Now Hist. [SPICE sb.] A small plate or dish formerly used for holding spice.
1391. Earl Derbys Exp. (Camden), 100. Pro ijbus spyceplates argenteis. Ibid. Pro factura de les spyceplates.
1415. in Kal. & Inv. Treas. (1836), III. 367. .ii. spiceplates dargent.
1459. Paston Lett., I. 469. Item, j. spice plate, well gilt like a double rose.
1537. N. Co. Wills (Surtees), 146. A spice plate of Spanysshe worke.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 385. The Frenche king gaue to him an Owche and a spice Plate of Golde of a great weight.
1778. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, II. xv. 346, note. The spice, for this mixture, was served, often separately, in what they called a spice-plate.
1884. Leisure Hour, June, 374/1. The marshal of the hall bearing the grace-cup and spice-plate of his lord.