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.
Quotation dates: 1726-1750
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†SPIER-ROPE, n. In herring fishing: the long, thick rope from which the body of the net was suspended by the ossels, corresponding to the modern head-rope.Sc. 1726 Edb. Ev. Courant (15–17 Feb.):
A Parcel of Herring Nets, with Spier Ropes, Bush Ropes, Buyies and Corks.Sc. 1750 F. Grant Letter to M.P. 43:
The Spier-rope, being a four Strand Cable laid Rope, two inches in Circumference; each Net must have a Spier-rope 15 Fathoms long.
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"Spier-rope n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spierrope>
