Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Spred, ppl. adj. Also: spread, spaired. [e.m.E. spred (c1511), spread (1611); Spred v.] a. Stretched out, extended. b. Spred field, the place where peats were spread out to dry. Also in the later dial. c. Spreadyeard, -ground, in Kirkcudbright, a fishing-ground where stretched nets were used. (Contrasts with Draucht n. 6, cf. a above.)a. 1651 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 901.
Mair for his land that lyis neirest the place of the draucht nettis or spread(b) 1663–9 Sel. Biog. I 149.
The other two [ships] went forward with a spaired sailb. 1598 Paisley B. Rec. 213.
Persounis … casting peits beneith the heid bink or that spreds the peits foirgains uthir mens spred field in the touns mos sall pey fourtie schillings 1604 Paisley B. Rec. 262.
It sall be lesum to the awners of the peit roumes in the mos … to put thair peitts in the spred field usit and wontc. 1672 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 9 Oct.
Settis the tounes fishing with spreadyeard ankeradge halffis and all vther priviledges … to Thomas Tailȝfeir 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 29 April.
Ratifies all former acts anent spread ground and netts and it is ordained that ther sall be nae mae nor six netts yeirlie and that ilk man that fishes without the touns boundis sall pay for ilk boat twentie pundis Scots the touns waters not being furnished And gif any strangers spread they sall pay fourtie merks