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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.

Spedie, Speidie, adj. Also: speidd-, spead-, speed-, spid- and -y(e, spidde, spitie. [ME and e.m.E. spedy (Wyclif), speedie (1551), speedy (1590); Sped(e n.]Also as a personal name. 1426 Exch. R. IV 414.
Johanni Spedy, aurifabro regis 1431 Exch. R. IV 544.
Johannis Spedy, servientis regis

l. a. Of persons or animals: Able to move with speed from one place to another; moving quickly; swift. Also const. on (of) fut, feit.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 591.
He bad fif of his cumpany That … on fut spediast ware … Ryn eftir hym 1513 Doug. i vi 22.
Harpalica, Hastand the hors hir fadir to reskew, Spedyar [Sm., Ruddim. Spediar] than Hebrun, the swyft flude, dyd persew 1513 Doug. ix ix 69.
Lycus spedyar [Ruddim. spediar] far on fut than he 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4007 (B).
Adew, my brethir commoun theivis, … Speidy of feit and slicht of handis [Ch. Speidie of fut and wicht of hands] a1578 Pitsc. II 24/29.
Gif thow be ane hair thow sould be speidie 1596 Dalr. I 166/16.
The speidier that he war, and the suner he culde fal vpon thame(2) 1533 Boece 287b.
Copa … gat ane spedy coursoure and evadit the handis of inemyis gif any wald persewe 1533 Bell. Livy I 64/22. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 47.
He being upoun a fyne spedie hors, overran thame all a1578 Pitsc. I 324/16.
To gar wairne all the haill tennentis … that had spediest dogis that they wald come to Falkland wode … for he was determinat that he wald slay ane fatt bukeproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 188.
A slaw hound maks a speidie hair

b. Of a thing: Moving or propelled quickly from one place to another. 1513 Doug. x viii 5.
Turnus as in hys spedy char The myd rowtis went sloppand heir and thar 1587 Carmichael Etym. 19.
Plumbum ales, a speidie bullet

c. Of a journey, travel, etc.: Characterised by speed of motion or progress (from one place to another). 1513 Doug. x v 124.
Crannys … fleand in the ayr With spedy fard c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. i 10.
Gif … sum tyme I haue a spedy [W. esy or spedy] way in the will of God to cum to yow c1590 Fowler I 119/44.
The sun … reseumd a swifter course far spediar more agane 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 282.
The gok, the gled, With speidie flycht richt fast thay fled 1614 Misc. Bann. C. III 210.
[They] came to Bruntiland, whair he had reddie and speidie passage a1686 Turner Mem. 45.
By a speadie march we made ourselves masters of these difficell passes, and got into a plaine countrey

2. a. Of persons: Acting with speed, quick, also, to do or in doing (something).The Wall. quot. may belong in l a above. c1475 Wall. i 230.
Wallace was spedy … The bludy knyff bar drawin in his hand, He sparyt nane that he befor him fand 15… Crawford Mun. Invent. II 180.
[Lady Innermeath complains that Lord Menmuir has not been] speedie [in her matters] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3972 (Ch.).
To hunt cattell ȝe [sc. Theft] war ay speidie [B. speidy] 15.. Sym & Bruder 52.
Scho wes spedy ay in spynning 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 25a.
Bayth fals & gredie et nunquam leill … And ewer spedie to flatter & steillproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 613.
Have lade & go lad maks ane speidy ladde

b. Of a course of action, event, goal, etc.: Characterised by speed of acting; occurring quickly; accomplished or obtained promptly or expeditiously.predic. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Heb. iv 12.
For the word of God is quick, and spedy in wirkingattrib. 1585 Acts III 413/1.
The act … maid … for the bettir and mair speiddy obteinyng payment thairof 1588 Laing MSS 75.
A spedye and happy end 1591–2 Warrender P. (SHS) II 168.
For taking straict and speadye ordour with thir lait conspiracies 1615 Crim. Trials III 277.
For the mair spedie staying and repressing of the saidis enormities 1622-6 Bisset II 148/14.
It is … necesser … to pray for there spedie repentance and amendiment 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 253.
Use your best and speidyest meanis to recall suche of your schippis as ar abroad 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 20.
For the speidier and readier exactioune of the brughes pairt thairof [sc. the sum required to pay for a minister] they have ordaynet [etc.] 1667 Dumbarton Kirk S. in Dumbarton B. Rec. App.i 8.
He supplicat the sessioune to put a spedie cloise to his process 1667 Dunblane Presb. in Butler Leighton 580.
[To] recommend his speedy plantatione … to the … bishop 1670 Inverness Rec. II 244.
Quhat salbe the speidiest and most effectuall way foir [etc.] 1679 Inverness Rec. II 281.
The bridge … lyk to ruine except ane speidie course be tacken for prewenting the ruine thereof(b) 1596 Melvill 334.
Giff spidie remeadie be nocht fund 1648 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 222.
Ther is a constant diligence usd for your spidde supplie of armis and amunition 1716 Hunter Fam. P. (SRS) 86.
A cherg … which I am afried will pruf very dengrus without spidy relif(c) c1685 Annandale Corr. 315.
Begging your spitie answer in such a strait