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.
Quotation dates: 1503-1667
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Sprus(e, Spruis, Spro(u)s, n. Also: Spruce, Sprusse, Spruiss, Spruys, Sprusche, Sprush, Sprois. [ME and e.m.E. Sprw(y)s (both north., 1378), Sprusse (1445), Spruse (1461), Sprewse (1464), Spruce (1489), Sprowese (north.,1570.); altered f. Pruce attrib.]
1. Prussia. See also Pruce attrib.(a) 1535 Stewart 21271.
Sindrie landis … As Spanȝe, Spruis, and eik Germania 1557 Acts & Decr. XV 167.
Ane schip … of the towne callit Sprus, … Hannis Bowlie … boitman … Peter Roberik steirisman [etc.] 1647 Misc. Spald. C. V 330.
Mr. William Blakhall, now in the vniuersitie of Bromyberrie, within the dukedom of Spruce 1661 Misc. Spald. C. V 339.
James Barclay … now reportit to haue his residence in Memle in Spruis(b) 1535 Stewart 57430.
The maister of Sprois that wes ane nobill man
b. attrib. With commodities obtained from or (of the sort) made in Prussia.(a) 1507 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 163.
The gud wndirvrityne … that is to say ane Sprus comptir of the myddill bynd 1586 Edinburgh Testaments XV 206b.
xiiij stane of Sprus hemp 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 290.
Boords called … Spruce daillis 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 316.
Spanish spruce and Swadens irne 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 318.
Spruce and Danskene lether 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 318.
Packing canves and Spruce canves 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 333.
Spruce or Muscovia yarne 1631 Edinburgh Testaments LV 22b.
Ane littill barrel of Sprusche beir 1649 Edinburgh Testaments LXIV 235b.
Sprushe(b) 1574 Cal. Sc. P. V 9.
[Six] kynkems of Spruis beir 1577 Edinburgh Testaments VI 66b.
lxxx stanis of Spruis lint … price of the stane xxiiij s. 1625 Brechin Testaments IV 184.
Ane kimpkin Spruis vijr
c. attrib. With terms related to weighing, Spruse wecht, Sprus stane.(a) 1511 Treasurer's Accounts IV 284.
Coppir weyand vjclxxxxj pund of Spruse wecht 1548 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXIV 131.
Ilk Sprus stane contenand xxvi pundis wecht scottis or tharby 1588 Dundee Shipping L. 225.
20 Spruis staine … of saip 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplath.
Ilk pack … conteinis in weicht threttie sex Sprusse stanes. Ilk Sprusse stane conteinis twentie aucht pound Trois weicht 1616 Dundee Shipping L. 274.
Twelff Spruiss stane lynt 1618 Edinburgh Testaments L 97b.
Aucht stanes … of lynt of Spruce weycht 1622 Brechin Testaments IV 93b.
Nyne Spruis staine vax estimat to ijc lib. 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 26.(b) 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 22b.
iii scor xi Spros stane at xliiii gros(c) 1621 Brechin Testaments IV 16b.
Tuelff peices taikkill veȝand tuentie sex Sprous staine
d. attrib. With terms relating to coinage.1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 135.
Payment of ane Spruce mark 1541–2 Perth Guildry p. 214 (13 Jan.).
xiiij merkis Spruys 1547 Perth Guildry p. 253 (14 Oct.).
xlij Sprus merkis lent siluer 1570 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 113.
Fra ewerie merchant … [in] Danskeine … [for] two hundreth futfall [pr. furfall] or wheit leather ane Spruis schillingis 1578–9 Perth Guildry p. 390 (5 Feb.).
x grotis Sprus money
2. coll. The Prussian people.a1640 Mure Counter-Buff 101.
All vaste Teutons states, the Spruch, the Dan, Dispatch, and arme with power some trustie man
3. A type of fir tree.1620 Mason Newfoundland (1887) 150.
The land of the north parts… woodye very thick of firre trees, spruce, pine, lereckhout, aspe, hasill
