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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spak(e, Spaik, n. Also: spoak(e, spe(e)ke. [Early and north. ME spake (a1225), spaik (1582), ME and e.m.E. spoke (1275), spoak(e (1577), spek(e (1366), speak (1617-18), OE spáca, MDu. spake, speke, MLG spēke.]

1. One of the spokes of a wheel; also fig., a representation of a spoke (of a wheel), also attrib.(a) a1400 Leg. S. l 853.
Foure quhelis … Of the quhilkis … all the spakis … Sall be fichit with hukis sere 1513 Doug. vi ix 185.
Quhat diuers kyndis of torment ȝondir [sc. in hell] thoil thai, … sum weltris a gret stane vp the bra, … On quhelis spakis speldyt otheris hyngis 1515–16 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 298.
[Stephen Clerk, to lead 24] lie spaikis [for carts] 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 210.
To be spakis to the gun quhelis thre dosane ½ dosane of schort treis 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII 212.
viij dosane of quarter cliftis to be spakis to the gun quhelis 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 216.
j^c aykin sperris to be spakis to the cannoun quhelis 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics ii 444.
Radios, spaikis 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII 350.
Certane filleis spaikis & ewis to be tua pair of quheillis reddie wrocht to put togidder 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 375.
For leiding of i^m spaikis that come out of Monteyth woode for the cannon quheills(b) 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 19.
To Mr. Johne Archbald for i^m spekis for cannon quheilis(c) c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 58.
Strong links of love in goodly chaines doe tether, The hearts of husbands and of wives together As in a wheele … The spoakes … still neerer … gather, Till in the nave their points hard meete togetherfig. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 124.
The cyphris … vpon t[h]e s[p]akis of the quheill … betwix the nawe and the ryne … dois signifye the numberis of ewerie proporcion … vpone the vter part of ewerry spaikattrib. 1703 Old Ross-shire I 129.
Ane pair great speeke wheills all shod with iron with two pair lesser speeke wheills

b. fig. Dependent, minion. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1139.
I dreid ȝe spaiks of Spritualitie Sall rew that ever I came in this cuntrie

c. An arm of a windmill. Only in fig. context. c1590 Fowler II 174/15.
The third of that Christian armie, was a windemil, with her spoakes vnmouing

2. A bar or rod of wood; a stake or pole; ? also a splinter.Also wyndespakis (Wyndas n.), wynding spakis (Wyndyng vbl. n.¹) and Wyndspakis n. pl., q.v. for further examples. Cf. Handspake n. 1466 Acts II 87/1.
At na merchandis gudis be revin nor spilt with vnresonable stollin as with spakis 1496 Treas. Acc. I 289.
To cary a laid of spakis … to mak pailȝoune pynnys 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 341.
Coft half ane dosone firrin sparrs to be spaks to hald up the work 1617 Chapel Royal cxxvii.
The spakes that raises the bellowes [sc. of the organ] had bene somewhat vnskilfullie vsed be ignorant people 1626 Brechin Test. IV 226b.
Certane spaikis & trie naillis 1650 Arbroath Old Doc. 6/2.
Ilk hundreth dealles and tries, slings, or spaikes … so many for the hundred timber 1657 Dunferm. Kirk S. 50.
The compt for the repairing of the wark in hinging an couping the bells … being revised thar rests … 4 s. sterline to be given to Robert Bonar wrycht for turning the spaik of the bells — 1622-6 Bisset II 238/13.
Næ spaikis of woodis salbe athir gevin or ressaved for to mend schipis, or bigging of schipis, albeit the samin be gevin be him quha causis mak or mend the samyn

b. One of a set of poles used for carrying a coffin. 1626 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 156.
The Assys finds James & William Fergis to have comittit ane great wrang … in refusing to give the spaiks that buir the corps to the said Adam c1650 Spalding I 74.
The Marques sone callit Adam wes at his heid, the Erll of Morry on the right spaik, the Erll of Seafort on the left spaik, the Erll of Sudderland on the thrid spaik, and Schir Robert Gordoun on the fourt spaik

c. fig. Get a spaik in (one's) wheel, have one's intentions or actions thwarted or obstructed. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 37.
Cou'd Whiggs got sike a spaik in wheel, Their cause had not sae seun tane reel