subs. (common).—1. Speculation (BEE). Hence ON SPEC = on chance; on the hazard of the die.
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, clxxiii. He had engaged in this adventure (by which better word our forefathers designated what the Americans call a SPEC) with the hope of increasing his fortune.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xxxiv. They said what a wery gen’rous thing it was o’ them to have taken up the case ON SPEC, and to charge nothing at all for costs unless they got ’em out of Mr. Pickwick.
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, xxv. If tradesmen will run up houses ON SPEC in a water-meadow, who can stop them?
1873. GREENWOOD, In Strange Company, 247. Hundreds … had ‘heard’ that little dolls were the best ‘SPEC’ out.
2. (common).—In pl. = spectacles.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Knight and the Lady.’ He wore green SPECS with a tortoise-shell rim.
1838. J. C. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, ‘Peter Brush, the Great Used up.’ My ma used to put on her SPECS.
3. (racing).—See quot.
1869. GREENWOOD, The Seven Curses of London. Throughout lower London, and the shady portion of its suburbs, the window of almost every public-house and beer-shop was spotted with some notice of these ‘SPECS.’ … They all meant one and the same thing,—a lottery, conducted on principles more or less honest, the prize to be awarded according to the performances of certain racehorses.
4. (Winchester College).—Anything enjoyable or pleasant; a good thing. ON SPEC = in consequence.
1891. R. G. K. WRENCH, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. SPEC. What a SPEC! My pitch-up have turned up, and I’ve got leave out ON SPEC.
5. (Edinburgh Advocates’).—The Speculative Society.
