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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.

Splene, n. Also: spleyn(e, splein(e, spleene, spleane, splen(n, splain(e, splanie. [ME and e.m.E. splen (a1300), splene (Trevisa), spleene (?a1400), spleen (1589), OF esplen, L. splēn.]

1. The spleen, the organ of the body. Also in fig. context. a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 54.
My self is sound, but seiknes and but soir, … My hairt is haill, my lever and my splene; Thairfoir [etc.] 1535 Stewart 33254.
Sum out-throw the spald and sum out-throw the splene; And sum the arme had fra the schulder sched 1678 Lauder Notices Affairs I 210.
It is not fitt the Session should, like a diseased splen, grow to big for the body; that would discompose the wholle politique frame

2. Only in verse: The spleen seen as the seat of the emotions, esp. the affections, but also viewed as the seat of courage; the innermost part or depths of a person.Chiefly const. fra the (verie) splene, with sincerity, from the heart. Also, in one's harts splene, in the depth of one's heart, in one's heart of hearts; to the splene, to the core; within my splene, in my soul. Cf. Hart n.¹ 2 and Hert n.¹ 2.(1) 1460 Hay Alex. 8275.
All folk sould witt … That all trew lufe removis fra [th]e [MS me] splene a1500 Henr. III 148/65.
This prayer fra my splene is a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 127 (Arund.).
Thus mycht men … loif thair God ay hertlie fra the spleyne a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1364 (Harl.).
Fra the splene repent Off dedlie syn a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1473 (Arund.).
To thé, my saule, I speik now fra the spleyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 18.
So fyry sparkis of dispyt fro the splene, … Within this land was nevir hard nor sene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xlviii 12.
Aurora … On quhois hand a lark sang fro the splene 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 112.
Holsum herbis … Quhilk eleuate my spretis frome the splene 1535 Stewart 42410.
He him louit hartlie fra the splene, As he his bruther or his sone had bene c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2137.
Sett vp one image … Quhilk thay did honour, from the splene, As it immortall God had bene c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3332.
Quhen Arbates that sycht had sene, His corage rasit frome the splene 1567 G. Ball. 167. a1568 Scott v 4. a1568 Clerk in Bann. MS 32a/61.
Longius a lance in to my body thrang … My muderis splene pairsit calamide(2) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 981.
Joyful was he in his harts splene Of the plesance he had with his awin Queene(3) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 7.
Haill, God and man, borne of a virgin cleyne, Haill, boist of balme, spilit within my splene 1535 Stewart 9163.
The wynter cald that bait him to the splene(4) 1603 Philotus 204.
Begyle the nicht gif it be lang, With talk and merie mowes amang To eleuate the splene

3. With or without article: A grudge; spite, ill-will, resentment.Also const. bear or carry (a) splene aganes or to (a person or group) or upon (a matter). Freq. in collocation with choller, contempt, invy, malice, etc.(1) 1619 Colquhoun Chart. 241.
I wald nocht that vtheris, owt off thair splein to me, sowld hawe haid caws of contentment by mowing ane alteratioun be thair credeit withe ȝow 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 351.
Perceaveing that he culd not speid at Edinburgh, … vpon a greater splen, he goeth the second tyme into Catteynes … and [etc.] 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 414.
The Marquis of Huntlie and his sone, … did travell … to dissuade the Earle of Murray from this course, bot they prevailled not; wherby the old grudge and spleane betuixt these tuo houses began to break out into a flame 1637 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. I (1908) 53/1.
The setting up of his saids armes wes done be him upon respect and for honour of his father's funeralls, and not out of anie splene or contempt of the said Lord Fraser 1650 Nicoll Diary 39.
The Commissioun of the Kirk, beiring a great splene aganes … the malignant factioun … maid these forces … to ryse … to subdew thame 1651 Melville Corr. 234.
They wer glade to find annie occasion to trouble us, both for the grait splenn that they carried to my laitt lord and to us his successours ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 163.
His spleene that he carryd upon the accompt of former disobleidgments betuixt his family and some of the Highland clanns(2) 1624 Melrose P. 642.
He thairupoun tooke occasioun simple, without choller or spleene, to regrait the same 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 406.
This Felton had bein tuyse carceired by the duke … whether out of privat splen, or pretending the commoun good of the king and state, he resolved to [etc.] 1641 Kingarth Par. Rec. 4.
Shoe … denyed the same by hir oath alledging that hir former allegatioune was false upon splen and invy, quherby she is estemed gwiltie of sclandering the said Finlae 1642 Strathbogie Presb. 29.
John Matman … was vseing all meanes to elude the censures of the presbyterie, … alledging that he was soght out of splene 1644 Misc. Spald. C. I 34.
Finding that things may cum to greater splen and violence betwixt Drum and yow both … I have thought fitt … to advyse yow both to a mor peaceable way 1646 Soc. Ant. IV 467.
They desyret … that he would giv his oath that in his cariag in this particular he wes free of malice and splen 1647 Hist. Glasgow Gardeners 66.
Sundrie has done the lyk this yeir and of befoir upon splaine and malice 1667 Glasgow Trades House 420.
All that had beine done tharanent … was done against the said John Gemmill out of splanie and invay 1671 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 91.
Out of meir splain and mallice the said Robert McMillane hes … comit … and hes poyndit my goods 1672 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 435.
It doeth appear that the compleaners ruine is designed … upon particular splen and pick

b. Anger, indignation. 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 50.
Jannat Oustin demanding from the said Elisabeth the payment of ten pound which with other particulars had keipt thame often at variance the said Elisabeth said in greit spleine I have put thé from nolt and horse and I sall also do the lyk with thy brewing whairypon [etc.] 1651 Elgin Rec. II 363.
Mr. William Jack being posed denyed in gryt spleene that he wes the delyverer off the said letter