[f. SPILE sb.2 Cf. NFris. spīle, G. speilen, to fix or fit with spiles.]
1. trans. To stop up (a hole) by means of a spile. Also with up.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xxii. Nail-holes, which they use to spile up at stripping. Ibid., 45. They were forced to … spile the Spike-holes.
1837. in Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 242/1. If there should be a defect in the joint it must be made afresh, as it can neither be spiled as a wooden joint, nor set up as a lead joint.
2. To draw (liquid) from a cask by spiling or broaching. Now dial.
1772. in J. Tomlinson, Doncaster (1887), 237. Going to Rossington to Spile the Court Ale.
a. 1904. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., I never spiled the beer.
3. To provide (a cask, tree, etc.) with a spile, in order to draw off liquid. Now dial. or U.S.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, I. v. 63. I’ve spiled them, and they prove to be puncheons of rum. Ibid. (1836), Midsh. Easy., xiv. Then one of the casks of wine was spiled.
1879–. in dial. glossaries (e.Anglia, s.w. Lincs., Cumbld., etc.).
1904. Mrs. Atherton, Rulers of Kings, ix. 33. Of course the trees have to be spiled.
