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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

SPRET, v., n.² Also sprett, spraet, spräit (Jak.); sprait, sprate; spreit; sprit(t). [sprɛt]

I. v. A. Forms. Inf. and pr.t.: as above; pa.t. spraited, reduced spret(t), spraet, sprate; pa.p. spritted, spret.

B. Usages: 1. intr. To scamper, spring, bound, move at speed (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 210, spreit, sprett, 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. (sprit), Ork. 1971); to spread the legs and feet apart, to stride (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., sprett). Also fig.Sh. 1904 E.D.D.:
I met Tammy o' Nort'ouse spraeting alang da road.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Dere shø [boat] spritts. De fish is sprittin.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 134:
Dey sleued an' spraited awa.Ork. 1951 R. Rendall Ork. Variants 18:
Aa' through the barn the mettins spret Lik' sparks fae a smiddy fire.

2. intr. Of plants: to sprout up, grow (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), sprett; Ork. 1971).

3. tr. and intr. To unravel, unwind, burst, tear, undo, or become undone, freq. of knitting, sewing etc., usually with up or doon (Sh. 1971). Freq. in ppl.adj. spritted, spret, broken, torn, split (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 210, spret up, 1914 Angus Gl., sprett; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1971); to open the bottom of a wooden vessel or creel swung on a horse's back (†Ork. 1929 Marw.).Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 217:
To darn A spritted loop, or hingin' hair.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (20 May):
She sprate doon a bit o' da kjot o' sock 'at she was gaein ta fit.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
The seam o' his breeks is spret up again.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 154:
Da kishie sprett below da een.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 21:
Sprett - to tear fabric. O.N. spretta - to rip up.

Deriv. spretto(w), n., (i) a kind of peat shorn off the surface of the ground (Ork. 1929 Marw.); (ii) a footless stocking, with a loop to fix over the big toe (Ib., Ork. 1971).(ii) Ork. 1924 P. Ork. A.S. II. 82:
“Sprettows,” or “ceutows,” would be put on. The first of those were stockings without soles; the second sock-lengths reaching just above the “ceuts,” also without soles.

4. To spread (the feet) apart when standing (Sh. 1971).

II. n. 1. A sudden spring or leap, jump, bound (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), sprett, spritt, 1914 Angus Gl., spritt; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1931; Ork. 1971). Also fig.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 15:
He meed a spret in under the officer's swird.Sh. 1948 New Shetlander (Oct.–Nov.) 22:
He guid ower wi sic a sprit it his fit catched ida tap straand a wire.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 167:
Than wae a spret he clashed his knev amang the cups an' plates.

2. A wooden pin used for fixing and keeping shut the bottom of a creel swung on a horse's back (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Norw. dial. sprett, a pin or stick, and I. 3.