Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1833-1956
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SPEET, n., v. Also speat, speate. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. spit, a roasting skewer (Sc. 1699 Edinburgh Gazette (9 Oct.); Kcb. 1724 Kirkcudbr. Test. (3 March); Ork. 1726 P. Ork. A.S. (1928) VI. 30, speat; Sc.a.1785 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 297; Ayr. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars Recit. v.; Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 162; Sc. 1824 Lockhart Scott lx., speate; Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 3; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). [spit]
I. n. 1. Sc. comb. spit-stick, a spit on which meat is roasted, used fig. in quot.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xix.:
A little spit-stick of a sword.
2. A pointed stick or skewer on which herring or other fish are strung up to dry (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Mry. 1925; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc., Cai., Kcd., Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.n.Sc. 1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Archit. § 739:
In the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, and in various places in the north of Scotland, haddocks are strung up on rods called spits.Slg. 1862 D. Taylor Poems 156:
Their domiciles are raw'd as neat As herrin strung upon a speet.Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 55:
A shower o' auld shoon, crackit tea-pats, herrin' speets.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (12 Aug.):
I wis speetid up da trid speet o' piltiks.Sc. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 20:
The fish are hung on “speets” over a fire of oak shavings.
3. Of a fishing line: an iron rod stuck horizontally through the sinker from which the hooked cords hang down on either side of the rod (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1971). Also in comb. bow-speet, id. (Sh. 1971).
4. A pole on which fish lines are hung (Ayr. c.1930).
5. A rod from which the wicks were suspended for dipping during the making of tallow candles (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 39; Ayr., Wgt. 1934, speat).
II. v. To hang fish up by the heads or gills on a skewer or spit to dry, freq. with up (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc., Cai., Kcd., Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 178:
Dere wis kippocks o' haddocks an' weel-speeted hoes.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (4 Mar.):
I sat oot afore da mill speetin' up twa dow'd pilticks.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 243:
Dey'll maybe speet dem up ta try da sam wye as dey dry fish, ipun hooks.Abd. 1956 People's Jnl. (27 Oct.):
She is at the “speeting” of herring.
