Forms: α. 3 sperren, 4–6 sperre, 5 sper, 7 sperr. β. 4–7 sparre, 4 sparr, 5– spar. [In the α-forms app. ad. MDu. sperren (Du. sperren), = OHG. sperran (MHG. and G. sperren; hence Da. spærre, Sw. spärra), f. the stem sparr- SPAR sb.1 The β-forms may be a normal alteration of this, or may represent the base of OE. ʓesparrian and besparrian BESPAR v. For further variants in ME. and later use see SPARE v.2 and SPEAR v.1]
1. trans. To fasten (a door or gate) with a bar or bolt; to shut or close firmly or securely. Also occas. with up. Now arch.
α. c. 1200. Ormin, 4122. Forr swa … Wass Paradisess ȝate sperrd Ȝæn all mannkinn onn eorþe.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 240. To maynten forth þe werre … Þe entres did þei sperre, & hold þam in Snowdoun.
c. 1450. Cursor M., 10420 (Laud). She sperrid her doris and wept sore.
c. 1462. Paston Lett., II. 87. The yates of Lynne … weren fast sperred.
1483. Cath. Angl., 354/1. To Sperre, claudere.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 224. If he chaunce come when I am abroade, Sperre the yate fast for feare of fraude. Ibid. (1596), F. Q. V. x. 37. The other which was entred, laboured last To sperre the gate.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 2788. Fast þe dors þan did he sparr [Gött. bar].
a. 1400. N. T. (Paues), Acts xii. 14. Sche … lefte þo ȝhate sparde, ande tolde hem þat Peter stondes bifore þe ȝate.
1484. Cal. Letter-Bks. Lond., ‘L’ 202 b. That every nyght … thei Shitte and Sparre their doores at the hour of ixe of the Clok.
a. 1529. Skelton, Ware the Hauke, 91. The church dores were sparred, Fast boltyd and barryd.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 143. Excepte they take good heede that the doores bee well sparde.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, I. 5. So when all iarres doe end their dates, Ianus may sparre his Iron gates.
1626. B. Jonson, Staple of N., II. iv. (1905), 47. I haue heard you … cauke your windores, spar up all your doores.
1674. Ray, N. Co. Words, 44. To Spar the Door, to bolt, bar, pin, or shut it…. This word is also used in Norfolk.
1825. in Jamieson, Suppl.
1888. Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I. 193. The gate was sparred, and the old man made no speed to come down and undo for us.
b. In fig. contexts. Also absol.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 34. He closiþ, and þan no man opuniþ; he opuniþ, and þan no man sperriþ.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 16. Þai treuly sal haue power to spar heuen to þame.
1555. Latimer, Lett., in Serm. & Rem. (1845), 437. Or else the doors [of heaven] will be shut up [v.r. sparred up before ye come], that ye cannot go in.
1612. J. Davies (Heref.), Muse’s Sacrifice, Wks. (Grosart), II. 56/1. Thus shall each pious person pray to thee in fitting time (yer Mercies Gate be sparr’d).
† 2. In general use: To close, fasten, secure, lock, etc. Also with up.
c. 1200. Ormin, Ded. 261. He sahh … an boc Bisett wiþþ seffne innseȝȝless, & sperrd swa swiþe wel þatt itt Ne mihhte nan wihht oppnenn. Ibid., 12155. Forr Cristess þohht wass sperrd … Wiþþinnenn & wiþþutenn.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3320. He tought it [my heart] so hym for to obey, That he it sparrede with a key.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 14. Aftirward it [sc. the fistula] is opned by itself, and renneþ as it is seid afore, and aftirward it is sperred.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. xxxv. (1554), 215 b. [He] Closed hys booke, and shet it in his chest, But ere he might sperre it with the keye [etc.].
1615. T. Adams, Blacke Devill, 19. He lockes the doores after him, sparres up the heart with security, that his treasure be not stolne.
† 3. To confine, enclose, or imprison, to shut up, in a place. Obs.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in O. E. Hom., I. 285. Mi bodi henge wið þi bodi neiled o rode, sperred querfaste wið-inne fowr wahes.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9501. Ȝyf he wyþ sege sperre me her-yn. Ibid., 11824. As wyþ þe Romayns for to werre, Þat alle men in þer daunger sperre.
a. 1400. Hylton, Scala Perf. I. xvi. (W. de W., 1494). And therefore as a wretche & outcaste … art sperred in a hous alone.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 3. Sho was sparred in a cloce cell iij yere.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, B b j. He … caused him to bee spared faste in the same tower.
1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., II. xii. (1589), 50. There sparred vp in gates, The valiant Thæbane … a following fight awaites.
a. 1600. Floddan Field (1664), I. 10. Our startling Nags in Stables sparde, Are waxen wild with too much rest.
refl. 1535. Coverdale, Ezek. iii. 24. Go thy waye, and sparre thy selff in thyne house.
† 4. To shut (a person or thing) out or in. Obs.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 66. Sorwyng þat mankynde was spard out … from þe delytes of paradyse.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., iii. 128. Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar…, The water out to spar.
1483. Cath. Angl., 354/1. To Sperre jn, jncludere. Ibid. To Sperre oute, excludere.
1530. Palsgr., 728/1. What meanyth this woman, she sperryth me out, she callyth me agayne.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxi. 7. But the same daye was there a man sparred in before the Lorde.
† 5. To fix or fasten together or down. Obs.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Hakl. Soc.), 78. They haue drummes besides of a huge bignesse, which they carry … on foure horses, that are sparred together with chaines.
a. 1723. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 202. It is very good husbandry to top hay or corn-reeks with well wetted helms, that they may be well sparred down.
