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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPEET, n., v. Also speat, speate. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. spit, a roasting skewer (Sc. 1699 Edinburgh Gazette (9 Oct.); Kcb. 1724 Kirkcudbr. Test. (3 March); Ork. 1726 P. Ork. A.S. (1928) VI. 30, speat; Sc.a.1785 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 297; Ayr. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars Recit. v.; Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 162; Sc. 1824 Lockhart Scott lx., speate; Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 3; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). [spit]

I. n. 1. Sc. comb. spit-stick, a spit on which meat is roasted, used fig. in quot.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xix.:
A little spit-stick of a sword.

2. A pointed stick or skewer on which herring or other fish are strung up to dry (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Mry. 1925; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc., Cai., Kcd., Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.n.Sc. 1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Archit. § 739:
In the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, and in various places in the north of Scotland, haddocks are strung up on rods called spits.Slg. 1862 D. Taylor Poems 156:
Their domiciles are raw'd as neat As herrin strung upon a speet.Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 55:
A shower o' auld shoon, crackit tea-pats, herrin' speets.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (12 Aug.):
I wis speetid up da trid speet o' piltiks.Sc. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 20:
The fish are hung on “speets” over a fire of oak shavings.

3. Of a fishing line: an iron rod stuck horizontally through the sinker from which the hooked cords hang down on either side of the rod (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1971). Also in comb. bow-speet, id. (Sh. 1971).

4. A pole on which fish lines are hung (Ayr. c.1930).

5. A rod from which the wicks were suspended for dipping during the making of tallow candles (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 39; Ayr., Wgt. 1934, speat).

II. v. To hang fish up by the heads or gills on a skewer or spit to dry, freq. with up (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc., Cai., Kcd., Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 178:
Dere wis kippocks o' haddocks an' weel-speeted hoes.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (4 Mar.):
I sat oot afore da mill speetin' up twa dow'd pilticks.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 243:
Dey'll maybe speet dem up ta try da sam wye as dey dry fish, ipun hooks.Abd. 1956 People's Jnl. (27 Oct.):
She is at the “speeting” of herring.