Speel
Origin
From Old Scots speill ("to climb"), of obscure origin. From or akin to Old Scots spelare ("acrobat, tumbler"). Probably from Middle Dutch spelen ("to play, walk a tight rope, do gymnastic tricks, juggle, perform as an actor or clown"), see spiel. Alternately, representing a continuation of Old English spilian ("to play").
Full definition of speel
Verb
- (dialect, Scottish and Northern English) To climb.
- 1832 March 5, Memoirs of a Paisley Baillie, The Day: A Journal of Literature, Fine Arts, Fashions, &c., Glasgow, %22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=5cyK8wCQSl&sig=AC84v2kmInOejXfqhM-g53F6WsM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Xd9dUJXrLeWPiAeknYHYDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22speeled%22|%22speeling%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 218,This I thocht at the time when he was speeling up the ladder before me in the Hie Kirk steeple ; but good breeding, at that particular time, keeped me from taking ony correck view of how things stood in that quarter.
- 1841, Humorous Traits of an Old Highland Gentleman, Chambers′ Edinburgh Journal, Volume 9, Numbers 317-318, %22speeling%22+australia+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=s6RxOA3aOV&sig=lBg2BLWipJERuB1N-iDN54rcosg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ctpdUPe7FuuciAfj-oHgCg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22speeled%22|%22speeling%22%20australia%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 94,They were catched speeling up the lamp-posts and taking oot the cruizes and drinking the ulye, wick and a′.
- 1860, Hugh MacDonald, Days at the Coast: A Series of Sketches Descriptive of the Firth of Clyde, Glasgow, %22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=Bi39ltnRtQ&sig=fz13lr7f6FcMQYe-Pld4hJ7LaoI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Xd9dUJXrLeWPiAeknYHYDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22speeled%22|%22speeling%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 255,There is a comfortable inn at this picturesque spot, where those who purpose speeling the lofty Ben generally prepare for their arduous undertaking.
- To talk at length, to spiel.
- 1972, Sven Berlin, Pride of the Peacock: The Evolution of an Artist, %22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&dq=%22speeled%22|%22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=RZ7Dbu5KM7&sig=ncpFSF7rqGTJqnqw9IB_MQglwMY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U-ldUPzVOvC8iAfV_4GIDg&redir_esc=y page 91,Old Saxon, who was so sweet and gentle despite his long years on the halls, smiled at me and suggested I should do some speeling. Yedo gave me a megaphone. I held it to my mouth but there was silence.
- 1973, Irene Baird, Waste Heritage, Macmillan of Canada, %22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&dq=%22speeled%22|%22speeling%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=gVsibs0WLM&sig=SpFolF05WxSmx4TxYGV39CtQ7VQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U-ldUPzVOvC8iAfV_4GIDg&redir_esc=y page 262,“I must close now or I shall go on speeling all night....â€
- (dialect, Australia) To run.