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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1773-1807, 1866-1880, 1949-1968

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SPEEL, n.1, v.1 Also speal, speil, spiel, spale, spail(l). Sc. usages of Eng. spell, a period of time of indefinite length (Sh. 1826 Aberdeen Censor 22; Ags. 1858 People's Journal (28 Aug.) 2; Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 124, 1951 R. Rendall Ork. Variants 26; Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 56. 25). [spil, spel; Cai. spell]

I. n. 1. A relief or substitute for someone at work (Cai. 1971). Rare or obsol. in Eng.

2. A time of rest or relaxation, a break in work (I.Sc., Dmb., Ayr., Wgt. 1971). Also in Australian Eng.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 184:
Wha thro' the week, till Sunday's speal, Toil for pease-clods an' gude lang kail.

3. Anything lengthy, e.g. rope, a road, a sermon (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 176, spaill), a lengthy portion.Gsw. 1807 J. Chirrey Misc. Poetry 108:
Ere I gaed hame, a hearty spiel I read o't to a critic chiel'.

4. A period of steady unimpeded work, a “go”. Comb. speedy spell, a quick worker (Bnff. 1971).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 144:
We hid fair spaill o' the hail feedle, an' we geed ringum-craggum fae side t' side o't.

5. Task, job (I.Sc., Cai. 1971).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 111:
Deed hid's no' sic' a aisy speil For me.Ork. 1968 M. A. Scott Island Saga 160:
I caun mak' a bite tae you — aun you'll need hid, for you hae a siccar spale afore you.

II. v. 1. To take a turn at work for (some one), to relieve (someone) at work, to substitute for (someone) (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C., spale; Sh., Cai., Slg., wm.Sc., Gall. 1971). Also U.S. Obs. in Eng.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 13:
Says I ye're swaetin, I sall spell you.

2. To work or walk with great energy (Uls. 1953 Traynor, spail; Wgt. 1971). Freq. with on.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 176:
The're spaillin' on the rod. He spaillt on a' day at the castan o's pehts.

[For the forms and meanings cf. Mid.Eng. spele, to stand in for someone, O.E. spelian, id., ȝespelia, a substitute, mutated forms of Early Mid.Eng. spale, a respite (cf. I. 2.), O.E. spala, a substitute.]

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