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: 1795, 1898-1916
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SPICK, n.1 Also spik(k), spike, spig-. Fat meat or bacon (Sh. 1971); fat, grease, lard; blubber, whale fat (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., spikk; Sh., Ork., Cai. 1971); fat, adiposity in a human being (Sh. 1971). Cf. Speckling.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 VII. 569:
The spick or blubber might, to great emolument, be converted into oil in this country.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 226:
Ye're a' ae swine's spik.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 4:
He stickid the swird i' his spick.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (7 April):
The fat part of the pig's flesh was called 'spike'.
Derivs. (1) spicko, a big limpet (Ork. 1929 Marw.); (2) spiggi, = (1) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); (3) spikket, adj., excessively fat (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1971); (4) spikkie, adj., of blubberlike consistency, in comb. spikkie-, spiggi-limpet, = (1) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).(4) Sh. 1898 Shetland News (18 June):
Spikkie lempits is aye hard.
