Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPREAD, v., n. Also spreed (Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 19; Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 36; Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 187; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267), spreid (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 207, Wgt. 1930; Abd. 1932 Dieth Bch. Dial. 12; Rxb. 1942 Zai.), spried (Gall. a.1897 Rob Ringan's Plewman Cracks 22). [spri:d, now somewhat obsol.; spred, em.Sc.(a) and from Eng. See P.L.D. §§ 88, 93.3, 96.2, 120, 130, 147.1., 157.(1), 164.6.] Sc. forms and usages:

I. v.A. Forms. Pres.t. and infin. as above; pa.t. spread (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 207; Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267; Abd. 1932 Dieth Bch. Dial. 12; Rxb. 1942 Zai) [spred]; spried (Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.) [sprid]; pa.p. spread (Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 207; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267; Rxb. 1942 Zai) [spred].

B. Usages. tr. and intr. As in Eng. in Sc. phrs. and combs.: 1. spread field, the ground where cut peat is spread for drying, freq. an area where surface moss has previously been discarded by peat cutters (Uls. 1953 Traynor). Also attrib.; 2. spread ground, id.; 3. spreadin drink, a traditional drinking bout; 4. to spread bread, — a piece, to butter bread, to spread butter or jam on a slice of bread (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc.; 5. to spread down or up a bed, to turn a bed down or up, turn the top bed covers down or up before getting into bed or after rising from it (Bnff., Ags., Per. 1971).1. Rnf. 1708 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) S. 131:
Including the haill mossrooms and priviledge of casting peits and spreidfeild within the ten shilling land.Per. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VI. 493:
The spread-field, that is, the waste moss, which being unfit for peat, had been cast behind the peat cutters, and its surface being smoothed, and drains cut in it, the peats were laid upon it to be dried.Per. 1845 Stat. Acc.² X. 1274:
The spreadfield moss is that from which the peat from generation to generation has been dug, and is generally about two or two-and-a-half feet deep above the clay.2. Gall. 1810 S. Smith Agric. Gall. 308:
When the peat-earth is carried from the pit, it is disposed of in layers, with a convenient distance between them for spread-ground.3. Knr. 1894 H. Haliburton Furth in Field 18:
Certain old drinking customs that used to be known to the various “trades” by whom they were practised, as the “foondin' pint,” “the bindin' spree,” “the spreadin' drink.”4. Dmb. 1899 J. Strang Lass of Lennox 299:
When ye've spread your piece, Dan.5. Sc. 1869 R. Chambers Rebellion 66:
One of his sisters is said to have spread down a bed for Prince Charlie.

II. n. Sc. form of Eng. spread.m.Sc. 1996 John Murray Aspen 12:
frae bank tae bank
atween Westminster
an St Pauls enthronit,
its spreid containit.