Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1823-1863
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SPLAY, v.2, n.2 Also splae (Sc. 1825 Jam.), spley.
I. v. 1. To fasten down the edges of a seam by hemming the upper, projecting edge down over the lower one (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I. and ne.Sc., Slg., Fif., Lnk., Gall. 1971); to mend a tear in cloth by sewing the edges together without adding a patch (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Combs. back-, fore-splay, to stitch a hem from back to front or from front to back.Sc. 1823 M. and M. Corbett Petticoat Tales I. 291:
Back-stitching, splaying, fause hems, and cross gores.Lnk. 1863 W. Miller Willie Winkie (1902) 60:
She can back-spley and fore-spley; can white seam and sew.
2. To smoothe flat (m.Dmf. c.1920).
II. n. The hem made by fastening down the edges of a seam with the upper projecting edge sewn down over the lower edge (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Ayr. 1971). Also in combs. Dutch splay (Ib.), splay-hem (Abd. 1949), -seam (Jam.).
[Prob. the same word as Splay, n.1, v.1, the one edge of the cloth being splayed, spread or projected beyond the other.]
