Pa. t. and pa. pple. spilled, spilt. Forms: Inf. 1–2 spillan, 2–5 -en, 5 spyllyn; 3–6 spille, 4–6 spylle, 4–8 spil, 6 spyl(l; 4– spill. Pa. t. 1–4 spilde (4 spild), 4 spilede, 5 spillide, spyllede, 5, 7– spilled; 4 spilte, 4–5 spylt, 5–6 spylte, 4– spilt. Pa. pple. 1 ʓespilled, -od, 2 i-spilled, 5–6 spylled, 5– spilled (7 spill’d); 1, 5–6 spild (6 spilde), 3–5 i-spild (4 i-spilde, i-spyld, y-spild, 5 y-spyld); 1, 4– spilt (4, 6 spilte), 4 y-spilt(e, y-spylt, 5–6 spylt(e. [OE. spillan, = MDu. and Du. spillen, MLG. and LG. spillen, G. (ver)spillen, NFris. spille, spilj, obscurely related to the synonymous OE. spildan, = OS. spildian (MLG. and MDu. spilden), OHG. (obs. G.) spilden. It is not clear which of the two forms is represented by ON. spilla (Icel., Norw., Sw. spilla, Da. spilde), which may partly have contributed to the ME. uses of the word.]
I. 1. trans. To destroy by depriving of life; to put (or bring) to death; to slay or kill.
Common c. 1300–1600. Now Obs. exc. arch.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xx. 16. [He] cymeð & spilleð buendo ðas. Ibid., John xi. 53. Of ðæm dæʓe … ʓeðohton [hia] þætte hine spildon uel acuoeldon.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1096. Ðær wearð eac Eoda … þæs cynges aðum … & sumne man to Lundene lædde, & þær spilde.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 17. Ȝif heo nulluð nefre … gan to bote, hit is riht þet me hem spille.
c. 1205. Lay., 16870. Let heom alle for-don, spillen & æc an-hon.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 348. With þis Askebert heo spac, þis child to slen and spille.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4806. Androcheus saw his felon wille, Þat þe kyng þoughte hym to spille.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 253. [Þey] hadde leuere be lost and i-spilde þan be vnderlynges and seruauntes.
1418–20. in Archaeol. (1827), XXI. 72. Whan thay had hym so gretly agylte, And of hys men meny one spylte.
c. 1489. Skelton, Death Earl Northumbld., 106. Alas for pite! that Percy thus was spylt, The famous Erle of Northumberland. Ibid. (a. 1529), ‘Now synge we,’ 14. Thus was I spylt, Man, for thy gylte, And not for myne.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 94. O Greece thou spillest more men with civil wars…, then would defend thy state against all the world.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 7. Caring no more in their fury to spill a man, then to kill a dogge.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1890), 44/2. Then if mine old line he must spill There let God save him if He will. Ibid. (1887), Odyss., XI. 438. How many for Helen death did spill!
b. Contrasted with save.
13[?]. K. Alis., 3997 (Laud. MS.). Þe kyng may don his will Sauen þat Percien oiþer hym spille.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1917, Ariadne. So that the site was al at his wille To sauyn hem hym leste or ellis spille.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, I. viii. (1544), 13 b. Ye may me saue and spill with a woord.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1496. Surely it is I that all may saue and spyll.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 170. Thow may me saif, thow may me spill, Baith lyfe and deide lyis in thy will.
1620–6. Quarles, Feast for Worms, 631, Wks. (Grosart), II. 14. Loue cry’d out, Hold; for better sau’d, then spill’d; But Feare cry’d, Kill.
c. refl. To destroy or kill (oneself).
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxix. (Placidas), 435. He … oft-tyme wes in to wil hyme-self in-to þe flud to spil.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 328. In this wise himself he spilte With his folhaste and deth he nam.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 4368. For into teris þouȝ þou al distille, And rende þi silfe, as þou woldest þe spille.
1480. Robt. Devyll, 68, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 221. My wyfe soroweth in her partye, I feare that she wyll her selfe spyll.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, II. x. 203. Gif thou list pas, quod scho, thi self to spill.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, III. 39. Quhilk spilt hir self for luif of Pyramus.
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, VIII. xvii. Wks. (Grosart), II. 304. Thou first didst conquer vs; then rays’d our skill To vanquish others; here our selues to spill.
† d. absol. To cause death or slaughter. Freq. contrasted with save, spare, etc. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16330. Ne wat þou þat þe pouste es min to spill or latte ga?
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 114. For he to spille and noght to save Is schape, as thogh he were ded.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1318. With þat Bucifalon … he brased in þe side, Springis out with a spere, spillis at þe gaynest.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 3317. Vn-to þe tyme þei haue of þe toun … ful possessioun, At her fre wil to spillen and to saue.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), II. 233. For he hath the pour of the princes alle, To saue or spylle.
1576. Pettie, Petite Pallace, 78. Women ought to … spyll with Camma, to kyll with Lucrece.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 452. Thinking no reuenge more princely, then to spare when she might spill.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Panaretus, 1546. I know it far more honourable To save then spill (in Cases tolerable).
1627. E. F., Hist. Edw. II. (1680), 72. To save where you may spill, proclaims your Goodness.
2. To destroy or put an end to (life). Now arch.
In later use perh. associated with sense 9.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xvii. 33. Seðe suahuelc soecað sauel his hal ʓewyrca spilleð hia.
13[?]. K. Alis., 1062 (Laud MS.). Miȝth she haue yfounde a knijf, She had yspilt sone her lijf.
c. 1430. Sir Gener. (Roxb.), 9738. Thogh my life in erth be spilt, Gladly I wold my soul saue.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xxxv. 4. Confound them with rebuke and blame that seeke my soule to spill.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 54. I … Bad her commaund my life to saue, or spill.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. ii. III. viii. Ay me! that dreary death such lovely life should spill.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. xii. 249. Behold his life spilled, whilest wicked Balaams was spared in journey.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1698), I. 4. You must carry your body steadily, or else spill your life.
1813. Scott, Trierm., II. xxii. But trust me, that, if life be spilt,… in Arthur’s grace Gyneth shall lose a daughter’s place.
† 3. To destroy, ruin or overthrow (a person); to bring to ruin or misery. Obs.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John vi. 39. Þætte all þæt salde me ne ic losiʓe uel þætte ic ne spillo.
c. 1205. Lay., 28863. Ah he nes noht iseli; þat wes for unleoden spilden al his þeoden.
c. 1275. in O. E. Misc., 144. Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild þe nule to hire turne.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13624. Þer hardinesse þem seluen spild!
c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s T., 326. Ful ofte for to muche speche Hath many a man been spilt as clerkes teche.
c. 1435. MS. Digby 233, fol. 224 b/1. Necligence & mysavisement spilleth, perscheth, & leseth hem þat ben vnkunnynge.
1526. Tindale, Heb. ii. 1. We ought moche more to attende vnto tho thynges which we have herde, lest we be spilt.
1583. Babington, Commandm., viii. (1590), 344. This spoyle to speede our selues, and spill our Brethren, in this lamentable and vnmercifull manner.
1615. T. Adams, Blacke Devill, 25. Hee walkes any way, to spill any man by any meanes.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. IV. xxx. Why had the first-made man such a loose will, That his innumerous of-spring he should fouly spill.
refl. a. 1300. Cursor M., 17226. But i þat es sa dedli dill, Me spedis ai me-self to spill, Wit my flexsli lust to fill.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxix. (Placidas), 148. Quhen man for his gylt brekand my byding hymself spilt.
c. 1460. Vrbanitatis, 82, in Babees Bk., 15. With fayr speche þou may haue þy wylle, And with þy speche þou may þe spylle.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 2165. Some fall to foly them selfe for to spyll.
1584–7. Greene, Carde of Fancie, Wks. (Grosart), IV. 134. I will either spoile him, or spill my selfe.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 20. So full of Artlesse iealousie is guilt, It spill’s it selfe, in fearing to be spilt.
† b. To destroy or ruin (the soul) by offending, or causing to offend, against moral laws. Obs.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 131. Þe honour of holi churche he lore, and is soule he miȝte so spille.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1320. And welthes … þe saul of man may lightly spille.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 2902 (Fairf.). Mony mon for þaire awen wil þaire body and þaire saule wil spil.
1509. Hawes, Conv. Swearers, 29. Wo worthe couetyse that dothe your soules spyll.
1556. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 246. Other … lamented, to see him spill his soul, wretchedly.
1623. R. Carpenter, Consc. Christian, 110. So the least sinne cherished and vncontrolled, [is sufficient] to spill the soule.
† c. To injure in respect of character; to spoil morally. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 41. Who-so spareth þe sprynge, spilleth his children.
1393. [see SPARE v.1 6 a. a].
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1990. It stant apone thi will For to omend thi puple, or to spill; Or have thi court of vertewis folk, or fullis.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia (1895), 50. Gentlemen vouchesauffe to corrupte and spill none but picked and chosen men.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. xcix. 254. Verily, we know not what an evil it is to spill and indulge ourselves and to make an idol of our will.
1657. R. Austen, Fruit-trees, II. 84. The common saying is: Spare the rod and spill the child.
1664. [see SPARE v.1 6 a. a].
† 4. To wreck, destroy or devastate; to spoil or ruin by demolition, etc. Obs.
Freq. from c. 1400 to c. 1620. In first quot. absol.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John x. 10. Ðeaf ne cymes buta þætte ʓestele & eteð & losað uel spilleð.
c. 1125. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1125. On ðes ilces ʓeares wearð swa micel flod … þet feola tunes & men weorðan adrencte,… & corn & mædwe spilt mid ealle.
c. 1225. in Rel. Antiq., I. 48. The strong fend … Godes hondiwerc he spilde, For on appel of the tree.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 720. A-ganis godd wex he sa gril Þat al his werk he wend to spil.
1340. Ayenb., 129. Vor þou art ase þe ilke þet slepþ ine þe ssipe þet is yspild.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 3904. Her behestes manly to fulfille, Towardis Troye, þe cite for to spille.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 731. Palyce thai spylt, gret towris can confound.
1532. Hervet, Xenoph. Househ., 16 b. The dogges kepe away wylde beastis, that they spille not the frute.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 109. Let Iuie be killed, else tree will be spilled.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 39. Conyza strewed, the haunt of serpents spills.
1623. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., vii. Q 2. The Mother-Waspes were many at first; yet the Rainie Spring and Summer did so spill their nests, that there were no small Waspes seene till Libra.
† b. With immaterial object. Obs.
Not always clearly distinguishable from 5 d.
1382. Wyclif, Pref. Ep. Jerome, v. Verreye wisdom shal spil the fals wisdom. Ibid. (1382), Gen. xli. 31. The greetnes of myseys is to spille the greetnes of plentithe.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 1336. A sadde stroke I salle one hym sett His pride for to spylle!
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 2150. Þat feyndus powere y dude þo spylle By help of þo angels, þat comen me to.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 134. Man, I gaif the nocht fre will, That thow sold my Gospell spill.
1602. J. Davies (Heref.), Mirum in Modum, Wks. (Grosart), I. 25/2. Naturally Contraries spill each other.
5. † a. To despoil or deprive of something. Obs.
c. 1124. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1124. Six men [wæron] spilde of here æʓon & of here stanes.
† b. To deprive of chastity; to violate. Obs.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 3256. Doþ be me al ȝoure wille, Schel he neuer eft wimman spille!
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xi. (Simon & Judas), 350. [She] sad, þat he agane hir will hyre difforsit, & sa cane spill.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 164. Both wiffis, wedowis, thai tuk all at thair will, Nonnys, madyns, quham thai likit to spill.
c. To spoil by injuring or damaging in some way; to render imperfect or useless; to destroy the goodness or value of (a thing). Now only dial.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6774. If i lent þe suilkin beist, Þat ded be or spilt at leist.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 442. [I have] yspilte many a tyme Bothe flesche & fissche and many other vitailles.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., iii. On him spild I my spere, And myculle of my nothir gere.
1532–3. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 151. Item, to him for hors spilt in the Kingis service,… xl li.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. i. (Arb.), 150. They not onely giue it no maner of grace at all, but rather do disfigure the stuffe and spill the whole workmanship.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxxiv. 8. Too much severity overthroweth, and quite spilleth a tender minde.
1703. Brand, Descr. Orkney, Zetland, etc. 112. When he Brewed, he would not suffer any Sacrifice to be given to Brouny, whereupon the … Brewings were spilt and for no use.
1773. Ferguson, Poems (1789), II. 43. Ae scabbit yew spills twenty flocks.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., xiv. If you’ve got anything as can be spilt or broke,… she’ll be at it.
1875–87. in dial. glossaries (Sussex, Surrey, Kent).
d. With immaterial object. Obs. or dial.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26841. Qua all fulfilles þe laght, and in a point it spilles, He sal be plighti for þis an.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 926. Þat oþir worthit me do his will, or halely my purpos spill.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12736. Whille he faryn was to fight in a fer lond, Sho spilt hade hir spousaile.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, K viij b. Of her … that of her falshede … breketh and spylleth her holy sacrement of maryage.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xv. 22. He that dois all his best servyiss May spill it all … Be fowll inoportunitie.
1568. T. Howell, Newe Sonets (1879), 148. She geues him leaue to range his fill, Full loth she is his sporte to spill.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm. (1616), 14. For cares cause Kings full oft their sleepe to spill.
c. 1620. Hume, Orthogr. Brit. Tongue (1865), 22. In al quhilk, if a man change the accent, he sall spill the sound of the word.
1632. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. xxii. 87. If ye mar or spill that business, ye cannot come back to mend that piece of work again.
1728. Ramsay, Robt., Richy, & Sandy, 115. These to repeat braid spoken I wad spill, Altho’ I should employ my utmost skill.
1790. Shirrefs, Poems, 92. Tak’ tent … the sport ye dinna spill.
† 6. To waste by scattering, squandering or misusing; to employ or expend wastefully. Obs.
a. 1000. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm., 55. Ic ʓisette ðec ofer cynno & ofer rico þæte … [ðv] to worpa & ðv spilla [L. disperdas et dissipes].
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 213. He … spilleð on him þat he sholde spelien wrecche men.
1308. in Ritson, Songs & Ball. (1877), 63/96. Throgh ham this lond is ilor To spille ale ant bred.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 380. I … spilte þat myȝte be spared, and spended on somme hungrie.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 47. And to þy mastir be trew, his goodes þat þow not spille.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 959/2. Euery fond piece of his diuises, wherein this good man is content to leese tyme & spyll paper.
1551. Crowley, Pleas. & Pain, 117. When any pore men … were so bolde to calle it yll, My landis and goodis in waste to spyll, You shet them vp in orisone strong.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 109. All my treasure spente on Iewells, and spylle in iolytye.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VIII. xxix. His spear a spit, a pot-lid broad his shield…: his word, ‘Much better sav’d, then spill’d.’
1728. Young, Love Fame, I. 186. Men, overloaded with a large estate, May spill their treasure in a nice conceit.
1786. Har’st Rig, 51. Nae gude I e’er kent come o’ them Gude food that spill.
† b. To spend (time, speech, labor) fruitlessly or unprofitably; to waste. Obs.
(a) a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1020. He myhte bet sytte stylle, Vor al his hwile he scolde spille.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 97. For þov nast non more ȝwile to spille, þane speken embe nouȝt.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9354. Al a wyke þe kyng þer lay, He spilte his tyme, sped of no pray.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 466. Ech man to … Spynnen, and spek of god, and spille no tyme.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 12462. Ȝe don but spillen ȝoure tyme jn veyn.
(b) a. 1225. Juliana, 24. Speche þu maht spillen ant ne speden nawiht.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1027. Ne sunge ich hom neuer so longe, Mi song were i-spild ech del.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 69. Þar-aboute þou spillest þi brethþ.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 97. He doth best, þat with-draweth hym … To spille any speche.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 82. He spilleth many a word in wast That schal with such a poeple trete.
1445. in Anglia, XXVIII. 273. Ner thou spekist not sternely to hem,… ne spillest no wynde for pride.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 43. Leve þi sweryng, & spill not þi wynde.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XI. i. Since I do trust Iehoua still, Your fearfull wordes why do you spill?
(c) c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s T., 153. This holde I for a verray nycetee To spille labour for to kepe wyues.
c. 1425. Craft of Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.), 14. Ellis þou mayst spyl alle þi laber þere aboute.
† 7. intr. To perish; to be destroyed or lost. Obs.
Freq. from c. 1300 to c. 1550.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 194. Nu þu miȝt us slen,… Bute ȝef hit beo þi wille Helpe þat we ne spille.
1340. Ayenb., 182. Spilþ ofte þet ssip þet geþ zikerliche ine þe heȝe ze.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1535. Mi perles paramours, my pleye & my ioye, spek to me spakli, or i spille sone.
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 11. But, Lord! late nevere mannes soule spylle.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 13. Suche a derth and hongyr … þat all negh spylleden for defawte.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 8. Yff thy syn be never so yll, Yet for no syn thou shalt spyll.
1592. Daniel, Sonnets Delia, xxxvi. Wks. (Grosart), I. 61. Her sight consented thus to see me spill.
† b. To go to ruin. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 516. Adam … was wroght þan þe tent ordir for to fullfill, þat lucifer did for to spill.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 532. Seand the realme in sic ane poynt to spill.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., v. 48. Bot now … sho moste be keipit or all will spill.
† c. To meet with bad fortune. Obs.–1
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 88. And natheles gret diligence Thei setten vpon thilke dede, And spille more than thei spede.
8. To fall off or decline in respect of good qualities; to degenerate or deteriorate, to spoil. Obs. exc. dial.
a. 1300[?]. Salomon & Sat. (1848), 271. Mote hit al habben is wille Woltou, nultou, hit wol spille, Ant bicome a fule.
13[?]. K. Alis., 1719 (Laud MS.). Alisaunder! þou conion wood, In þe spilleþ þi faye blood.
1340. Ayenb., 232. Þet þe guodnesse of maydenhod ne spille ine þe.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. i. (Skeat), l. 7. Thus from my comfort I ginne to spille, sith she that shulde me solace is fer fro my presence.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 23. How your courte by-gynnyth to spill off duoghty knightis all by-dene.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), Dd vj. My goods spil daily, yt heritage of mine auncetry perisheth.
1574–5. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 432. That the tymmer of the Frater of the said Abbay, quhilk consumis and spillis,… be tane doun.
1808. Jamieson, s.v., Meat is said to spill, when it begins to become putrid.
II. 9. trans. To shed (blood).
a. 1125. Gosp. Nicodemus (Cott. Vesp. D xiv), 91 b. Seo ʓebletsod se þe nolde þæt min blod wære ʓespillod [earlier text min blod nolde aʓeotan].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2958. Þai reft þam aght and spilt þair blode.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xiii. 6. Swift ere þaire fete to spill blode.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 816. His hert blode he gan þer spill.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 41. To shede and spylle blood is the condicion of a wylde beste.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 205. His blode spylled and shedde on the grounde.
1595–7. Daniel, Civ. Wars, IV. xliv. Wks. (Grosart), II. 151. I constrayned am this bloud to spill.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 131. A great deal of bloud would have been spilled that day between them two.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 506. Drink that very blood which was spilt upon the cross.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), III. 790. After spilling an ocean of blood in those theological quarrels.
1829. Hood, Eugene Aram, xiii. Woe, woe, unutterable woe,—Who spill life’s sacred stream!
1848. Gallenga, Italy (1851), 279. To account for the blood thus wantonly spilt.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, II. V. x. The red life spilt for a private blow.
10. To allow or cause (a liquid) to fall, pour, or run out (esp. over the edge of the containing vessel), usually in an accidental or wasteful manner; to lose or waste in this way.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxi. 13. Þai roght na mare to sla me þan to spill watere.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 356. [Man] of chirne mylke spilluth.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 469. Spyllyn, or puttyn owte (K. powryn owte), effundo.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xxxvii. 155. They shall lightly spylle the watre castyng the tubbes and other vesselles dounward.
1530. Palsgr., 728/2. Who hath spylled his potage upon the boorde clothe on this facyon?
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., V. Wks. 1856, I. 56. Holde my dish, whilst I spill my pottage.
1636. Jonson, Discov., Wks. (Rtldg.), 750. Their arguments are as fluxive as liquor spilt upon a table.
1779. Mirror, No. 64. Like claret spilt on a smooth table.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, li. Emily’s hand trembled, and she spilt the wine as she withdrew it from her lips.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., i. (1842), 17. Any of the metal [sc. mercury] which may be spilled is swept or wiped into the groove.
1859. Dickens, T. Two Cities, I. v. The wine had stained the ground of the narrow street … where it was spilled.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, July, xxvi. The lamp … One drop of burning oil spill’d from its side On Eros’ naked shoulder.
transf. 1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clxxiii. The … wind … which spills The ocean o’er its boundary.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VII. 197. Leave The monstrous ledges there to slope, and spill Their thousand wreaths of dangling water-smoke.
absol. 1820. Scott, Monast., Introd. Ep. It is difficult, saith the proverb, to carry a full cup without spilling.
1887. J. Dickie, Wds. Faith, Hope, & Love (1891), 197. My heart if full, my cup runneth over. It cannot be moved without spilling.
b. fig. and in fig. context.
In quot. 1574 = ‘to divulge, let out.’
1574. Hellowes, trans. Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 257. Although it be a shame to spill it, I will not leaue to say that which … his friendes haue said vnto me.
1583. Greene, Mamillia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 55. He doubted if he should be ouer bold, he might spill his pottage.
1650. T. B[ayley], Worcester’s Apoph., Ep. Ded. That the favours which were conferr’d upon me, were not spilt, but powred into a Violl.
1701. Stanhope, Pious Breathings, IV. xiii. 276. The love of Sin pollutes, the love of Vanity spills the Wine.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xxxvii. Be thou free To spill the venom when thy fangs o’erflow.
1894. W. D. Howells, in Harper’s Mag., Feb., 380/1. The fat’s in the fire, the milk’s spilt.
c. transf. (See quot.)
1870. Medbery, Men & Myst. Wall Str., 137. Spilling stock, when great quantities of a stock are thrown upon the market, sometimes from necessity, often in order to ‘break’ the price.
11. To scatter, esp. by emptying from some receptacle or the like; to disperse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14733. Þe moneurs for þair misgilt, Þair bordes [Jesus] ouerkest, þair penis spilt.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1419. Spedely with spry[n]galdis [they] spilt þaire braynes.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 35. Be þe tonges warly drawen out þat þai spill noȝt þe poudre.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 402. Or in a seriol half water fild … let hem suspende, And close hit fast, in wynde lest they be spild.
1710. Philips, Pastorals, IV. 72. As ruthless Winds the tender Blossoms spill.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Man of Many Fr., I. 189. She is spilling all the sugar all over the table.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 511. Better have died and spilt our bones in the flood.
transf. 1854. Mrs. Browning, Ragged Sch. Lond., xii. But these others—children small, Spilt like blots about the city.
12. a. To cover or overlay with something by (or as by) spilling. rare.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 5. Though … all the others pauement were with yuory spilt.
1895. Baring-Gould, Noémi, xxiv. (ed. 2), 336. The clouds were dispersing…; the floor of heaven was, as it were, spilt over with curds.
b. To empty (a cup, etc.) by spilling. rare.
1887. J. Dickie, Wds. Faith, Hope, & Love (1891), 147. ’Twas anguish when earth’s cup was spill’d.
13. Naut. a. To empty (a sail) of wind.
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301). When a sail hath much winde in it … we saie Spill the saile, which is done by letting goe the sheats and bowlings, &c.
1633. T. James, Voy., 95. The rest stood to spill and fill the sayle.
a. 1691. Sir D. North, in North, Lives (1744), 15. He was sure to be duck’d that was at the Yard-arm spilling the Sail.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), To Spill, to discharge the wind out of the cavity or belly of a sail when it is drawn up in the brails in order to furl or reef it.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 565. When the vessel was going free, and the sail could not be ‘spilled.’
1899. F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 190. She … rounded-to under our stern and ‘spilled’ her sail.
b. To discharge (wind) from the belly of a sail.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2268/1. Spilling-line, a line to spill the wind out of a sail, by keeping it from bellying out when clewed up.
1899. Daily News, 20 Oct., 5/7. His club-topsail began to spill wind badly, and he gained nothing.
14. colloq. To cause to fall from a horse or vehicle; to throw or throw out.
1731–8. Swift, Polite Conv., 70. The road was so bad that I … call’d to the Coachman, Pray, Friend, don’t spill us.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., Spilt, thrown from a horse, or overturned in a carriage; pray coachee don’t spill us.
1809. European Mag., LV. 20. The parson … met with a serious accident in being spilt from his horse.
1821. Byron, Lett., Wks. 1833, III. 301. Riding pretty sharply…, in turning the corner of a lane…, he was spilt.
1887. H. Smart, Cleverly Won, iii. It was a trick that might have spilled a practised horseman.
b. Similarly in other contexts. Also with out.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., vi. (1859), 82. He … spills us all at once into the sea.
1861. C. W. S. Brooks, Silver Cord, xxvii. ‘Mop, you old fool, will you come down?’ said the manager, spilling out the reluctant animal [from the chair] to the ground.
1881. C. H. Farnham, in Scribner’s Monthly, XXII. 536/1. She [the ice-yacht] slows up and heels over,… and she quietly spills the crew out of the box.
fig. 1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Nov., 1/1. An intrigue … to spill Sir Charles and then to secure Mr. Monro’s appointment to the vacant post.
15. intr. To flow or run over the brim or side; to escape or be wasted in this manner. Freq. with preps. and advs. Also fig.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., II. 174. Life without thee is loose and spills.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xix. ¶ 1. The Mettal may spill or slabber over the Mouth of … the Mold.
1741. Watts, Improv. Mind, I. ix. Wks. 1753, V. 238. He was so top-full of himself, that he let it spill on all the company;… he spoke too long.
1771. Phil. Trans., LXI. 496. To prevent the liquor from spilling when poured out.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2268/1. Any metal which dribbles or spills is caught into the spill-trough.
1899. F. H. King, Irrigation & Drainage, vi. 246. A long, sharp lip, over which the water may spill back into the canal.
transf. 1884. Burroughs, Pepacton, 217. Its body slumps off, and rolls and spills down the hill.
1900. E. Hough, in Century Mag., Feb., 510/1. The reaches of this majestic range run south … until they spill out in the far Southwest.
b. Naut. To empty or become void of wind.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 139. Till close embrail’d, and squar’d, the belly spills.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xv. (1863), 103. The ship turned slowly to the wind, pitching and chopping as the sails were spilling.
