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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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SPELDER, v., n. Also spilder; speulter (Ork.). [′spɛldər]

I. v. 1. tr. To spread or pull open or apart; to split a fish, etc. (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1942 Zai.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Ork., em.Sc.(a), Bwk., Rxb. 1971). Also fig. Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. c.1775 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 60:
Ye speldert the gowdspink but ye'se no spelder me.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 135:
O how can I my conscience spelder!Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch vii.:
Splitting the hills as ye would spelder a haddy.Edb. 1865 M. Barr Poems 134:
To birsle like a spelder'd haddie On brimstone flame.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 20:
A've taen a notion o a speldert herreen ti ma tei.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
When the bottom of a sheaf is pulled apart in order to plant it down on the top of a 'skroo', the 'tail' of the sheaf is speldered.

Hence speldrin, -en, -ain, -on, a fish, usually haddock or whiting, split open and dried (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Bwk. 1971). Also transf. of a long, thin person.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch x.:
Tearing a speldrin wi' his teeth.Ags. 1848 Feast Liter. Crumbs (1891) 10:
On Bervies, or on "speldrens" we must dine.Sc. 1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminiscences 122:
'Ael a [yellow] Findram Speldrains.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 88:
Basketfu's of speldrins, rizzard haddies, and ither fish.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders xlvi.:
An ill speldron o' a loon.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses xiii.:
Deacon Powrie, a gaunt 'speldron' of a man of threescore.Gsw. 1917 H. Foulis Jimmy Swan 38:
Speldrins for every customer.Sc. 1929 F. M. McNeill Sc. Kitchen 20:
Speldrins: small haddocks or whitings split, salted, and rock-dried; to be distinguished from finnans, or smoked haddocks.

2. tr. To spread butter on bread having softened it in the mouth first.Ork. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 41:
A hantle speultered the butter, bit I niver saa onyane deuan id mesel.

3. refl. To wrench oneself by falling with the legs apart, pull one's muscles by so doing (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Rxb. 1971).Rnf. 1838 Whistle-Binkie II. 79:
When I took langer steps than the length o' my limbs would allow, I aye spelder'd mysel' and cam' down to my knees.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 288:
He spelder'd hissel' in his hurry.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 20:
Ee'll gang an spelder eersul.

4. intr. To spread or extend onself by throwing or stretching out one's limbs; to thrash about; to toss the legs awkwardly in running (Sc. 1825 Jam.); to sprawl (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1971). Also fig. Ppl.adj. speldered, stretched out in this manner (Per., Peb. 1950).Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 67:
The Doxies turn up their Keels and spelder.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 129:
Speldring with legs and arms to keep his ballance.Gsw. 1841 Whistle-Binkie III. 6:
The dog's speldert on the floor.Rnf. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 85:
Nocht ken ye o' weet or mire, Spilder'd oot afore the fire.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.:
Hingin' by a line an' speldering on the craig face.em.Sc. 1898 H. Rogers Meggotsbrae 126:
Spelderin' aboot like a leevin' fluke i' Luckie McLeish's creel.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 52:
Warld wi'oot end In the spelderin' trees.w.Sc. 1934 T. Smellie Tea-Pairty 46:
Sittin' wi his haunds in his poakits an' his feet speldert oot.m.Sc. 1996 Margaret McSeveney in Kathleen Jamie and James McGonigal New Writing Scotland 14: Full Strength Angels 114:
Allison an May were spelderd oan the grun, their mithers littin them oot o the hoose fur an oor afore it wis time tae mak the tea.

5. tr. To bespatter with mud; intr. to work in a dirty slovenly manner. This usage is due to a misconception, poss. of Stevenson Weir of Hermiston i., "speldering in the glaur."m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 30:
And my jaicket a' speldered wi' mire.Sc. 1924 J. Innes Till a' the Seas xxxv.:
Barrin' an orra man to milk the kye and muck the byre, Rob spelders awa' his lane.

II. n. 1. A fall on the back in which the body is spread out (Cld. 1880 Jam.).

¶2. A split and dried fish, usually haddock or whiting. Cf. I. 1.Sc. 1922 J. P. Macgillivray Bog-Myrtle 60:
I'm no dry as a spelder.