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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Spend, v.¹ Also: spende, speind. P.t. and p.p. also spent, spend. [ME and e.m.E. spend (Cursor M.), spende (Chaucer), p.t. and p.p. spent (c1175), spende (a1225), spended (Cursor M.), OE *spendan (spendung, forspendan), MLG, MDu. spenden, L. expendere; cf. Dispend v.]Used in various senses in collocation with other verbs such as waist, pay, bestow, etc. and in contrast with spare.

1. tr. To pay out, disburse, expend (money, also (chiefly in earlier use) goods or property) (to, on a person or persons, in(to), (up)on a purpose, in, on something purchased). Also const. of what is spent.(1) pres. 1456 Hay II 79/20.
A prince suld spend his gudis wisely ande prudently … and largely bathe geve and spend as efferis till his estate a1500 Henr. Praise of Age 28.
This day a king, to morne na gude [Makc. na thing] to spend a1500 Seven S. 833.
The tane was … Aye sparand to spend maire or les The tother wald spend to largely c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 185/11.
Mak gude cheir of it that God thé sendis, For warldis wrak but weilfar nocht avalis; No thing is thine sauf onlie that thow spendis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 188/9. 1535 Stewart 36695.
Tha mak greit laubour … To mak ws riche, and syne we mak thame puir … We ar vnworthie thair maisteris to be, It that tha wyn at our plesour to spend c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 94a/7.
Sum man to the court pretendis And that his freindis wan he spendis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3082.
I wist ane man in persewing ane kow, Or he had done he spendit half ane bow 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4488.
Ane vthir fule cumis and brekis the lokkis, And spendis that vthir fulis hes spaird 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 68.
Ye … daly spendys and waistis the Kyng of Francys monye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3162.
Se thay thair geir spend with measour Be not ouir liberall a1568 Flemyng in Bann. MS 161a/82.
Ȝe neigartis than example tak And leir to spend ȝour awin a1570-86 Maitl. F. 341/3.
He that hes no will to wirk … And hes no landis for to spend a1578 Pitsc. I 413/11.
Douglas Quhilk so royallie in this regioun did ring Spendand the kingis caswaleteis Of wardis, mariage and benefeisp.t. c1420 Wynt. vi 302.
He spendit mare, than he couth wyn 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 123.
The custumaris to gyf John Donal, clark, xx^ti s. and Tom Gladou x s. … that thai spendit at the cwnt 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 148.
The fermes and proffittis of the yeire … come to the use and proffit of the sade Jonet and that scho spendit and hir servandis … extending til j^c merkisp.p. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 164.
I spendyt hafe Nere al the tresoure, that thu me gafe 1489 Treas. Acc. I 119.
To the massonis … at thai had spendyt mayre na thai gat before viij li. iiij s. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 227.
Littill thing weill spendit may incres To he honour wirschep and gritt riches As did thir two pennyis spendit weill Vpoun the pig and the pure damesell c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxix 13.
I tuik … Ane soume of money for to wair I cannocht tell ȝow how it is spendit Bot … I waitt that it is endit 1567 G. Ball. 97.
The lytill of the iust is mair commendit, Sa that it be weill win and better spendit Than is the greit ryches of wickit men 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 486.
The haill advantage [sc. of the lands] with the maillis … and vtheris detfull dewiteis to be spendit in the Langholme a1595 Descr. Isles 430.
The customes of this ile [sc. Uist] are spendit [pr. splendit] and payit at the landslordis cumming to the ile to his cudicht 1632 Sutherland Bk. II 154.
I hawe … spent my meinis and my tyme iyedillie 1634 St. A. Baxter Bks. 99.
That the fridome money to be payit be that enterand frieman sould be put in the craftis common boxes … and that the samyn in na tyme therefter sould be evill spent or waistit [etc.] 1636–7 Aberd. B. Acc. in Misc. Spald. C. V 151.
Spent in Elspet Cullanes, the day of the ryding of the tounes land merches 1662 Lamont Diary 152.
He had ryddine away with his measter Sir Johne Lesly of Newton in Fiffe, his horse, and 700 markes … of his money, and spent the same idelly a1686 Turner Mem. 120.
A little money … which was all well neere spent before we got out of Amsterdameproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 202.
Bonie silver is soon spendit a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 567.
Little good is soon spendit(2) pres. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 144.
Thane taucht he hyme the tresowre … & bad he suld it halely spend To powre folk, thame til amend c1420 Ratis R. 988.
Spend nocht thi gud all in ill c1490 Irland Asl. MS 72/14.
I haue synnit in glutony etand & drinkand … spendand ourmekle thairapon oft tymes without necessite c1490 Irland Asl. MS 75/7.
Nocht spendand the gud that God has lent me in helpe … of the pure … bot in my lust 1562-3 Winȝet I 6/11.
Gaif the princes of the erth ȝow ȝeirly rentis … to the end that euery ane of ȝow mot spend the samyn vpon his dame Dalida and bastard browis? a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 40.
The doaris … that rather wald spend thair geir and gudis vpon sic visible and commendit actis [sc. building churches] 1589 Prot. Bk. T. Lindsay 212.
All maner of … expensis that the said John … salhappin to spend and depurs vpoun the said half burrowlandp.p. 1490 Treas. Acc. I 131.
To Adam Hepburn, Master of the Stabill, quhilk he had spendyt on the Kingis hors meyt … j^cli. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 229 (see (1) p.p. above). 1491 Acts II 227/1.
That the commoun gud of all … burrowis … be spendit in commoun and necessare thingis of the burgh 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 58.
Jhone Jhonsone … rasavit fra Alexander Scot … vii merkis of the quhilk haill comp spendit and warit in the common profeit of the town 1524 Douglas Corr. 91.
The monye ȝe gaif the qweyne that sche has spendyt it … apone my ennemys [etc.] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 212.
Thir … prelattis … Thare bastarde barnis proudely thay prouydit; The kirk geir larglye thay did on thame spende 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 4.
In fodder spendit to the forsaid hors meit and littarring [etc.] … ix s. iiii d. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2808.
This … knicht … That had spendit his rent and mekill mair On idill gammes a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 429/6.
The baronis sayis that thai heff far mair spendit Wpone the lawe or thair metter wes endit Nor it wes worth a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 50/55.
To get sum geir ȝit man I haue greit cair In vanitie syn I man it outwair Woun be ane wretche and in to waistrie spent 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 257.
Ordaines Robert Dickie, thesaurer to pay to George Lauder … [£163 15 s. 10 d.] … spent be the magistrats in his house in entertaineing of some noblemen and strangers(3) a1500 Lanc. 1802.
If he, wich shal eftir thé succed, By larges spend of quhich that yhow had dreid, He [etc.] c1475 Wall. iv 96.
Syne spoilȝeid thai the harnais or thai wend, Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend a1500 K. Hart 940.
Quhen he hes spendit of that he hes now 15.. Sym & Bruder 38.
Than held thay hous as men me tellis And spendit of thair feis 1560–1 Stirling B. Rec. I 78.
The provest, baillies … hes condiscendit … in cace of inlaik of thair commoun gude, to spend of thair awin geir accordingly as tyme sall requyre

b. absol. To spend, pay out, incur expenditure. Also const. apon. c1420 Wynt. v 5072 (C).
Spende but sparynge may hir spousse c1420 Wynt. vi 298.
He spendyd sa fast … That hys gold begouth gretly to fayle 1456 Hay II 79/23 (see 1 (1) pres. above). a1500 Henr. Orph. 538.
Tantalus, Betakenis men gredy and couatouse, … To fill the bag, and newir … Apon thame self to spend, na tak thair part a1500 Bernardus 104.
It is aganys the wrechis properte To spende, thar-for he leffys in pauperte 1490 Irland Mir. III 134/25.
Thir men spendis without reule or mesour c1490 Porteous Noblenes 182/3 (Asl.).
The prothocall man spendand without mesour and provisioun waistis and distroys a1500 Colk. Sow ii 254.
Spend with wirchep and spair nocht Godis gud c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 195/46 (see 3 c below). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3164.
Spend not in prodigalitie Bot as affeiris thy facultie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3186.
He is sa greit negart, To spend hes nouther hand nor hart a1568 Bann. MS 135a/12.
Pres nocht to spend Bot gife thow think to win a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 50/51.
I luif langes and liberalitie Ȝit povertie to spend dois mak me spair 1585 Maxwall in Paisley Mag. (1828) 381.
He that spends fast, and winnes nochtproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1378.
Spend as ye may spair

c. To cause expense to a person, cost a person. 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 405.
I pray you cause send hither sum moyens, for the long delay hes spendit a gryt deall to me

2. To pass, occupy or use ((a period of) time, one's life, etc.) in (on) an occupation, etc., at or in a place or with a person; also const. adverb.(1) ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 135.
Think on the ded: … Than man thou … gif compt … how thou hes spendit thi tyme and the riches that God hes lent thé 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10747.
Our emprice hes sufferit deid and gane … we will let hir alane With hir harlot, quhais dayis thay haue ill spendit a1568 Bann. MS I p. 24/6.
Lyfe … Quhilk quha sa spendis vertewsly and well Sall eftir it [sc. life] ay in glory and ioyis dwell 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 538.
The hour sa spendit, thay ar clene, Euin as the preistis, thair Matynis said 1600-1610 Melvill 81.
He … spendit all his time in the warres with grait honour 1632 Sutherland Bk. II 154 (see 1 (1) p.p. above). 1633 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 89.
Your winter night is near spent; it is near-hand the dawning 1643 Baillie II 51.
The next three sessions … were spent on particulars, or perfyting the particulars before mentioned c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 175.
Montrose desyred that Huntly would adwance to Invernesse that they might togither blooke vp that towne, for what they ware now doeing was but to spend the time idly(2) a1400 Leg. S. ii 59.
Paule … all the lawe [of the day] spendyt but were In fude, in slepe and in prayer c1420 Wynt. vi 735.
Hys tyme in devotyoune Wes spendyd [C., W. spendit] and in halynes a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 298 (Asl.).
Gif evir thow mony knewe Spendand thair ȝouth in synnis criminale c1490 Irland Asl. MS 5/16.
It is hard and difficill to do and seld cummis in thi eild quhen all the ȝouthhed is spended in syn 1513 Doug. vi ix 6.
Thai … carpyt to and fra … And thai … on sik wys mycht haue spent The tyme compleyt was for thar iourne grant 1513 Doug. ix vi 64.
The lykly ȝong child … That all the fornycht in ryot and in play Had spendyt 1560 Bk. Disc. 212.
To the artis … and to the Greik toung, foure yeiris; and the rest till the aige of twenty-foure yearis to be spent in that studye whairin the learnar wald proffit the churche 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2500.
Sen first time I thé kend, All thy lifetime in lownrie thow hes spend 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 33.
The lytill space of rest … thay spend in devysing of generall inquietnes a1578 Pitsc. I 144/8.
Ȝe will nocht … tyne the great tyme and laubor quhilk … ȝe haue spendit and bestowit thair wpoun 1596 Dalr. I 159/32.
Corbred … spendet the rest of his lyfe in pleisand peice, quyetnes, and rest 1631 Laing MSS 189.
Most of them being ordinar lords must spend the whole forenoone in the session — 1533 Boece 299b.
The residew of somer was spendit be iuperteis of Saxouns, brouking Northumbirland and Britouns occupying the boundis and strenthis of Ȝork(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxix 35.
Remember thow hes compt to mak Off all thi tyme thow spendit heir 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 161.
In Venus covrt, sen born tharto I am, My tyme weil sal I spend 1533 Boece 258b.
Constantine … spendit the remanent nycht at the kingis chalmer according to funeral likis of princis 1600-1610 Melvill 39.
He spendit a yeir or twa in Montrose, … heiring a France man … teache the Greik grammer(4) 1622 Pope's New-Year Gift.
Adulterie is their delight, With hoores the tyme to spende

b. Of an action: To use or take up (time). c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 175.
As for Inverness, it [sc. blockading the town] would assuredly spend too much tyme

c. transf. To take up (space, part of a book) in some fashion. 1588 King Cat. 204b.
The first part of the buuk is spended in declaration of maters quhilk ar referred to sapience

d. intr. Of a period of time: To pass. 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 246.
Before the palace all the cowrt attends The queen's aryvall, whil the morning spends

3. tr. To use or employ (a part of one's body, one's faculties, abilities, attributes, etc.); to expend (one's efforts, etc.) (in a particular action). Also const. of what is spent. c1420 Ratis R. 237.
Men may with thar handis deid Wyne gret riches [etc.] … Quhen thai dispend thai instrumentis … in wys ententis; And gif thai spend thaim in foly, The contrare fallis commonly c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 64.
At hys cownsalle Off det I spendyt my trawalle 1456 Hay II 49/28.
He war nocht our narow na nedy … nocht to spare his gude and spend his honour a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 110.
For of my pane thow maid it play, And all in vane I spend a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 495 (Asl.).
Thai dreid nocht God nor thar dampnacoun … Thar wit thar strenth thai spend in perdicioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1249 (Asl.).
Trow we the prophettis spendit thair speche in sport? c1490 Irland Asl. MS 67/5.
I suld haue spendit my sicht in Goddis service c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 274.
Thou lytill quair … I knaw quhat thou of rethorike hes spent a1568 Bann. MS 217a/20.
I spair to speik for spilling of my taill Than I my speiking spendit hes in vane 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
Quhen thai saw thair counsall wes not authorisit in geving impunitie to disordour thay spendit it in putting doun of him that wald haif put all in gude ordour a1578 Pitsc. I 144/8 (see 2 (2) above).

b. To make use of (something) as needed.In the Wall. quot. stuff may refer to provisions or ammunition, etc. and would therefore belong in one of the subdivisions of 4 below. c1475 Wall. iii 248.
Baith stuff and hors that was of gret awaille, To freyndis about preualye thai send, The ramanand full glaidlye thar thai spend 1574 Treas. Acc. XII 383.
To Thomas Kellis in Linlythgow for certane ballis spendit in the catchepule of Linlythgow

c. absol. To use one's sexuality to influence someone.For the other sense of the double meaning intended here see 1 b above. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 195/46.
Gif ȝe haif pleid … To mak remeid Send in ȝour steid Ȝour ladeis grathit up gay … Suppois thay spend It is unkend, Thair geir is nocht the les

d. Of a man: To use (his body) upoun (a woman) to obtain sexual pleasure. a1578 Pitsc. I 409/14.
He might tak his plesour … of quhat gentillwoman he pleissit … and sa to spend his body wpoun thame as he pleissit

4. To consume or use (a commodity). a. Food or drink; also const. of (on) what is (to be) consumed. Also with non-personal subject. b. Paper, fuel, candles, etc.a. (1) 1483 Acta Aud. *123/1.
Gif ony of the said wyne be drunkin out or spendit be the said Oliuer [etc.] 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 384.
The sade David allegit that he spendit the sade victale and cornis the tyme that he had the keping of the house and castell 1633 Aberd. B. Rec. III 61.
Twa punsheounes of wyne with the spycerie in great to be brocht and spent thairat 1665 Edinb. B. Rec. X 2.
Aquavitae … brewed vented and spent within the bounds of Edinbrugh(b) 1576 Orkney Oppress. 71.
Thai come to his hous … and placit his servandis and suddartis thairin … to the number of xv or xvi suddartis and boyis, quha remanit … at the said hous … be the space of nyne or ten dayis; and … speindit and waistit his meit, drink [etc.](2) a1500 Rauf C. 202.
And ȝit aneuch sall I haue for me and ane gest; Thairfoir sic as thow seis spend on, and not spair c1475 Wall. ix 1222.
Thai lugyt thar till viij dayis was at end; Off meit and drynk thai had inewch to spend a1500 Sir Eger 1956.
An hundred pound he may well spend Of pennie meale, each year(3) 1512 Facs. Nat. MSS III x.
Friday … The panitre spendit xxxvj breid and restis xxxiiij breid the seller spendit ix gallonis aill and restis v gallonis ij quartis 1512 Facs. Nat. MSS III x.
Setterday … The panitre spendit xxxiiij breid and eque … spendit v gallonis ij quartis aill and eque … coft iiij gallonis aill pryce v s. iiij d. and spendit 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 1 Nov.
Pantrie, spenditt of breid 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 245.
It is incredible how any house could spend this store and provision yearlyb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 13.
I … haue … in my tyme more ink and paper spent To lyte effect c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 133/9.
For rekkyning of my rentis … Ȝe neid not … paper for to spend nor ink 1559–60 Edinb. Old Acc. I 306.
To Thomas Hall, javelour, for coll and candill spentit be him … iij li. x s. 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 61.
For v laid colis … spendit in the counsalhous about Lukissmes 1585 Elphinstone Mun. 23.
Ane brokin barrell of … pudir quhairof the ane half is spendit 1591–2 Edinb. B. Rec. V 342.
I payit for 30 torchis furnist the nycht of the fray be my Lord Bothwell in the abay, alsweill send to the abay as spent in the toune 1602 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 553.
Peittis and coillis spendit in the College upone the kitching and commoun ingill 1695 Arch. Scot. I 558.
You are to advert … that the candle be not extravagantly spent

c. absol. ? To eat freely. a1500 Seven S. 2309.
Syne to burde him fessynnit he With a burges of that cite Thar spendit he and was wele lufit

5. To make use of (raw materials) (in, etc. some fashion). 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxv.
The said irne was takin to our soverane lordis use of his charge and spendit under his office 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 379.
For lyme, sand, caberis, … spendit on byggyng of the brewhous 1530 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 29.
To the sawaris for xi draucht aikkin sparris that wes enterit for the ruf to the tour and now spendit in warplaitis 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 64.
For half ane hunder drauchtis of wall stanis of all costis wynnyng and doun putting price viii s. and spendit to the inner part of the roundis quhilkis rises abone the allering 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 95.
Tymmer … to the furnysing of the new tour and werk of Halyrudhous … spendit be the wrychtis within the said werk at sindry tymes 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 288, etc.
Spendit for the quenis grace coronatioun … xxiiii pece aikin tymmer for skaffalting [etc.]

6. passive. Of a supply or stock of something: To be used up or exhausted.Some examples may belong in sense 4 above. 1507 Treas. Acc. III 258.
xiiij elne j quartar quhit dames … to tua half cotis to Maister William Ogilvy and Alexander Elphinstoun to be squeris to the blak lady and sa all that quhit dames spendit 1515 Treas. Acc. V 17.
To the said James for expensis of breid maid be him … because thair briscat breid was spendit befor the said moneth 1533 Boece 154.
The archearis of the confederatis, eftir thare arrowis spendit, faucht with schort swerdis 1570 Leslie 184.
[They] entered in skarmushing, first with bowis and arrous … quhill thair hoill chaftis was spendit … and shortlie thay joynit in battell with suordis 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 329.
The … cause of our arriuall here, was in regard of our fresh water that was spent 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 343.
The printed tables of the shoir dewties are all spent and … there most be a considerable number … reprinted 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 61.
Some swearing that their stocks were spent, Strove to get down their annual rent: Detaining, Sir, by that extortion, The fatherless and widows portion

7. To wear out (equipment) through use. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 704.
For to ride I laik abuilyement My riding geir is all to gane and spent

b. To allow (a building) to fall into ruin. 1622-6 Bisset II 189/32.
Allace for pitie that sa notable … buildingis … suld have bene sa raschelie … demolisched distroyed and … sa sacralegiouslie delapidate vaisted and spended

c. p.p. Of a person or his spirit: Without further resources, exhausted. 1652 Lamont Diary 48.
(Mr. Wood had the far best of both dayes, [sc. of argument] bot Browne wold not be conuinced), so at lenth Mr. Wood confest he was spent 1653 Binning Wks. 579.
What is there in a soul under the fear of wrath, that is not totally disabled by that heavy pressure for any willing or cheerful obedience? The mystery of the spirit is spent that way, the courage of the soul is defeated

8. To suffer the loss of (one's life); to lose (a person) through death. a1500 Sir Eger 1756.
It is great loss that he was sent, Upon Gray-Steel for to be spent 1490 Irland Mir. I 81/15.
Ȝit mare haboundanly all His blud and lif He spendit for to wyn thi luf 1516 Acts XII 37/2.
For conservacioun of quhais [sc. the king's] persoun we ar determit to spend oure livis incontrare all thame that wald attempt aganis his hienes estate & realme 1570 Sat. P. xxi 104.
Till that misdeid [sc. the murder of the Regent] be mendit, Thair is na mendis … till thay be spendit

b. To shed (blood or tears).1490 Irland Mir. I 81/15 (see a above). c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 15b.
They all on ther kneis in most humble form spending teares in great abundance

9. Of God: To bestow (something) (up)on (someone). c1420 Ratis R. 600.
The haly gaist … settis gud hop first in thocht Haldis hir vp and falȝeis nocht … And levis hir grace vpone to spend Sa that gud hop … Has gret fauore help & grace a1568 Bann. MS I p. 18/12.
Thow … Grantar and gevar of all grace … That we may speid spend on ws space To get of our gilt forgifnes

10. reflex. Of water: To distribute or disperse (itself). 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 288.
Efter the inbringing of the water to the citie … within the samyn [sc. lead pipes] the water does now run and spend itself to the full satisfaction of the … inhabitants