north. dial. Forms: 5 spekk(e, speke, 6 specc-, 6–8 specke, 7– speck. [Of obscure origin: a common later form is SPETCH.]
1. A patch or piece of leather used in the making or mending of boots or shoes. † Also, a patch of cloth or other material.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 468/1. Spekke, clowte, pictacium.
1483. Cath. Angl., 353/1. A Spekk (Speke A.), presegmen.
1570. Levins, Manip., 47. A specke, cento.
1609. Bible (Douay), Josh. ix. 5. And shoes very old which for shew of oldenesse were clouted with speckes.
1664. Spelman’s Gloss., Pictatium,… Anglicè a scraw, or a speck, or the clout of a shoe.
17[?]. Robin Hood rescuing three Squires, in Child, Ball., III. 179. Robin did on the old mans cloake, And it was torne in the necke; ‘Now, by my faith,’ said William Scarlett, ‘Heere shold be set a specke.’
1788. W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 354. Speck; the heel-piece of a shoe.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Speck.… The sole of a shoe.
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Speck, the piece put on to the heel or toe of a shoe.
† 2. A piece, strip or trimming of undressed hide used in making size. Obs.
1496–7. Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 250. Et sol. eidem pro le spekkes et dealbacione aule, xviij d.
1531. Durham Househ. Bk. (Surtees), 69. Empcio le Whyteledre…. Et in mundacione 3 pellium equorum soluti Johanni Grynvill, 2s. Et eidem pro 3 speccis, 6d. Ibid., 84. Et in speccis emptis pro camera de Meryngton, 4d.
1611. Churchw. Acc. Pittington (Surtees), 161. Paide for fower bushels of speckes to the same [lime], xx d.
† 3. (See quots.) Obs. rare.
1684. Yorks. Dial., 39. Thy Father and Hobb, mun gang to th’ Smiddy, And fetch the Specks, Sock and Cowlter hither. Ibid. Clavis, Specks, are long thin pieces of Iron which Husband-men nail upon their Ploughs, to save them from wearing.
