probably from Old Norse; compare Norwegian spela, spila, Swedish spjela, spjelespill2
speel in American English
(spil)
transitive verb or intransitive verb
Scot & Northern English
to climb; ascend; mount
Also: speil
Word origin
[1505–15; orig. uncert.]This word is first recorded in the period 1505–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: dome, grade, joggle, jump, terrace