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.
SPILL, v., n. Also spil, spull (Abd. 1868 G. MacDonald R. Falconer II. xii.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 268). Pa.p. spilt. [spɪl, spʌl] Sc. forms and usages:
I. v. 1. tr. To spoil, mar, render imperfect (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Obs. or arch. and now replaced by the unconnected Spile, v.2 Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Phr. to spil good likely, to belie expectations. See also Likely, n.Sc. 1708 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 57:
Mr. Colline Campbell (who in the generall opinion is a very pretty young fellow, and who spils good likly if he be not).Gall. 1727 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) II. 69:
Mr Ker spilt him ill in making him an elder.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 36:
He that laughs at his ain joke spills the sport o't.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 76:
Gin I be mist, as doubtless but I will, Ere we be aff, it a' the sport may spill.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 209:
Ae scabbit yew spills twenty flocks.Mry. 1806 J. Cock Simple Strains 96:
Then til't, my lad, win up the hill, Nor tyn your heart, your plan to spill.Crm. 1835 H. Miller Scenes (1857) 428:
An old botching carpenter . . . was known to the boys of the place by the humorous appellation of “Spull (i.e. spoil)-the-wood.”Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 25:
Or fash her beard ower sic a dreep Or ower him spill her beauty-sleep.
2. To spoil, pamper.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 100:
And see that ye be coothie till her, Yet dinna wi' your kindness spill her.
3. intr. To be in a fretted state owing to the effect of heat, friction, violent motion on any part (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
4. intr. To deteriorate, worsen; of meat: to putrefy, ‘go off' (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Obs. in Eng.Mry. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 381:
Wild geese, wild geese, ganging to the hill, The weather it will spill. In ppl.adj. spilt, (1) putrefied, ‘gone off', bad; (2) grossly fat, bloated; of food: too fat for human consumption (Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 210, 1914 Angus Gl.); (3) specif. leprous (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Combs. spilt-folk, lepers, spilt man or wife, a leper, spilt (man's) (wife's) hus, an isolation house for lepers (Ib.). Arch.(1) Sc. 1887 Scottish Leader (11 Oct.):
Selling ‘spilt' Pears. Dr. Anderson stated that ‘spilt' pears were unwholesome.
II. n. Anything destroyed or spoilt, a botch, a wreck or ruin.Gsw. 1886 Scottish Bakers' Year-Book (1948) 73:
Some foremen would make good bread with barm for years, then they would have what was known as a “spill.” The barm had gone wrong, the bread was bad and the foreman did not know what was wrong.Fif. 1894 A. S. Robertson Provost 181:
A spill o' humanity, I doubt. He looks an awfu' wreck, puir soul.
