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.
Quotation dates: 1456-1548
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Sper(e)-hed(e, Speir-he(i)d, n. Also: speyr-heyd. [ME and e.m.E. spere-hed (c1400), sper-hed (Lydgate); Sper(e n.1 and Hede n.1 5.] The sharp-pointed tip or blade forming the striking or piercing end of a spear. Also comb. 1456 Hay II 45/7.
The scharp hard stelin poynt of the spere hede betakenis, that [etc.] 1460 Hay Alex. 1898.
The sperehed [B. spere had] past in sidlingis by a sclent, And drew na blude 1498–9 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 92.
The wrangvis brekkyne of his sper hed … wes fund be the assis of nane availl 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1526.
Golyas Quhais speir heid wecht thre hundreth vnces was 1502–3 Treasurer's Accounts II 202.
For ane sper hede gilt, xxviij s. 1507–8 Treasurer's Accounts IV 107.
For making of ane hundret sperehedis, vj Franch crounis; summa iiij li. iiij s. 1508 Treasurer's Accounts IV 122.
For tua spere hedis of steil half fut lang xxviij s. 1513 Doug. vii x 60.
Sum [men] polist scharp speir hedis [Sm. speyr heydis] of steill, To mak thame brycht with fat creisch or same 1531 Treasurer's Accounts V 418.
For spere hedis xx s. 1542 Reg. Privy S. II 735/1.
In making of his [sc. the king's] quhinȝearis, knyvis, speirheidis and Jedburgh-staufis-heidis 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX 187.
For putting on of the speir hedis x s.comb. 1542 Reg. Privy S. II 734/2.
Alexander Wicht, cultellar and speirheid makar
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"Sper-hed n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spere_hede>
