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: 1727, 1786-1928
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SPUE, v., n. Also speu, spju. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. spew (Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 19; Per. 1835 J. Monteath Dunblane Trad. 56; Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 210; Sh. 1897 Shetland News (5 June); Kcb. 1913 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 16, speu; Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Battans 6, speu). [spju:]
I. v. 1. As in Eng. in phrs.: (1) eaten (I.Sc. gleppid) and spued (-leukin, -like), sickly in appearance, pasty-faced, woebegone (I. and n.Sc., Ags., Per. Kcb. 1971). See Eat, II. 2.(1); (2) spuin-fou, replete, esp. with drink, to the point of vomiting (ne.Sc., Ags., Kcb. 1971); (3) spewmagruel, wishy-washy, unpalatable food, specif. a ploughmen's nickname for thin milk puddings or rice soup (Bnff., Abd. 1921). Cf. Spout, II. 2.(1); (4) spew-sick, = (2); (5) spewsome, ugly, unpleasant, loathsome, enough to make one sick (Kcb. 1971).(1) Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 25:
It's an eaten and a spewed-like thing.(2) Edb. 1727 A. Pennecuik Poems (1750) 10:
A' spewing fou.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 122:
Some o' them hid been spuin' fou, fernyear, an' made an' awfu' chaumer.(4) Abd. 1904 W. A. G. Farquhar Fyvie Lintie 76:
Satan, delighted wi' the sight O' a' his fouk sae spew-sick.(6) Sc. 1894 Stevenson Vailima Letters (1917) 332:
There's another thing in Seeley called some spewsome name, I cannot recall it.
2. Fig. usages: (1) of a cooking pot: to boil over; (2) of a pudding: to burst, split open (Sh., Abd. 1971); (3) of corn, with oot: to form ears; (4) of water, liquids, smoke, etc.: to flow, pour, run in a copious stream, billow out. Freq. with out, owre. Gen.Sc.(1) Abd. 1892 Innes Review (Autumn 1956) 89:
The pot wasna allowed to boil owre fast or else it wad spew.(2) Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 98:
Den in da pot wi' careful haand, Shü plumps dem ane by ane in; An no ta lit dem spleet or spue, Fast ower she pricks a pin in.(3) Abd. 1902 Weekly Free Press (26 July):
Barley's spewin' oot, bit aits are gey far back.(4) Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision iii.:
The spewing reek . . . that filled . . . The auld, clay biggin.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Tales 37:
The spate spew'd owre ilk burn and sleugh.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 46:
The curling reek spew'd out frae mony a lum.Abd. 1867 A. Allardyce Goodwife 5:
It aye comes spewin to the door, We've sic a weary lum.
II. n. 1. As in Eng. Sc. fig. usages: (1) (a puff of) smoke (Sh., Ags. 1971), phs. partly altered from Pew, n., 2.; (2) an ugly or disgusting sight (Sh. 1971).(1) Ayr. 1880 J. Tannock Poems 29:
While doon comes aye the tither spue.Ayr.4 1928:
A wee spue o' reek.(2) Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Hit's a spju to be seen.
2. A retch, a vomiting motion Gen.Sc.; fig. a belch (of smoke).Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 155:
Till, bush! — he gae a desperate spue.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 31:
The brimstane reek wi' an upward spew Swirled roon' baith the Deil an' the Deevilock.
