Also 7 -rowl, 8 Sc. -roll. [f. SPUR sb.1 + ROWEL sb.]
1. The rowel or revolving pricking wheel of a spur. Also Comb., and in fig. context.
1611. Cotgr., Tartriere, the Spurre-rowell-like instrument wherewith Pastissiers make indented iags.
1649. Davenant, Love & Honour, I. i. 45. These bald chinnes are as familiar With their good stars as with spur-rowells.
a. 1724. in Ramsay, Tea-table Misc. (1876), II. 161. Curse on the spur-roll, Confounded be the upper-leather.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxi. Driving the spur-towels o’ the law up to the head into Sir Arthur’s sides to gar him pay it.
1830. Skelton, Meyrick’s Antient Arms & Armour, II. Pl. lxxxi. Spur-rowels were never of six points before the reign of Henry VI, nor of five till that of Charles I.
1866. Even. Standard, 13 July, 6. The more experienced Hungarian Hussars, jingling their monstrous spur-rowels.
2. Her. = MULLET2 1.
1820. Scott, Monast., Introd. Ep. The arms on the dexter side are those of Glendinning,… and on the sinister three spur-rowels for those of Avenel.
