north. and † Sc. Also 5 spayr, 6 spair. [var. of SPAR v.1 Cf. SPEAR v.2
Spareð, given as a variant in the Ancr. R. 70, is perh. an error for spereð.]
1. trans. To bar, bolt or secure (a door or gate).
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 389. The ȝettis than he gert thame spare, And sat and ete at all lasare.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvi. (Nicholas), 363. Þocht þe ȝet wes before sparyt, with strinth he enterit In.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5067. He fande þe mynster ȝatis spared; As a wodeman he fared.
1583. Durham Dep. (Surtees), 314. The said Edward doore was spaired all the tyme the said geis was in eatyng.
1677. Nicolson, in Trans. R. Soc. Lit. (1870), IX. 319. Spare the dure, shut to the door.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Spare, to shut, to close.
1894. Heslop, Northumbld. Gloss., 674. ‘Spare the yett,’ ‘Spare the door,’ are still in common use.
† 2. To close (the lips or eyes) firmly. Obs.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Verse), 107. And spayr þi lipes, & hald þam still, So þat þay opyn noght with ill!
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 3847. He spared his eghen and lay still.
† 3. To shut up; to keep out. Obs.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4123. As a man in prisoun sparde.
1482. Monk of Evesham, lv. (Arb.), 107. The crosse … was lettyn done ageyne, and so sparyd other oute that wuld haue commyn in.
