 115.
The vrangvis spillyn of vij bollis and j half of malt quhilk suld haue bene sufficient stuff and weill maid 1517 Wigtown B. Ct. 75a.
For the vrangus spilling of thre schoir of ellis of clayth 1520 Wigtown B. Ct. 101b.
Alex^r M^cSkemyng to Nannis Caldwellis cha. for the vrangus trubling & spilling of hir air in hir hous 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 122 (see Spil(l v. 4 (1) p.t).
Spylling 1534 Wigtown B. Ct. 295b.
Fore the wrangus dynging & spyllyng of his corne 1537 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS IX 81b.
The … tinsale rotting & spilling of thair guidis 1561 Prestwick B. Rec. 66.
Spyllen 1567 Inverness Rec. I 151.
Johne McBean … to … pay to Johne Moyr … vij s. monie for breking of his arrow and cutting and spilling of his bow 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 408.
The counsale of Dunde … hes causit arreist thair gudis in the oppin schoir in dangeare of spilling and tinsell not permitting the same to be schippit nor sellarit without thay pay the said taxt 1616 Glasgow Weavers 54 (see Spil(l v. 4 c. (1)). 1641 Stirling B. Rec. I 183.
The counsell unlawes Allexander Cunynghame … for breking and spilling the kingis hie gait — 1533 Wigtown B. Ct. 273b.
Fore vrangus spyllyne to hyme of viii bollis of malt 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 47.
For spiling of certane linen claith to her in the weiving … sche seeing spilt caust vissit the same, and cut it out of the lums(2) c1420 Bute MS fol. 160.
Gyf ony wacheman … tak hyre for cause of spilling or makyng les of the constitution of the toun … he sal be deprevit of hys offyce 1438 Acts II 32/2.
It is … ordanit that … quhare thar beis ony presumpcione violent of rebellione or spilling of the cuntre … that the lieutenande [etc.] 1535 Aberd. B. Rec. MS fol. 31.
The said day … Isbell Tailȝour for spilling of the merkat in amerciament a1568 Bann. MS 217a/19.
I spair to speik for spilling of my taill 1595 Purves Revenue Crown 8.
The decay of his rents, spilling of the coynȝie; the decay & ruine of his policies [etc.] 1596 Melvill 383.
The spilling … of a guid cause 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 34.
Violent presumptions of spilling and troubling the countrey(3) 1666 Peebles B. Rec. II 71.
The said supplicant hes built ane steip … which, with ane other steip belonging to Thomas Smyth, so throngs the malt that the same is in poynt of spilling(4) 1375 Barb. xiii 19.
The battaill … sa feloune was And swa rycht gret spilling of blud, That on the erd the flousis stud 1375 Barb. xx 178. 1516 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 37.
Alsua schir alderman and balyeis we fynd James Helme and Adam Rutherfurd hes done wrangis to yow and the towne be caus of spillyne of the kingis bluid