spaya(r)d, spayd Now only arch.
Forms: α. 5 spayer, 5 (7) spayad (7 -ade), 9 spayard, -art. β. 6–7 spayde, 7 spaide, 7–8 spaid, 8 spayd; 7, 9 spade. γ. 6 spaie, 9– spay.
[Of obscure origin: only the earliest quots. are of any value for the genuine form of the word. See also spire n.]
A male deer in its third year.
| α a 1425 in Rel. Ant. I. 151 The fyrst yere he is a calfe, the secunde yere a broket, the .iij. yere a spayer. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hunting e j b, The secunde yere a Broket... The therde yere a Spayad. 1598 J. Manwood Lawes Forest iv. (1615) 42 The third yeere, yow shall call him a Spayad. 1632 Guillim's Heraldry iii. xiv. (ed. 2) 175 The Third Year, you shall call them Spayade. 1688 Holme Armoury ii. 132/1 An Hart, is called 1 yeare a Hind,..3 a Spayade or Spayde. 1859 Todd's Cycl. Anat. V. 517 In this condition he is called a ‘spayard’. 1886 Elworthy W. Som. Word-bk. 698 Spayart,..a male deer of three years old. |
| β 1576 Turberv. Venerie 237 An Hart is called the firste yeare a Calfe, the seconde a Brocket, the thirde a Spayde. 1602 2nd Pt. Return Parnass. ii. v. 888 Your Hart is the first yeare a Calfe,..the third yeare a Spade. 1627 J. Taylor (Water P.) Armado D 1 b, So a Hart is the first yeare a Calfe,..the third a Spaide. 1678 Phillips, Spaid, or Spayad [in later dicts. Spayed, Spayd], a term used by Hunters, a red male Deer of three years old. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Spade,..a deer three years old. |
| γ 1577 Harrison England iii. iv. 226/1, I find that the yoong male is called in the first yeere a calfe, in the second a broket, the third a spaie. 1906 Doyle Sir Nigel xiii. 163 Great his anxiety lest he confuse a spay with a brocket. |