a. Now chiefly dial. Also span new. [ad. ON. spán-nýr, f. spán-n chip + ný-r new, with normal shortening of the first element. Cf. SPON-NEW a.
Dial. variants are spander- (spanther-), spanker-, spang-new. See also bran-span-new BRAND-NEW; SPANK SPAN-NEW; and SPICK AND SPAN.]
Quite or perfectly new: a. Of things, esp. clothes.
c. 1300. Havelok, 968. Þe cok bigan of him to rewe, And bouthe him cloþes, al spannewe.
13[?]. K. Alis., 4055 (Laud MS.). Richelich he dooþ hym shrede In span newe kniȝtten wede.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1665. This tale was ay span new to byginne Til at the nyght departed hem atwynne.
1463–4. Sir J. Howard, Expenses, in Manners & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 160. A new jakett off purpylle that was made ffor my mastyr … and itt is spanne new.
1579. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 59. Let me borrowe on crackd groate of your purse for this same span new pamflett.
1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, III. xi. 229. The news he tels you, is of some newe flesh, Lately brooke vp, span newe, hote piping fresh.
1626. in Birch, Crt. & Times Chas. I. (1848), I. 158. I have lighted upon a span new proclamation, which I send you in time.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. 60. Therefore [he] would not wear an Old Title, but have a span-New Arch-Bishops Chaire carved out for himself.
1691. Ray, S. & E. Co. Words, 114. Span New, very new: that was never worn or used.
1822. Cobbett, Weekly Reg., 2 Feb., 260. A maker of span-new governments and religions.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, i. (1856). 6. Up the side he scrambles,… all togged out to the nines in a span-new blue jacket.
1879. A. Taylor, Guienne, 55. The span-new and often clumsily conceived nineteenth-century miracle.
b. Of persons, etc. Also Comb.
1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, Prol. Some spruce pedant, or some Span-new come fry Of Innes a-court.
1619. Fletcher & Mass., False One, III. ii. Am I not totally a span-new Gallant, Fit for the choycest eyes?
1648. Petit. Eastern Assoc., 24. Such … conditions, as their pride, and span-new Gentries will not indure.
1846. D. Jerrold, Chron. Clovernook, Wks. 1864, IV. 409. Most of the children, however, lost by degrees the errors and weaknesses of their former days, and in time became span-new creatures.
