rare. Var. of SPAYARD.
The form may be due to SPIRE sb.1 6 b.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rur. Sports, I. x. 82. The Brocket has only small projections, called knobbers, with small brow antlers; the Spire a brow antler [etc.].
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 700. Spire.… A male deer of three years old.
