Also 7 spech, 9 spitch. [Related to SPECK sb.2]
1. A piece or strip of undressed leather, a trimming of hide, used in making glue or size.
1611. [see spetch-grease below].
1624. Naworth Househ. Bk. (Surtees), 216. Glover’s spech, iiijd.
16[?]. Churchw. Acc. All Saints, York, Ibid. For glovers’ spetches to maike syse to wase the wales, 10d.
1795. J. Phillips, Hist. Inland Nav., Add. 40. For every pack or sheet of wool, dried pelts, or spetches, carried the whole length of the canal…, six-pence.
1815. Pocklington Canal Act, 52. Dried pelts, spetches, and wool.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Spetches, a name for glue pieces; the offal of skin and hides.
1883. R. Haldane, Workshop Rec., Ser. II. 300/2. The materials … in use for the manufacture of glue are the following:—(a) ‘Wet’ materials; sheep-pieces or ‘spetches’ from fellmongers.
attrib. and Comb. 1611. Cotgr., Surpoinct,… Spech grease; an oylie grease scummed from peeces of lickored leather sodden in water for that purpose.
1881. Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 166. Spitch Dealer (refuse of Hides).
2. dial. A piece or patch of leather, esp. one used for making or mending boots, clogs, etc.; also, a patch of cloth.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., Spetch, a patch.
1853. ‘Tom Treddlehoyle,’ Bairnsla Ann., 52. Ther [cobbler’s] hause floor … is kept cuvard all ovver we leather spetches.
1863–. in Cumbld. and Yks. dial. glossaries and texts.
