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.
†SPURE, n. Also sp(j)orr (Jak.). A strip of strong cloth laid in the inside of a skin- or rope-slipper to act as a sole (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), also in comb. spure-clout, spurklut, sporr(i)-klut, id. (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.). Dim. spurry, a footless or soleless stocking, freq. with an extended loop to fix over the big toe and keep the stocking from riding up (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Spret, v., 3. [Sh. sp(j)ør, Ork. spʌrɪ]
[Norw. dial. spjør, O.N. spjǫrr, a strip of cloth, a rag, a kind of leg-band or puttee.]
