† speldn.
Obsolete.
1. A flake or particle of fire; a spark. Also with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > fire-spark
sparkc725
iselc1000
speldc1050
firebrandc1275
sprankc1300
sparklec1330
funka1393
sparklinga1529
fanglea1657
flanker1840
c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 529 Tedasque, and biernende speld.
c1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses 161/2 In fauillam, on spelde.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 210 Wrechche gostes..he seiȝ Fleo op and doun al brenninde, ase speldene doth of fuyre.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 474 Ake ofte gret fuyr and eke stuyrne wext of a luytel spielde.
c1440 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) II. 819 (note) And þer amydde he cast A litil spelde of fuyre and abowte þe speld fast He by wounde þys tender.
2. A chip or splinter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a fragment > splinter
shiverc1275
spillc1300
spelda1375
splint1398
splinter1398
slicea1400
splinderc1440
spilderc1475
spelder1530
spell1545
splitter1546
spleter1548
spilt1577
shivering1589
skilfer1598
spelcha1605
slifter1606
spilter?1646
slappet1768
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3855 So spakli here speres al on speldes went.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3603 Þe kniȝt spere in speldes alto-schiuered.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
speldv.
Scottish.
1. transitive. To lay flat or extended; to spread out; to split open. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open
abredeeOE
bredeOE
stretcha1000
to-spreada1000
openOE
spreadc1175
displayc1320
to let outc1380
to open outc1384
outspreada1400
spald?a1400
splayc1402
expand?a1475
to lay along1483
speld?a1500
skail1513
to set abroad1526
to lay abroad1530
flarec1550
bespread1557
to set out1573
dispread1590
explaina1600
expanse1600
dispack1605
splat1615
dispand1656
extend1676
flat1709
spelder1710
spreadeagle1829
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (transitive)] > and spread open
speld?a1500
spelder1710
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Preaching of Swallow l. 1810 in Poems (1981) 70 Heirefter ȝe sall find als sour as sweit, Quhen ȝe ar speldit on ȝone carlis speit.
a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 294 in Poems (1981) 142 Besyde hym on the bent, He saw speldit a wonder wofull wicht, Nailit full fast.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. vii. 19 All flat [he] hym speldit on the dwn sand, In the deid thrawis.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xi. 68 He..band þis Mecius speldit betuix þe twa cheriottis.
1710 T. Ruddiman in G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneis (new ed.) Gloss. (at cited word) [We] say, ‘He spelded himself on the ice’; and ‘a spelded herring’, and ‘speldings’, &c.
1866 T. Edmondston Etymol. Gloss. Shetland & Orkney Dial. 114 Speld, to split up, to lay open.
2. To split or crack. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > crack, split, or fissure
to-slita1250
rivea1400
slatterc1400
chapc1460
chip1508
gaig1584
spleet1585
split1595
chink1599
chawn1602
slent1605
slat1607
sliver1608
speld1616
crevice1624
checka1642
chicka1642
crack1664
splice1664
sleave-
1616 Aberdeen Burgh Reg. (1848) II. 346 The back dyick of the colledge yard..is creuisched and speldit at the wast neuck thairof, and lick[l]ie to faill.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.c1050
v.?a1500