spave, v. Sc. and north.
Forms: 8–9 speave, speeav(e, 9 speav(v, spaive, 7– spave, etc.
[Alteration of spay v.]
trans. To spay. Also intr. Of an animal: To undergo spaying.
| 1671 Skinner Etymol. Ling. Angl., To Spay, Spade or Spave. 1781 Hutton Tour Caves Gloss., Speaved, gelded, barren. 1788 W. H. Marshall Yorksh. II. 354 To Speeav (mid. dial. to spave); to spay, as a female calf. 1795 Statist. Acc. Scot. XV. 85 When cut, or spaved, they then with us obtain the name of heifers. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 432 Spaivers, persons who libb and spaive cattle. Ibid., A young cow with calf..will not speave. 1825– in dial. glossaries (N. Cy., Cumbld., Yks., etc.). 1876 Robinson Whitby Gloss. 181 A speeav'd whye. |
Hence ˈspaver, a spayer.
| 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 372 Few men would I rather spend an hour with than Mr. Papple, the speaver. Ibid. 432 [see above]. |