Now dial. Also 7 speele, 7, 9 spele. [Of Scand. origin: cf. Norw. spela, spila, Sw. spjela, spjele, of the same meaning.] A splinter or strip of wood, iron, etc.
c. 1440. Wycliffite Bible, 2 Kings xviii. 21. The splyndre or speel therof schal entre in to hys hond.
1634. Lowe’s Chirurg., 185. Boyle all in an earthen pot, and stirre it about with a speele of wood.
1660. M. Parker, Hist. Arthur, C iv. The speele of a broken launce hapned to pierce his skull.
1676. Wiseman, Surg. Treat., 286. During which some small Speels of Bones cast off, and the Ulcer cicatrized without much difficulty.
a. 1700. Kennett, MS. Lansdowne 1033, fol. 388 (Halliw.). A spele, a small wand, or switch in Westmorl[and].
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Spele,… a long, thin slip of wood.
1872. N. & Q., 4th Ser. IX. 21/2. He had got a speel in his finger.
1882. Lancash. Gloss., 249. Speel (Preston), a splinter.
