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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1923
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HANGSPEW, v. To torture animals or birds by catapulting them from a spring-board (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Hence used in threatening fashion to children = to punish severely.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Ye wee deil, A'll hangspew ee, at wull A.
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"Hangspew v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hangspew>
