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: 1909-1933
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SPALDER, v. Also spaalder; spaller, spyaller (Cai.), spauler. [′spɑl(d)ər]
1. tr. To split, lay open; to split a fish open (Sc. 1880 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1909 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 79:
The fish were caught in great numbers, spaldered, cleaned, and salted.
2. To stretch to its utmost extent, rack (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
3. intr. To sprawl, lie stretched out (Bwk. 1825 Jam., spaller; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.); to extend. Also refl. (Watson).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Siberia spalders richt across Asia.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
There spaaldert Tweed's storied dale.
4. To clamber.s.Sc. 1933 Border Mag. (Nov.) 171:
Sae up its perpendicular face We spaulered on that day o' grace.
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"Spalder v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spalder>
