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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.

SPLEET, v., n. Also spliet, spteyt. [split]

I. v. A. Forms. Inf. and pr.t.: as above; pa.t. spleet (s.Sc. 1929 Sc. Readings (Paterson) 44); pa.p. spleet (Edb. 1753 Caled. Mercury (6 Feb.); Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 263). Otherwise the conjugation merges with that of Split, q.v.

B. Usages. 1. tr. and intr. to split (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 72; Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; I.Sc., Cai., Mry., em.Sc., Rxb. 1971). Vbl.n. spleeten, a splitting, a slice. Phr. spleet and rive, abundance of food, a chance to gorge oneself. See Rive, v., 4. (4).Sc. 1701 J. Brand Descr. Orkney (1883) 59:
A blind Rock well enough known to the Pilot, which the Pursuer ignorant of spleet upon.Sc. 1747 Caled. Mercury (20 Jan.):
Pot Peas, particularly fine English Spleet Peas.Bwk. 1761 Edb. Mag. or Liter. Misc. (1788) 243:
He takes from off the edge of the chine of the fresh fish [salmon] a slice, or, as it is called, spleeten.Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 96:
Haw-haw-haw! I'm like to spleet!Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 170:
The muse is like to spleet her jaws, Wi' gauntin', greanin' och's and ah's.Ags. 1895 Arbroath Guide (16 March) 3:
I was busy spleetin sticks.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 179:
Beautiful muggies, spleetin' wi gree.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 70:
The yearth spleets wide, and Tophet gapes for me!Cai. 1955 Edb. John o' Groat Lit. Soc.:
Professors by 'e dizzan Aal spleetan' peedie atomies by Doonreay's lon'ly shore.

2. Phr. and deriv.: (1) spleeter, one who splits fish and takes out the backbone (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh., Cai., Kcd. 1971); (2) spleetin' fou, full to bursting point.(1) Sh. 1898 Shetland News (19 Nov.):
Whin dey [heather brushes] wir reddy wippid, an' a' dat, dan dey hed ta be passed be da factor, a head spleeter.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 16. 44:
The factor's booth and the spleeters' booth had to be tarred, and sand was then thrown on them.(2) Sh. 1899 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd (1922) 71:
A pritty colour'd cash, spleetin' fou o' saft tabaka.

II. n. 1. A splitting or crack. Comb. spleet-new, -niu, -noo, completely new, brand-new (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., spliet-; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267; I. and n.Sc. 1971). Cf. splinter-new s.v. Splinter, and, for the semantic development, etym. note to Spang-new.Sc. 1768 Session Papers, Walker v. Le Grand (21 Jan.):
A spleet new public road through Mr Le Grand's property.Ags. a.1823 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 163:
It was baith sleekit an' spleet new.Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. (Dec.) 590:
Annie's spleet niu herin teddir.Rxb. c.1885 W. Laidlaw Poetry (1901) 46:
This spleet-new wife, wi' brazen face.Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums iii.:
They've a wardrobe spleet new.Mry. 1908 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 90:
Ma twa spleet new vrappers.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 29:
Spleet-new and bun' It cost a hantle, — near three hun'ner pun'.Cai. 1929 John o' Groat Jnl. (8 Nov.):
Ma lang cairt [wis] spleyt new.

2. A splinter, chip (Sh. 1947). Rare or obs. in Eng. Phr. diel spleet used imprecatively = devil a thing, absolutely nothing. See Deil.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (18 March):
Diel spleet wis ta be seen apo' da watter bit a twal fit plank.

3. The armhole of a jersey (Sh. 1971).

4. A split, schism, disruption in an organisation.Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 203:
A spleet — O forbid it, eneugh o' that game.