v. Obs. Forms: α. 4, 6 sparpil(l, 5 sparpeyll, 5–6 sparpyll(e, 6 -el(l, 6–7 -al(l, 4–6 (9) sparple; 4–5 sparpoil, 6 -ole; 5 sperpule, 5–6 sperpele, -ale, -ole, sperple. β. 4–6 sparble, 6 sparbel-. (See also SPARFLE v., SPARKLE v.2, and SPARTLE v.1) [ad. OF. esparpeillier (12th c.; mod.F. éparpiller), = Prov. esparpalhar, Catal. esparpillar, It. sparpagliare, to scatter, disperse, send in all directions: of uncertain origin, cf. DISPARPLE v.]
1. intr. To go or run in different directions; to disperse or scatter.
α. c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8488. Fele were slayn als þey fledde, & fleyng þey sparplyed & spredde.
c. 1420. Wars Alex. (Prose), 39 (E.E.T.S.). Wate þou noȝte wele þat a wolfe chasez a grete floke of schepe & gerse þam sparple.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 7826. On þe ferth day þai sparpylled.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 26. Ilk ane tuik ane seir way, And sperpellit full fer.
β. c. 1440. Partonope, 1076 (Roxb. Cl.). For Partanope made hym sparble wyde.
c. 1450. Merlin, xvii. 274. Than sparbled the saisnes and turned bakke towarde her chyuachie.
2. trans. To cast or throw here and there or in different directions; to scatter; to disperse or separate unduly or improperly.
a. 1350. John Bapt., 222, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 126. Þe banes þat þai fand Sparpilled þai wide in þe land.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxxxi. (1495), 942. The rough voyc is hose and sparplyd by smalle and dyuers brethynge.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4162. Þan ferd þai forth … & freschly assemblis All at was sperpolid on þe spene & spilt with þe blastis.
1487. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1814), II. 178. Nor the merchandis gudis be strikin vp nor vnresonably sperpalit.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. xii. 50. With sik rebound and rewyne wonder sayr That he his lyfe hes sparpellit in the ayr.
1542. St. Papers Hen. VIII., III. 374. The Kinges Majesties Judges … wer so sperplid or severid from other, not two in one housse.
1566. Drant, trans. Hor., Sat., I. i. A iij. If that thou spende and sparple it, no dodkin wyll abyde.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d, V. (1827), 152. The heukle-banies black That sparpled lay about like wrack Or tangles on a shore.
b. To disperse by distribution or division among persons. Chiefly Sc.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 24. Gudes þe whilk he has ouer his nede, to þame þat it nedis he sparpyll.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. iii. 138. The faderis has dividit þe croun amang þame self, and sparpellit his riches and guddis amang þe pepill.
1581. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 414. The guidis and geir of the foirsaidis rebellis … ar sparpallit and devidit in the handes of sindre personis. Ibid. (1615), X. 343. [They have] sparpallit and disponit upoun the same gold and silver at thair pleasour.
3. To break up, scatter, disperse (an assembly, army, fleet, etc.) by superior force. Freq. with abroad.
α. 1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xviii. 8. Forsothe there was the batail sparpoild vpon the face of al the loond.
c. 1420. Wars Alex. (Prose), 74 (E.E.T.S.). Thare na gouernour es þe folke are sparpled belyfe als schepe þat ere wit owtten ane hirde.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiv. 74. So were they in parell to be broken and sparpeylled abrode.
c. 1500. Melusine, 165. I … shal shew you of the viii vessels that were sparpylled by the tempeste.
1549. Thomas, Hist. Italy, 186. Andrew and his men behaued them selfes so valiauntly, that they sparpled the imperiall army abrode.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. lviii. 121 b. There was made a great slaughter, yea, farre greater then in the fieldes, for that there they were sperpeled and heere they tooke them altogether in their streets.
β. a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 375. Where thorough that symple feleshyp whiche named theym self shepherdes, was disseueryd and sparbelyd. Ibid., 636. The Kynges hoost was sparbled and chasyd.
4. To disperse in a more or less regular or methodical manner.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 158. Þe veyne arisynge comeþ to þe mydrif; & sum partie of hir is sparpoiled þoruȝ þe mydrif & þe lymes of þe brest.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 48. King Rewtha brocht all maner of craftismen out of othir contres, and sparpellit thaim in sindry schiris of his realme.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 90. There is another kind of exornacion that is not equally sparpled throughout the whole oration.
5. To spread abroad or disseminate (rumors, news, etc.).
1536–7. Earl of Derby, in 6th Report Hist. MSS. Commission, 445/2. Which letters and devises they sparple abroad.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John, vii. 52. These sayinges were by secrete whisperinges sperpled abrode.
1582. J. Melvill, Autobiog. (Wodrow Soc.), 13. Newes war sparpelit athort the countrey, that the Ministers war all to be thair massacred.
