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: 1813-1844, 1932
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SPARE, adj., adv., n. Also spa(i)r-.
I. adj. As in Eng. Used also adv. sparely, in a spare, frugal manner, with only the bare necessaries. Adv. spairly (Rnf. 1853 J. Fraser Chimes 109), sparlie (Edb. 1839 W. McDowall Poems 63).Sc. 1813 Scott Triermain iii. iv.:
Yet still his watch the Warrior keeps, Feeds hard and spare, and seldom sleeps.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 66:
The shepherd tends wi' tenty care, An' grieves to see them fend sae spare.
II. n. Something left over and to spare, specif. as a tailor's term (see quot.).Sc. 1932:
A tailor's term. “Will you have a spare in your iron?” i.e. will there be as much heat left in your iron as will suffice for my cloth? Also, can I have a spare of your chalk?
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"Spare adj., adv., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spare_adj_adv_n>
