Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BYSPEL, BYSPEEL, Byspale, n., adv., adj. Given in N.E.D. as obs. or dial. in Eng. [′bɑɪspɛl, -spil]

1. n.

(1) A person or thing of rare or wonderful qualities; often used ironically. Given by Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) as obs. in form byspale and aa obsol. in form byspeel.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 72:
Set ear til the wame or it hear Scotland move
aince mair, the byspale o history, the bairn again -
miraculous birth e'en alow bitter starn.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
“He's just a byspale,” he is a singular character; “He's nae byspel mair than me,” he is no better than I am.

(2) “An illegitimate child” (Ib.).

2. adv. Extraordinary, very.Ib.:
Byspel weel, very well, exceedingly well.

3. adj. Wonderful.Per. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 37:
And saw a man wha's twa e'en burn'd Wi' byspale glamer like he sklent On routhie years time yet maun tent.