Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACKSPEIR, -SPEER, -SPIER, v. To question, cross-examine, inquire into a matter. [bɑk′spi:r]Sc. 1808 Jam.:
To Backspeir. To inquire into a report or relation, by tracing it as far back as possible; also, to cross-question, to examine a witness with a retrospective view to his former evidence.Sc. 1928 L. Spence in Scots Mag. (May) 142:
He speired and backspeired at us till he'd gotten near a haill hauf-century o' piper's news oot o' me.Bnff. 1832 J. F. S. Gordon Chron. of Keith (1880) 322:
Faith ye'll blek [puzzle] the Minister; tell him to back speer ye there.Abd. 1921 M. Argo Janet's Choice 16:
I winna be back-speired aboot foo I dee sic-an'-sic in connection wi' my ain faimily.

ppl.adj. back-spierin', inquisitive.Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 76:
Woe betide a man gin he back-speired a gaffer. Ags. 1897 “F. Mackenzie” Sprays of Northern Pine xxii.:
An impident, back-spierin' chield that Minister o' oors!