span-new, a. Now chiefly dial.
(ˈspænnjuː)
Also span new.
[ad. ON. spán-n{yacu}r, f. spán-n chip + n{yacu}-r new, with normal shortening of the first element. Cf. spon-new a.
Dial. variants are spander- (spanther-), spanker-, spang-new. See also bran-span-new brand-new; spank span-new; and spick and span.]
Quite or perfectly new: a. Of things, esp. clothes.
| c 1300 Havelok 968 Þe cok bigan of him to rewe, and bouthe him cloþes, al spannewe. 13.. K. Alis. 4055 (Laud MS.), Richelich he dooþ hym shrede In span newe kniȝtten wede. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1665 This tale was ay span new to byginne Til at the nyght departed hem atwynne. 1463–4 Sir J. Howard Expenses in Manners & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 160 A new jakett off purpylle that was made ffor my mastyr..and itt is spanne new. 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 59 Let me borrowe on crackd groate of your purse for this same span new pamflett. 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie iii. xi. 229 The news he tels you, is of some newe flesh, Lately brooke vp, span newe, hote piping fresh. 1626 in Birch Crt. & Times Chas. I (1848) I. 158, I have lighted upon a span new proclamation, which I send you in time. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ii. 60 Therefore [he] would not wear an Old Title, but have a span-New Arch-Bishops Chaire carved out for himself. 1691 Ray S. & E. Co. Words 114 Span New, very new: that was never worn or used. 1822 Cobbett Weekly Reg. 2 Feb. 260 A maker of span-new governments and religions. 1849 Cupples Green Hand i. (1856) 6 Up the side he scrambles,..all togged out to the nines in a span-new blue jacket. 1879 A. Taylor Guienne 55 The span-new..nineteenth century miracle. |
b. Of persons, etc. Also Comb.
| 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie Prol., Some spruce pedant, or some Span-new come fry Of Innes a-court. 1619 Fletcher & Mass. False One iii. ii, Am I not totally a span-new Gallant, Fit for the choycest eyes? 1648 Petit. Eastern Assoc. 24 Such..conditions, as their pride, and span-new Gentries will not indure. 1846 D. Jerrold Chron. Clovernook Wks. 1864 IV. 409 Most of the children, however, lost by degrees the errors and weaknesses of their former days, and in time became span-new creatures. |