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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1513
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Spaying, vbl. n. Also: spayng. [Spay v.] Prophesying, prophecy. Also attrib. — a1500 Henr. Orph. 584.
Thow ma no mair offend to God of micht Na with thi spaying reif fra him his richt a1500 Henr. Orph. 588.
Wichcraft, spaying, and sorsery, and superstitioun of astrology —attrib. 1513 Doug. i vi 148.
I schaw thé for certane Thy ferys ar salf, … Les than my parentis taucht me spaying craft fals 1513 Doug. x iv 32.
Asylas … Of euery spayng craft that knew the cuyr — 1513 Doug. ix i 52.
Eftir thar spayng cerymonys diuynal, Onto the flude onon furth steppis he
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"Spaying vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spaying>
