Also 5 spredd. [f. the verb. Cf. LG. spredde, spreide, G. spreite.]
I. † 1. A bitter spread, a hard experience. Obs.
c. 1440. Bone Florence, 1843. The maryner set hur on hys bedd, Sche hadd soone aftur a byttur spredd.
2. The act of spreading in space; degree or extent of this.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 676. No Flower hath that kinde of Spread that the Woodbine hath.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 129. Many and long Roots, which by their circular spread … are more than ordinarily capacitated to receive the fertile Benefits of the … Dung and Stale.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 145. These naked shoots…, more aspiring, and with ampler spread, Shall boast new charms.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Wallace, xxxii. Broad grew his breast with ampler spread.
1858. W. Eccles, Guide Blenheim Palace (ed. 7), 13. Beeches, which have now attained a growth of such luxuriance and spread of branches.
1865. J. Cameron, Malayan India, 171. The trees being of one age are of a uniform height, thickness of trunk, and spread of top.
b. With the: The extent, expanse, or superficial area of something.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 125. Determine the number of Men for sailing from the Spread of Canvas. Ibid., 127. Equations between the spread or Sails, and the Velocity of the Wind.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1749), 142. I measured one of the largest [trees], and found it … thirty seven yards in the spread of its boughs.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 119. Raise a Border six or twelve Inches high, according to the spread thereof.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxiii. He knew … the spread of every sail … in feet and inches.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 321. I found that the spread of its branches covered a circle of the diameter of forty-two paces.
1883. Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 254. Under the immense spread of the starry heavens.
c. Capacity for spreading or extending; tendency to spread or go apart.
1772. C. Hutton, Bridges, 58. The … thickness of a pier … shall just balance the spread or shoot of the arch.
1885. C. T. Davis, Manuf. Leather, 558. Skins dressed by this process,… it is claimed, are made soft, pliable, and with elasticity or spread.
d. The point at which something spreads.
1896. Westm. Gaz., 25 July, 3/1. A beautiful old orchard is full [of mud] to the spread of the trees’ branches.
3. With a: An expanse or stretch of something. Also, a spread-out layer or stream (quot. 1747).
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 549, ¶ 3. I have got a fine Spread of improveable Lands.
1746. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 99. Nearer the houses we perceive an ample spread of branches.
1747. Gentl. Mag., 311. Which made the corn run in a thin even spread under it.
1824. Examiner, 71/2. A dark spread of calm water.
1840. Barret, Water Colour Paint., 104. The sky at this time of the afternoon frequently exhibits a tender spread of yellow.
1880. Blackmore, Mary Anerley, II. 63. He struck into the gill from a trackless spread of moor.
b. Naut. A display of sails.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, vii. (1856), 64. The whole spread of her mizen and main canvass shining like gold cloth against the fore.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., ii. 40. A mastless ship requires less stability than one carrying a large spread of canvas.
4. The fact of being spread abroad, diffused, or made known; diffusion, dispersion: a. With a.
1675. R. Burthogge, Causa Dei, 389. Of so large a spread then was the knowledge of God.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit. (1822), I. 18. The translation of the New Testament by Tyndal … had a wonderful spread among the people.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. W., lxiii. The period of renewed barbarity began to have an universal spread much about the same time.
1805. Southey, in C. C. Southey, Life (1850), II. 324. It would yield either to a general spread of knowledge … or to the unrestrained attacks of infidelity.
b. With the and of. (The common use.)
1750. Abp. Herring, in J. Duncombe, Lett. (1773), II. 271. I cannot account for the large spread of the story.
1785. Cowper, Lett. J. Newton, 24 Sept. While the spread of the gospel continues so limited as it is. Ibid., Let. W. Bagot, 9 Nov. [The Bishop’s charge] deserves the most extensive spread.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., II. iii. I. 321. It may seem strange that the spread of the reformed religion should so long have escaped … the Holy Office.
1891. Speaker, 2 May. 534/1. The growth of education and the spread of scientific training.
c. Without article.
1864. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene, I. xvii. 429. The conditions of spread of [yellow fever in a ship] are probably as favourable as in the most crowded city.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 89. The disease disregards anatomical boundaries,… the direction of spread being determined … by contiguity.
II. † 5. ? A long oar or sweep. Obs.–1
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 26. These Boats are as large as one of our Ware-Barges,… but padling with Paddles instead of Spreads, and carry a great Burthen with little trouble.
6. slang. Butter.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Spread, butter.
1865. Slang Dict., Spread, butter, a term with workmen and schoolboys.
7. colloq. A banquet, feast, meal.
Common from about 1825.
1822. Gentl. Mag., XCII. I. 31. Spreads on the grass for the better sort of people.
1844. J. T. Hewlett, Parsons & W., vi. I gave very correct feeds—spreads we used to call them.
1893. H. Vizetelly, Glances Back, I. xv. 300. He … was a constant attendant at these little spreads.
8. a. A bed-cover, coverlet. Orig. U.S.
Prob. after Du. sprei († sprey, spree) or G. spreite (dial. spreit, spreet, LG. spreed). Kilian gives spreeder and bed-spreeder as current in Du. and Fris. of his time. The comb. bed-spread, given as local U.S. by Bartlett (1848), is now also common in English use.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xx. [She would] flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., 3/2. Each bed … was provided with a feather tick; but the night being warm these spreads were thrown off.
b. A shawl (Slang Dict., 1859).
