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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.

Spik(e, Spe(c)k, n.¹ Also: spyek, spei(c)k, spe(i)tt, (speek). [ME and e.m.E. spik (1393) an ear of grain, spyke (1539) French lavender, spike (1540) spikenard, spick (1558) lavender, OF espig, espic, spic (late 11th c., c1200, 1256 in Larousse), MDu. spike, spijc, L. spīca ear of corn, plant-spike, or, perhaps in some cases merely shortened f. Spikenard(e n.]The -tt forms may be due to a misreading of the MS.

a. Lavender. b. = Spikenard(e n.It is usu. not possible to distinguish the senses. 1597 Bk. Rates 11.]
[Spica celtica(1) 1328 Exch. R. I 119.
Empciones pro nupciis … Et in ij libris de spikis, viij libris coloris pro cibis [etc.] 1329 Exch. R. I 235 marg.
Speik, etc. 1329 Exch. R. I 235.
ij libris de spyek, viij libris coloris pro cibis, lxx libris cimini 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI 366.
Thrie pund wecht of spett vlie petir and vlie tarpantyne at xxiiij s. the pund 1623 Edinb. Test. LI 321.
xj vnce and and halff of speitt at iiij s. the vnce wecht(2) 1575 Edinb. Test. III 387b.
viij vnce of olie spett price xxiiij s. 1585 Edinb. Test. XIV 253b.
Vlie spek price of the pund xxvj s. viij d. 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 312.
Oyllie speck 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI 350b.
Ane pund … of oyle petir and oile speck 1630 Soc. Ant. LVI 50.
He sould cure the said Thomas of his … seiknes be taking of certane ulie spek cammomyle and heart creisch mixt and meltit togidder and to take ane wolline claith dippit therin and to rub him therwith 1649 Crim. Trials III 599.
The devill … said to hir, that he had goode salves (and namelie oylispek) whairwith he wold cure hir dochtir(3) 1630 Spottiswoode Misc. II 62.
Oyl of speek 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp MS 31.
For oyll of speick gottine be Ralphe £1 12 s. 1692 Foulis Acc. Bk. 144.
To John Carss … to buy oyl of speck, and camomyle to the meikle black horse