Obs. Forms: 4 spaier, 5 spayere, speyer, speyr(e, 5–6 spayre, 6 sparre, 5–6 (8–9) spare. [Of obscure origin.] An opening or slit in a gown, robe, etc., in later use in a woman’s gown (see quot. 1597).
Jamieson (1808), has also ‘the slit or opening, formerly used in the fore-part of breeches.’
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5825. He put it [his hand] eft in his spaier, And vte he drogh it, hale and fere.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2060. A-bowne the spayre a spanne, emange the schortte rybbys.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. ix. (1869), 78. And than Resoun putte hire hond in to hire bosom bi a spayere.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 115. His clothyng was lynen, & full of spayerys, & in euery spayere hyng a crewett.
a. 1529. Skelton, P. Sparowe, 345. My byrde … That was wont to … go in at my spayre, And crepe in at my gore Of my gowne before.
1530. Palsgr., 273/2. Sparre of a gowne, fente de la robe.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., s.v. Bastardus, That part of weemens claiths, sik as of their gown, or petticot, quhilk vnder the belt, and before, is open, commonlie is called, the spare.
a. 1700[?]. Jew’s Daughter, in Motherwell, Minstrelsy (1827), 52. She took out a little penknife, Hung low down by her spare. [Also in other ballads.]
