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.
Quotation dates: 1806-1811, 1869-1926
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SPREE, adj., v.2 Also sprie. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. spry (Ayr. 1788 G. Turnbull Poet. Essays 217, sprie; Gsw. 1793 R. Gray Poems 28; Per. 1835 R. Nicoll Poems 14; Slg. c.1845 J. Love Antiq. Notes (1910) II. 216). [spri:]
I. adj. Spruce, neat, trim, smartly dressed (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 353, spry; Ags., Per., Lnk. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 144:
Busk themsels fu' trig and spree; For raggit they're an' dirty.Per. 1811 J. Sim Poems 28:
The Carse o' Gowrie unco spree, Drest up in green.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 175:
His braid ribbit hose, an' his breeks a' sae spree.Ags. 1879 Forfar Poets (Fenton) 139:
He turned sae spree in twa-three ooks, Ye widna thocht 'twas Johnny.Lnk. 1889 I. Darling Poems 85:
Gaun spruce an' spree tae see the lasses.
II. v. tr. and absol., with up: to spruce up, smarten up (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Ags., Fif., Lnk. 1971), freq. in ppl.adj. spreed up; also fig., to brighten up, perk up (see 1904 quot.).Edb. 1878 S. Jerdan Essays and Lyrics 199:
Robbie Bell, spried-up an' clean, Wi' weel-spun hose an' buckled shoon.Per. 1881 R. Ford Readings 30:
The guidman toastin' his taes at the fire, spreed up a wee for the occasion.Lth. 1882 P. McNeill Preston 2:
Away! let's hae oursel's spree'd up, Put on thy brawest gear.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems 53:
I spree'd masel' up an' made tracks for the Lodge.Sc. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories II. 53:
My spirits began to spree up a thocht.Ags. 1926 J. M. Smith House in West End 6:
I think you might try to spree yourself up a wee bit.
