Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 3–5 spikyng(e, 4–6 spykyng(e, 5 spykhyng), 4–6, 9 spiking, 5–7, 9 spikin, 6 spikene, 9 spiken, speken, -in, specking. [prob. a. MDu. spiking, synonymous with spiker (see SPIKE sb.2) or denoting some variety of this.] A spike-nail.

1

1261.  in Rep. Comm. Pub. Rec. Irel. (1815), Pl. ii. In fabricacione … ij malliorum et xx. spikyngorum, de mediocri forma.

2

1307–8.  MS. Acc. Exch. K. R., Bdle. 14 No. 14 (P.R.O.). In .iij. C. de magnis Spykinges emptis,…iiij.s.

3

1354.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 96. Et de Ml DC de spykinges grossis emp. ut infra pro coopertura ejusdem domus. Ibid. (1399), 133. Et in j mille de midelspykyng, iis. iid. Ibid. (1408), 139. Item et in iij ml dubylspykyng.

4

1484.  Churchw. Acc. Wigtoft, Linc. (Nichols, 1797), 80. Paid for grete spikyngs to all the trestles of all the Belles.

5

1527–8.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 344. Paid for a hillett & a plate & spikinges for the Southe churchdur.

6

1586.  Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 27. For dubblye and singley spikenes, ijd. Ibid. (1603), 151. Duble spykinges,… iijs;… single spykinges,… xijd.

7

1647.  J. Carter, Nail & Wheel, 27. There are a sort of nails (spikins I think they call them) they want heads: and so whatsoever is hang’d upon them slips of: Take heed of chusing Spikin Magistrates.

8

a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Spikin, Spekin,… a large nail with a round flat head.

9

1828.  Carr, Craven Gloss., Spiking, a long nail without a head.

10

  So † Spiking-nail. Obs.

11

1311–2.  in J. R. Boyle, Hedon (1895), App. 13. Spyky[n]gnayl et lignis pro barris.

12

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 469/1. Spykynge nayle.

13

1497.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 350. For ijc spikin nalis.

14