Chiefly Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 4–6 spyre, 5 spyr, spyer, spierre, 7 spier, 5, 7– spire. [app. of Continental origin, corresponding in sense 1 to ON. spíra (Norw. and Sw. spira, Da. spire), LG. spiere, spier, MDu. spier (rare), NFris. spîr, WFris. spier, spjirre. The original locality of the word, and its relation to SPIRE sb.1, are not clear.]

1

  † 1.  A spar or pole of timber; a bar or moderately long piece of wood. Obs. (Cf. SPAR sb.1 1–3.)

2

1392.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 115. In iij spyres emp. de Joh. de Morpath pro skaffald, 15d.

3

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 503. Gamelyn spreyniþ holi water with an oken spire.

4

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 17170. [They] spered the ȝates wel and faste With many a spire that wel wolde laste.

5

1419.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 144. Et in ij spyrys de esch emt. pro reparacione unius domus,… 5d.

6

1470.  Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 339. Noo freman [shall] goo without the citte to by hides, tallow, spirys, bordes.

7

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., 221. There lyeth foorth farther out a fouresquare beame or spire.

8

  † b.  The pole or shaft of a chariot. Also attrib.

9

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., 222. From the very midst of these ropes there riseth forth a beame of wood overthwart, and after the fashion of a yoke spire or tiller erected. Ibid. (1610), Camden’s Brit. (1637), 29. They were wont to … runne along the spire-pole and beame of the chariot.

10

  2.  A young tree suitable for making into a spar; a sapling. Also attrib.

11

1392.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 116. In xxxij spyres emp. de Will. Mayllour, 16s. 4d. Et in eisdem prosternandis, 7d.

12

1543.  Mem. Fountains (Surtees), 413. [Survey of woods], Young oke spyres,… small ashe spyres.

13

1620.  N. Riding Rec., II. 234. For cutting and stealing in Watlas Springe, two ash-spires.

14

1634.  Bp. Hall, Contempl., N. T., IV. xi. Like a wood new felled, that hath some few spires left for standers.

15

1703.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3975/4. Persons having any small young Spire Elm Timber to dispose of.

16

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 394. Many times a Spire Elm will begin to grow hollow at the bottom when any of its Roots happen to perish.

17

1788.  W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 355. Spires; timber stands (not common).

18

1828.  in Carr, Craven Gloss.

19

1854.  Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Spires, young trees that shoot up a considerable height before they branch out and form a head.

20

1876.  Davidson’s Precedents, V. I. 225. All timber and other trees, pollards, spires, and saplings.

21