Sc. Also 7–8 spelden, 8–9 -in, 9 -ane. [f. SPELD v. + -ING1. Cf. next and the earlier SPALDERLING.] A small split fish, preserved by being dried in the sun.
1537. in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1883), 608/1. Reddend. annuatim … pro Fischarhill 40 sol. pro lie kayn speldingis.
1547. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., IX. 106. Item, mair for ane card of speldinges, put in the said castell, price vj li.
a. 1682. Sempill, Blythsome Wedding, 63. And there will be partans, and buckies, Speldens, and haddocks anew.
1722. Ramsay, Three Bonnets, IV. 169. Swift hame and feast upon a spelding.
1785. Boswell, Tour Hebrides, 50. I bought some speldings, fish (generally whitings) salted and dried in a particular manner.
1805. G. McIndoe, Poems, 107. This trout … was faulded in twa like a speldin.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal., 67. Dried Sprats,… Soft Speldings, Whitebait.
