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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.

Spred, v. Also: sprede, spreid, spraid, spread(e, spreed, spredd-. P.t. and p.p. spred, spredde, sprad, spraid, spreid, spread. [ME and e.m.E. spredd(e (Orm), spradde(n (Layamon), sprede(n (1297), spred (Cursor M.), spreede (c1440), spread (1570-6), OE sprǽdan, MDu. spre(e)den, see also Oversprede v.]

1. tr. To stretch out, extend, send out (something), to cause (something) to expand or extend with the effect of going further or covering a larger area. Also const. doun, furth, onbrede (abroad). Also, reflex. and absol. Freq. in allusive or fig. use.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 28.
On morne, quhan brichtin day had dicht And sone had spred his bemis bricht ?1438 Alex. ii 3687.
Wnder the flurist siccamour was spred … Carpettis of silk 1456 Hay II 83/15.
Quhat ever king that spredis his tayle or extendis his wengis of his divisioun ferrar na his rentis … may streke [etc.] 1494 Loutfut MS 36a.
Signifies the gerone the skirtis of a manis gowun the quhilk is spred and maid large And signifies at he that first bure it in armes grew and spred and largit him self in vailleand dedis c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 97.
Eviry blome … Opnyt and spred thair balmy levis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 129.
The Haly Gaist … Hes in hir spred that riall flour delice, Quhilk resauit ane man to reabill 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 74.
The sulȝe spred hir braid bosum c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1553.
The gret occiane … did nocht spred sic bulryng strandis As it dois now ouirthort the landis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 598.
The claithis of gold was spred throw all the streit Quhen scho lichtit 1596 Dalr. I 94/22.
Thair heid thay laid vpon the bair erth … or than a groffe seck spred vndir thame 1596 Dalr. I 147/28.
To spred the boundes of that impire baith braid and wyde 1673 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 4 Jan.
Ilk boat that fished this last yeir in the water of Die and ilk net that was spred wpon the touns ground sall pay ther fourtie merkisabsol. 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS (29 April) (see Spred ppl. adj. c).(b) c1475 Wall. ix 23.
Fresch Flora hir floury mantill spreid(c) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 8/17.
Ryche befoir puir spraidis ay thair net(2) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 21.
Off lenth and brede his angel wingis bryght He spred vpon the ground doun fro the hevin 1513 Doug. viii xii 92.
Nylus ryver … Hys large skyrt onbrede spred c1552 Lynd. Mon. 179.
Quhen fresche flora spred furth hir tapestrie a1649 Drummond I 32/9.
Phoebus arise … Spreade foorth thy golden haire 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 1003.
Now silent night spred foorth her sable wings 1611-57 Mure Psalmes civ 28.
Thou giust, they gathir; all, thy hand, Sprede forth, doth fill with good(3) reflex. 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 16.
Not so wyde and marish a cuntrey as the other cities in which Germanie doth oppin and spred it selff 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 114.
In the very utmost skirt it openeth and spredeth it selve abroad at more liberty

b. To stretch out (a person) on an instrument of punishment. a1400 Leg. S. iii 410.
Gyf that I dred The croice, quhare-in Criste wes spred, The ioy of it I na prechit ȝow a1500 Henr. Orph. 266.
Turnand a quhele was vgly for to see, And on it spred a man hecht Ixione

c. To open (an aperture). 1513 Doug. iii vi 132.
Scilla … spredand hyr mouth … To sowk the schippys amang rowkis

d. reflex., transf. To extend or expand (one's capacities).1494 Loutfut MS 36a (see (1) above).

2. To scatter, disperse, spread out (things). Also passive, to be dispersed. Also in fig. context. Also absol. only in Nisbet after Purvey. 1375 Barb. iii 413.
To meyt thar fayis that spred war wyd a1568 Bann. MS 156a/30.
The partane with hir mony feit Scho spred the mvk on feild 1598 Paisley B. Rec. 213 (see Spred ppl. adj. b). c1610 Melville Mem. 32.
Already I see the reak of thy glory spred athort the luft in dust 1640 Kirkcaldy Presb. 179.
And he being goeing in the morning to the feild to spread mukkabsol. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxv 24.
Thou scheris quhare thou has nocht sawin and thou gaderis togiddire quhare thou has nocht spredde on breed

b. To disseminate (knowledge, rumour, etc.). Also const. abreid and in (throw) (a place). a1400 Leg. S. xiii 120.
He fand the Cristyne treutht vel sprad 1460 Hay Alex. 166.
Als sa far as son schynis … Sa spred his name 1513 Doug. vii iv 89.
Na repreif … to ȝour renowne … sal nevir spreid 1562-3 Winȝet II 69/27.
The hæreseis spraid alrady abreid 1570 Leslie 301.
The douptfull reportis that ar spred a1578 Pitsc. I 69/25.
How sune thir nowellis war spread in Ingland 1596 Dalr. I 85/17.
The toung of the kirk be the bigers of Babel within thir xvi ȝeirs is spred first in Ingland, neist in Scotland 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 194.
The common people … spred many rumors c1650 Spalding I 377.
This wes markit, spred throw Elgyne, and crediblie reportit to myself

c. To distribute (books, etc.). Also const. abroad. 1567 Sat. P. iii 224.
In Latine leid I think to spred My veirsis 1639 Spalding I 222.
Haill volums ar spred, … put in all handis aganist ws [etc.] 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 641.
Ore to spred and disperse letters 1662 Dumfries Council Min. MS 18 Feb.
A. hes in his custody certaine buikes … & spreids them abroad

3. To cover, overlay, strew with (of) something. ?1438 Alex. i 2860.
Of felled folk thay fand lyand The feild [all] spred a1500 Sir Eger 326.
A bed, That was with silken sheets spred a1500 Seven S. 944.
He … sa haboundantly than can bleid That all the flure with blude can spreid c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 173.
I … lay vpon the kingis bed, With claith of gold thocht it wer spred 1596 Dalr. II 235/8.
For by that his palise … war spred and hung with fyne … tapestrie a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI in Mill Mediæv. Plays 194 n.
The haill streits war spred with flowres

4. intr. a. Of fire, disease, etc.: To spread, extend its effect, become disseminated. Also const. vp. b. Of a wound: To become larger, to open. c. Of the sea: To spread ouir the land. c1500 Makc. MS xiii 102.
Ampulo, as to spreda. 1375 Barb. iv 131.
The fyr our all the castell spred ?1438 Alex. ii 2132.
Quhare all largenes Florisheth and spredis in all noblenes 1456 Hay I 38/31.
To ger that langage of Latyne sprede 1520 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 196.
This contagious seiknes … spreddis yeirlie 1531 Bell. Boece I lviii.
He … was geldit that his infeckit blude suld spreid na forthir 1533 Boece 295b.
Vertew … quhilk desiris that hir giftis be in ȝow hir creaturis diffoundit and spred c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 215.
Quhen thir nouellis dois into Ingland spreid 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3124.
Than tynes he honour and manheid, And thairon followis schame and deid, Of ill spending this spreidis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6968.
In the court his fame … vp spreidis 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 106.
O how quick doth love … spreed in every parte A furiows flame, a fumeing feverb. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 42.
Ane greine wound be taking the ayre spreadeth farder abroade & is the hardlier to be healedc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5465.
The sey … sall nocht spred ouir the land, Bot, lyke ane wall, ewin straycht vpstand

5. a. Of leaves or flowers: To expand, come out, blossom, to develop in this fashion. Also const. vp. Passing into sense 5 b below. 1375 Barb. xvi 67.
Lewis on the branchis spredis c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 127.
That ros That spanysys, spredys, and evyre spryngys c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 21.
The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 59.
Als fresch as flouris that in May up spredis 1531 Bell. Boece I vii.
Ane plesand meid, Quhare Flora maid the tender blewmis spreid, Throw kindlie dew and humouris nutrative 1535 Stewart 10427.
About Beltane quhen grene leuis began To spring and spreid 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 163/31.
Lyk as ane tre haiffand the leiffis dilatate and spred

b. Of plants, trees, also families, etc.: To expand by growth, to grow, multiply. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2438 (Ch.).
Quhair sic sproutis spreidis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 348.
Irische … was the gud langage of this land, And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede 1513 Doug. iii i 87.
The scharp lancis growis greyn and spredis owt 1513 Doug. iv viii 80.
Als far hys rute doith spreid Deip vndir erth 1535 Stewart 16771.
Thocht this tirrane … Be deid … his breanchis growis grene … I dar la wode, Within schort quhile that tha sall spring and spred … Ouir all the land 1535 Stewart 44412.
That … efter him suld neuir ane spring or spreid Of all his clan 1580 Hume Promine 76.
Sappie subtil exhalatiounis, Quhais potent pithie inspiratiounis Makis treis, frutes, and flouris for to spreid 1596 Dalr. I 45/16.
The herbe olorine … quhair ance it fixis the rute it spredis the selfe sa braid and wyde, that v myles of this loch of Spynie … is now maid glare and myre, the rute sa spredis 1596 Dalr. II 23/28.
The hous of Darlie [etc.] … lyk a birthfull trie spred thair granes and branches throuch all Scotland

c. transf. Of pity. a1497, 15.. Gray MS. v 57.
Now Crist … Thou lat thi pete spred & spring, Oute of this warld … Sa that na feynd to pane ws bring

d. Of a coin. a1500 Colk. Sow iii 11.
He wald preve the thrid penny … To suffer it spreid in warld & fructefy