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.
SPITTLE, n. Also spittell (e.Lth. 1842 Children in Mines Report II. 459), spitle. For comb. black-spittle, see Black-spit, -spittle. Sc. form and usage: a quantity of saliva ejected at one time, a gob (Ork., Cai., Ags., Per., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1971). Cf. Gob, n.2 Also fig. of something worthless.Sc. 1722 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 18:
His Floor was a' Tobacco Spitles.Ayr. 1785 Burns Death & Dr Hornbook x.:
I wad na mind it, no that spittle Out-owre my beard.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 74:
My muse was never worth a spittle.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 168:
She cared na for a common cheel De'il the single spittle.Gsw. 1872 J. Young Lochlomond 44:
I micht as well juist bait [hooks] wi' spittles.Arg. 1907 N. Munro Daft Days i.:
I don't care a spittle for them.Sc. 1928 H. Lauder Roamin' 60:
“A spittle in the loof an' a shak' o' the hand” has sealed more honourably-kept bargains in Scotland than were ever attested on parchment.
