▪ I. † speld, n. Obs.
Also 4–5 spelde, 4 spielde.
[OE. speld neut., = ON. speld, spjald (Norw. spjeld, Sw. spjell), related to Goth. spilda fem., MHG. and G. dial. spelte tablet, splinter, chip, etc.: see spald v.]
1. A flake or particle of fire; a spark. Also with of.
| c 1050 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 529 Tedasque, and biernende speld. c 1100 in Napier O.E. Glosses 161/2 In fauillam, on spelde. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 210 Wrechche gostes..he seiȝ Fleo op and doun al brenninde, ase speldene doth of fuyre. Ibid. 474 Ake ofte gret fuyr and eke stuyrne wext of a luytel spielde. c 1440 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) II. 819 note, And þer amydde he cast A litil spelde of fuyre and abowte þe speld fast He by wounde þys tender. |
2. A chip or splinter.
| 1350 Will. Palerne 3603 Þe kniȝt spere in speldes altoschiuered. Ibid. 3855 So spakli here speres al on speldes went. |
▪ II. speld, v. Sc.
Also 6 speild.
[Related to spald v. For the vowel cf. prec.]
1. trans. To lay flat or extended; to spread out; to split open. Also refl.
| c 1480 Henryson Fables, Preach. Swallow xxvii, Heirefter ȝe sall find als sour as sweit, Quhen ȝe ar speldit [v.r. speildit] on ȝone carlis speit. c 1480 ― Orph. & Eurydice 177 Besyde hym on the bent, He saw speldit a wonder wofull wicht, Nailit full fast. 1513 Douglas æneid v. vii. 19 All flat [he] hym speldit on the dwn sand, In the deid thrawis. 1533 Bellenden Livy i. xi. (S.T.S.) I. 68 He..band þis Mecius speldit betuix þe twa cheriottis. 1710 Ruddiman Gloss. Douglas' æneis s.v., [We] say, ‘He spelded himself on the ice’; and ‘a spelded herring’, and ‘speldings’, &c. 1866 T. Edmondston Gloss. Shetl. 114 Speld, to split up, to lay open, S. |
2. To split or crack. rare—1.
| 1616 Aberdeen Burgh Reg. (1848) II. 346 The back dyick of the colledge yard..is creuisched and speldit at the wast neuck thairof, and lick[l]ie to faill. |