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.
SPLAY, v.2, n.2 Also splae (Sc. 1825 Jam.), spley.
I. v. 1. To fasten down the edges of a seam by hemming the upper, projecting edge down over the lower one (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I. and ne.Sc., Slg., Fif., Lnk., Gall. 1971); to mend a tear in cloth by sewing the edges together without adding a patch (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Combs. back-, fore-splay, to stitch a hem from back to front or from front to back.Sc. 1823 M. and M. Corbett Petticoat Tales I. 291:
Back-stitching, splaying, fause hems, and cross gores.Lnk. 1863 W. Miller Willie Winkie (1902) 60:
She can back-spley and fore-spley; can white seam and sew.
2. To smoothe flat (m.Dmf. c.1920).
II. n. The hem made by fastening down the edges of a seam with the upper projecting edge sewn down over the lower edge (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Ayr. 1971). Also in combs. Dutch splay (Ib.), splay-hem (Abd. 1949), -seam (Jam.).
[Prob. the same word as Splay, n.1, v.1, the one edge of the cloth being splayed, spread or projected beyond the other.]
