Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶SPAW, v. Poss. a misprint for *spawl, Spald, v., to split open.Lnk. 1833 Whigs of Scot. I. xv.:
They pick the flesh off their banes as easily as a gos-hawk wad claw a bonny patrick, or as a tod-lourie wad spaw ye a maulkin.
