vbl. sb. north. and Sc. [f. SPANE v.] The action of weaning, suspending, etc.

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 467/1. Spanynge, or wenynge of chylder, ablactacio.

2

c. 1440.  Alph. Tales, 23. When þe childe was att spanyng, þis brewster doghter broght it vnto hym & lefte it with hym.

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1516.  Burgh Rec. Edinburgh (1869), I. 164. Vnder the payne of spayning fra the occupatioun for yeir and day. Ibid. (1529), (1871), II. 6. [For] the thrid falt spanyng of thar operatione.

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1565.  J. Knox, Sermon, 24 b. This weaning (or spaning as we terme it) from worldly pleasure, is a thing straunge to the flesh.

5

1653.  in A. Laing, Lindores Abbey (1876), 224. Took as weill wt the spaining … as any bairne could doe.

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1898.  Ld. E. Hamilton, Mawkin, ix. 107. The spaning of the lambs was by with.

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  b.  attrib., as spaning-lamb, -time; spaning brash, weaning-brash; also transf., a disease that attacks corn in the early stages of its growth.

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1416–7.  Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 317. Pro spanyng lambes. Ibid. (1447), 319. Cum ij spanynglamez et j Antonlam.

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1549.  York Wills (Surtees), VI. 296. To … my servaunte, one spaninge quie calf.

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1562.  Will of Benson (Somerset Ho.). A lamb at spanyng tyme.

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1582.  Durham Wills (Surtees), II. 58. xx lambes, to be delivered the next spaninge tyme after my deathe.

12

1721.  Ramsay, Richy & Sandy, 40. At spaining time, or at our Lambmass feast.

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1828.  Moir, Mansie Wauch, xxiii. All the dunts and tumbles of infancy—to say nothing of the spaining-brash and the teeth-cutting.

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