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.
SPOUSE, n., v. Also †spus, spouss, dim. form spousie (Edb. 1851 A. MacLagan Sketches 142). Sc. v. usage in phr. and comb.: †1. spousing keobe, a gift made by a newly-wedded couple to the minister who married them. See Kyoab; 2. to spouse one's fortune, to devote oneself to one's fortune, to try one's luck. Cf. Eng. espouse, to devote oneself to (a cause). [‡spuz]1. Sh. 1769 Hjaltland Misc. (1937) II. 134:
It was the Practice of the Minister of this and other parishes formerly to claim a certain perquisite called a spousing keobe from each pair of the common people he married.2. Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xciii.:
Charlie, her son, has spoused his fortune and gone to Indy.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 239:
The young man set out to spouse his fortune.
