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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPELDER, v., n. Also spilder; speulter (Ork.). [′spɛldər]

I. v. 1. tr. To spread or pull open or apart; to split a fish, etc. (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1942 Zai.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Ork., em.Sc.(a), Bwk., Rxb. 1971). Also fig. Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. c.1775 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 60:
Ye speldert the gowdspink but ye'se no spelder me.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 135:
O how can I my conscience spelder!Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch vii.:
Splitting the hills as ye would spelder a haddy.Edb. 1865 M. Barr Poems 134:
To birsle like a spelder'd haddie On brimstone flame.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 20:
A've taen a notion o a speldert herreen ti ma tei.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
When the bottom of a sheaf is pulled apart in order to plant it down on the top of a ‘skroo', the ‘tail' of the sheaf is speldered.

Hence speldrin, -en, -ain, -on, a fish, usually haddock or whiting, split open and dried (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also transf. of a long, thin person.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch x.:
Tearing a speldrin wi' his teeth.Ags. 1848 Feast Liter. Crumbs (1891) 10:
On Bervies, or on “speldrens” we must dine.Sc. 1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminiscences 122:
'Ael a [yellow] Findram Speldrains.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 88:
Basketfu's of speldrins, rizzard haddies, and ither fish.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders xlvi.:
An ill speldron o' a loon.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses xiii.:
Deacon Powrie, a gaunt ‘speldron' of a man of threescore.Gsw. 1917 H. Foulis Jimmy Swan 38:
Speldrins for every customer.Sc. 1929 F. M. McNeill Sc. Kitchen 20:
Speldrins: small haddocks or whitings split, salted, and rock-dried; to be distinguished from finnans, or smoked haddocks.

2. tr. To spread butter on bread having softened it in the mouth first.Ork. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 41:
A hantle speultered the butter, bit I niver saa onyane deuan id mesel.

3. refl. To wrench oneself by falling with the legs apart, pull one's muscles by so doing (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Rxb. 1971).Rnf. 1838 Whistle-Binkie II. 79:
When I took langer steps than the length o' my limbs would allow, I aye spelder'd mysel' and cam' down to my knees.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 288:
He spelder'd hissel' in his hurry.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 20:
Ee'll gang an spelder eersul.

4. intr. To spread or extend onself by throwing or stretching out one's limbs; to thrash about; to toss the legs awkwardly in running (Sc. 1825 Jam.); to sprawl (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1971). Also fig. Ppl.adj. speldered, stretched out in this manner (Per., Peb. 1950).Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 67:
The Doxies turn up their Keels and spelder.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 129:
Speldring with legs and arms to keep his ballance.Gsw. 1841 Whistle-Binkie III. 6:
The dog's speldert on the floor.Rnf. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 85:
Nocht ken ye o' weet or mire, Spilder'd oot afore the fire.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.:
Hingin' by a line an' speldering on the craig face.em.Sc. 1898 H. Rogers Meggotsbrae 126:
Spelderin' aboot like a leevin' fluke i' Luckie McLeish's creel.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 52:
Warld wi'oot end In the spelderin' trees.w.Sc. 1934 T. Smellie Tea-Pairty 46:
Sittin' wi his haunds in his poakits an' his feet speldert oot.m.Sc. 1996 Margaret McSeveney in Kathleen Jamie and James McGonigal New Writing Scotland 14: Full Strength Angels 114:
Allison an May were spelderd oan the grun, their mithers littin them oot o the hoose fur an oor afore it wis time tae mak the tea.

5. tr. To bespatter with mud; intr. to work in a dirty slovenly manner. This usage is due to a misconception, poss. of Stevenson Weir of Hermiston i., “speldering in the glaur.”m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 30:
And my jaicket a' speldered wi' mire.Sc. 1924 J. Innes Till a' the Seas xxxv.:
Barrin' an orra man to milk the kye and muck the byre, Rob spelders awa' his lane.

II. n. 1. A fall on the back in which the body is spread out (Cld. 1880 Jam.).

¶2. A split and dried fish, usually haddock or whiting. Cf. I. 1.Sc. 1922 J. P. Macgillivray Bog-Myrtle 60:
I'm no dry as a spelder.