spleet
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: spleets
form: spleeting
form: spleeted
form: spleeted
Etymology: Obscurely related to split. Compare the noun and rare Middle Low German spleeten.
Senses: examples: text: Piſcem exdorſuare, […] To ſpleete out, oꝛ part alongeſt the ridge bone iuſt in the midſt.
ref: 1585, Adrianus Iunius, translated by Iohn Higins, The Nomenclator, or Remembrancer of Adrianus Iunius Physician, […], London: […] Ralph Newberie, and Henrie Denham, →OCLC, page 62, column 2:
text: Of the ſpleeting in the ſhoulder, or renting the ſhoulder from the breaſt of the Horſe.
ref: 1585, Christ[opher] Clifford, The Schoole of Horsmanship. Wherein Is Discouered What Skill and Knowledge Is Required in a Good Horseman, Practised by Perfect Experience. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Thomas Cadman, […], →OCLC, folio 88, verso:
text: [I]t offends mee to the ſoule, to heare a robuſtious perwig-pated fellowe tere a paſſion to totters, to very rags, to ſpleet the eares of the groundlings, […]
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], signatures G3, verso – [G4], recto:
text: [M]ine owne tongue / Spleet’s what it ſpeakes: […]
ref: c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 351, column 2:
text: Hurdles, made in form of Gates, either of ſpleeted Timber or of Hazle Rods, they either ſerve for gates in Encloſures or to make Sheep-folds or the like.
ref: 1681, J[ohn] W[orlidge], “Dictionarium Rusticum: or, The Interpretations and Significations of Several Rustick Terms, &c.”, in Systema Agriculturæ; the Mystery of Husbandry Discovered. […], 3rd edition, London: […] Tho. Dring, […] Sold by R. Clavel […], →OCLC, page 327:
text: And at all times it is highly dangerous, for any not experienced with theſe Seas, to paſs through between the Iſles, tho with ſmall Boats, becauſe of the many blind Rocks lying there, upon which sometimes the Inhabitants themſelves do ſpleet, […] The ſignal defeat and overthrow of the Spaniſh Armado […] was eſpecially cauſed by ſtormy Winds and Tempeſts, some thereby ſinking at Sea, others ſpleeting upon the Coaſts both of England and France and eſpecially upon the North of Scotland, Orkney and Zetland; […]
ref: 1701, John Brand, A Brief Description of Orkney, Zetland, Pightland-Firth & Caithness, […], Edinburgh: […] George Mosman, →OCLC, pages 25 (A Description of Orkney, […]) and 127 (An Account of […] the Isles of Zetland):
text: [T]here were the men at ease, holding their sides, laughing like to spleet them; […]
ref: 1828, Mansie Wauch [pseudonym; David Macbeth Moir], “Volunteering”, in The Life of Mansie Wauch, Tailor in Dalkeith. […], New York, N.Y.: […] J. & J. Harper. […], →OCLC, page 119:
text: Da auld axe ta spleet da lamb’s head wi’, Sh[etland] News (Sept. 22, 1900)
ref: 1905, “SPLIT, v.”, in Joseph Wright, editor, The English Dialect Dictionary: […], volume V (R–S), London: Henry Frowde, […], publisher to the English Dialect Society, […]; New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, →OCLC, page 676, column 2:
qualifier: later chiefly Scotland
glosses: To split.