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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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SPIT, v., n. Also spytt (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 207); ¶spite (Abd. 1877 G. MacDonald M. of Lossie I. iii.); ¶spat (Cai. 1869 M. McLennan Peasant Life 271); sput (Abd. 1927 Banffshire Jnl. (2 Aug.) 2). Pa.t. strong spat (Gen.Sc.); weak spitted (Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 138; Sc. 1838 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 55). Pa.p. strong spitten (Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 142; Mry. 1927 E. Levack Lossiemouth 31), sputten; weak spitted (m.Lth. 1715 J. Monro Letters 109). Sc. forms and usages:

1. v. As in Eng. 1. Phrs. and deriv.: (1) spitty, a nickname applied to one who spits frequently (Sh., Ork., Abd., Fif. 1971); (2) to spit and gie (it) ower or up, to give in, admit defeat (Abd., Kcd., Ags. 1971); (3) to spit in the wisp, to miss a round of drinking (Mry. 1928); (4) to spit upon, to make the least impression on, to make the slightest difference to (Sh. 1971).(2) Sc. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 35:
He has nothing to do but shut the book and (to use a very expressive juvenile term,) spit and gie owre.Dmb. 1879 J. Napier Folk-Lore 101:
The usual method of acknowledging that they were outwitted was by spitting on the ground; in the language of the day, they would be requested to "spit and gie't o'er," that is, own that they were beaten.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 170:
We'll juist hae to spit an' gie ower.Rxb. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xix.:
Ye may just spit and gie ower, for my lord winna see you.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxii.:
Eence ur tweize fin A tummlt doon A near spat o' ma liv an' gidd up.(4) Sh. 1899 Shetland News (22 July):
Irna da cürers takkin' a hire o' sax pound frae da men? Da hire could niver spit apo' da ootlay wi' da saxerns.

2. Ppl.adj. spitten, ¶(1) mean, lowly, of no consequence; (2) in phr. to be the spitten image of, to be the exact likeness of, to be very similar to. Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. The orig. expression was the spit and image of.(1) Dmf. 1871 N. & Q. (4th Ser.) VII. 190:
The Kirkpatricks were belted knights of Closeburn when we were but spittent Lairds of Drumlanrig.(2) Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 70, 126:
He's the spittin image o' a thrawn fechter. . . . Ye're the spittin image o' some yin noo: whaar hev I seen yer ogly face?Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 10:
Ei's eis faither's sputten eemeedge.

3. Vbl.n. spittin, -en, (1) spittle (w.Sc. 1880 Jam.). Gen.(exc. I.)Sc., freq. in pl.; (2) a small hot-tempered person or animal, a puny mischievous creature (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177; Bnff., Abd. 1971).(2) Abd. 1929 Stories Young Abd. 14:
Jeannie wis a spittin' o' a cratur, an widna gi'e in.Abd. 1931 Abd. Press & Jnl. (11 Feb.):
A "nyatterie nyarbit spittin."

II. n. 1. Image, likeness, appearance. Cf. I. 2. (2).w.Lth. c.1930:
My auntie's coming tonight, but it's so long since I saw her that I can't mind the spit of her face.

2. A person of hot temper and small stature (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177).

3. An angry disputation (Cld. 1880 Jam.).