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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.

Spyale, Spial(l, n. Also: spyell, spiell, spayal. [e.m.E. spiall (1520), spyall (1525); Spy v. Cf. Espiall n.]

1. The action or an act of spying. b. Information acquired by or as by spying. a1400 Leg. S. xl 831.
Thai … spyale gat to se quhen he Fra strinth of men mycht fundyn be 1516 Caldwell P. I 53.
The said Johne … being ryedand … in quiett sober maner, doeand his lesum busines, … ye … haiffing spyell upon him, come furth [etc.] 1527 Douglas Corr. 118.
And at it wald pleis ȝour hienes caus scharp wache and spiell to be execute apoune the saidis rebellis 1600 Crim. Trials II 317.
Such secret search and privy spial is there through the whole country for herb. 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 49.
The Frans man had brocht … the gold foret of the castal of Dombartan to the town and the erl of Lenayx gat spayal thar on and tan et agan

2. uninfl. pl. Spies. 1460 Hay Alex. 15589.
The duchperis for the king had sic a fray Thay send spiall oure all baith fer and nere 1547 Douglas Corr. 168.
Assured I am by the reaport of spiall that I charged to attend upon him that [etc.]