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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPANK, v.¹, n.¹ Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. intr. (1) To move nimbly and briskly on foot, horseback or in a vehicle. Gen. with advs. and preps. (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. c.1930; Uls. 1959 Traynor). Gen.Sc. With aff, awa(y), to set off briskly. Also with it.Rnf. 1801 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 24:
I saw the dragon spankin owre the fiels!Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 38:
I cockit you apo' my brow, An' spankit aff.Sc. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's W. viii.:
Miss Clara cares little for rough roads. Zounds! She can spank it over wet and dry.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin iv.:
He spankit awa through the muir like five ell o' wind.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 19:
Sae on it gaed, an' I spank'd after.Per. 1893 Harp Per. (Ford) 327:
Doon the hill spanked he.Abd. 1927 E. S. Rae Hansel Fae Hame 31:
In teckle braw, I fyles did wirk, An' spankit spry tae mart and kirk.

(2) Derivs. (i) spanker (a) a spirited, fast horse (Sc. 1825 Jam.; n.Sc., Per., Kcb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.; (b) in pl., long, thin legs (Sc. 1808 Jam.); (c) one who walks quickly with a brisk, regular stride (Ib.; n. and wm. Sc. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.; (d) an active, tall, well-made woman (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 433). Also in Eng. dial.; (e) a two-wheeled barrow (Cai. 1971); (ii) spankie, -y, adj. (a) of animals: frisky, light in their movements, nimble, active, spirited, sprightly (Sc. 1825 Jam.); (b) of persons: smart, showy, dashing (Ib.); (c) as a n., an energetic, vivacious person, one who moves briskly (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 176); a fleet horse (Sc. 1825 Jam.); (iii) spankingly, briskly. Also in Eng. dial.(i) (a) Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xxxix.:
A spanker that would lead the field.Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. xi.:
There's no ha'f a dozen o' horses . . . that wad beat my spanker for a short ride.s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin vii.:
I'm gaily set on having the colt . . . a right spanker.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xv.:
What a spanker Tam had been.(d) s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xiv.:
T'ither yin! My faith! Gavin, she's a spanker, yon —.(ii) (a) Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 45:
The spanky heifers, breathing balmy round, Egg on their fury, and their rage provoke.Rnf. 1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 218:
Yet, like a souple spankie grew, She fled frae Callum Brogach.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 160:
When I was spankie, young, and wight.Ayr. 1832 A. Aitken Poems (1873) 70:
The spanky gray-houn' race.(b) Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 75:
Up cam' twa spanky countra lairds Upo' their fillies mounted.(iii) Wgt. 1803 R. Couper Tourifications II. 16:
A country lad, mounted on a spirited pretty galloway, came spankingly along.Sc. 1830 Fraser's Mag. II. 439:
The time put on his seven-leagued boots, and went spankingly away.

2. tr. To traverse (the countryside) at a brisk pace.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 242:
O, ance like a yaud ye spankit the bent.

II. n. A leap, bound (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Ayr. c.1930), poss. influenced by Spang; fig. an exploit, adventure.Lnk. 1877 W. Watson Poems 203:
Ta'en up wi' himsel' an' his spanks, in a frolic.