Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶SPENSIE, adj. Also spencie. Neat, tidy, smart in appearance. Cf. Pense, I. 2.(2)
(i) and S, letter, 5.Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales 17, 43:
A figure appears at the corner of South Row — a “spencie mannie” in a “lum” hat. . . . But his neebor, the aul' wyver, . . . wisna jeist sae spensie.
