Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SPICKET, n. Also spiket, speekit. [′spɪkət]
1. A spigot, a bung for stopping up a barrel or cask (m.Sc. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Also fig.Lnk. 1749 in R. Wodrow Sufferings (1828) IV. 508:
He brought it [beer] up with great diligence, but in the other hand the spiket of the barrel.Gsw. 1836 Gsw. Journal (2 Jan.) 117:
In swallow-skirted coat, an' breckit In plush — a beckin' booin' spicket!Wgt. 1885 G. Fraser Poems 49:
Baith barrel an' spicket.
2. An outdoor tap, freq. one supplying water for a locality (Per., Ayr., Kcb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Per.4 1950:
Fix the hose tae the speekit.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 45:
'Aye, aye, I ken that. Awa and wash your face, lassie, but no' in the horse's trough. You could get ring-worm. Wash it at the speekit.'
