spial
(ˈspaɪəl)
Forms: 5 Sc. spyale, 6 -alle, Sc. spyell, 6–7 spyal, -all, spiall, 6– spial.
[Aphetic f. espial. Cf. spy n. and v.]
† 1. Espial, spying; observation, watch. Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 831 Þai..spyale gat to se quhen he fra strinth of men mycht fundyn be. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. xxix. 35/1 I caused by spyall the towne & castell of Thury in Albygois to be well aviewed. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1097/1 Vpon such aduertisement as he receiued by spiall, of the queens being in the Guildhall. 1601 Mountjoy in Moryson Itin. (1617) ii. 152, I..since that time kept very good spiall upon him, and have had the sight of all his papers. 1611 B. Jonson Catiline iv. ii, I haue those eyes and eares, shall still keepe guard And spiall on thee. |
2. A spy; a scout. Now arch. or Obs.
Very common c 1550–1600, especially in plural.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. i. 22 Because she preserued the spyalles sent from Jesu. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. To King §10 As Secretaries, and Spyalls of Princes and States bring in Bills for Intelligence; so you must allowe the Spyalls and Intelligencers of Nature to bring in their Billes. a 1656 Ussher Ann. vi. (1658) 319 Understanding by his spialls, that Cilles with his army lay at Myus carelessely. 1678 Spelman Life Alfred (1709) 63 Others Eyes and Ears were not always sufficient Spyals. 1813 Scott Rokeby iii. xxvii, Now, could a spial of our train On fair pretext admittance gain, That sally-port might be unbarr'd. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. i. iii, Roaming far out, obscure, as King's spial,..the man has come thus far. |
| transf. 1605 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. iv. Captaines 549 Spiall of Nature, O all-seeing Sun. |
3. attrib., as spial-eye, spial money, spial ship.
| 1520 Lett. & Papers Hen. VIII, III. i. 393 [For John Bourgchier.., deputy of Calais.., with 100l. a year for himself and 104l. a year for] spiall money. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Catascopium,..a spiall shippe: a brigantine or pinneise. 1609 Heywood Brit. Troy 129 When lustful Men aime at suche horride use, They watch all Spyal-eyes and listning Eares. |