Now Sc. (and Ir.). Forms: 4 spojour, spogeour, 5 spougeour; 4 sp(o)uchour, 6 Sc. spowcheour, 9 spoucher, spoocher. [ad. ONF. espuchoir (= OF. espusoir, espuisoir), f. espuchier, espuichier (= OF. espuicier, espuisier, mod.F. épuiser) to drain, empty of water.] A wooden vessel for baling out or conveying water; a water-scoop. In early use Naut.
1336–7. Acc. Exch. K. R., 19/31 m. 5. In ij. spojours emptis ad eandem [galeam] ad aquam in dictis Wyndingbalies ponendam … viiij. d.
1338. Roll ‘T. G.’ 11,097, in Nicolas, Hist. R. Navy (1847), II. 475. Un ketill, un spogeour, ii. seilyngnedeles, un dyall.
1352. Excheq. Acc. Q. R. Bundle 20. no. 27. Pro quodam instrumento ligneo vocato ‘spuchour’ pro aqua fundanda et defendenda de nave. Ibid. Pro quodam vase vocato ‘spouchour.’
1420. For. Acc. 3 Hen. VI., F/2 b. ij lanternys, j spougeour, ij poleys pro le shroude et j sketfat.
1548. Extr. Aberdeen Reg. (1844), I. 259. Certane wther varklummes, sic as spowttis, spowcheouris [printed spowth-], and cruikis.
1890. in Simmons, Donegal Gloss. (E.D.D.).
1898. Proc. Philos. Soc. Glasgow, XXX. 45. Fire water—fire a spoucher full.
