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 Special, subs. (old).—1. A paramour, male or female: cf. particular.

c. 1350. Tale of the Basyn [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iii. 52], xxii. The wenche was his speciall.

1440. Prompt. Parv., 468. Specyal, concubyne, the womann (speciall or leman). Concubina.

[?]. Lytell Geste of Robin Hode [Childe, Ballads, v. 123]. Syr Roger of Donkester That was her owne speciall.

2. (colloquial).—By ellipsis a particular person or thing: e.g., a special train, special Scotch, a special constable, a special edition, &c.

1890. Lancet, II. 796. What are known as specials are being held this week. These are for men who partially failed at the last regular examinations.

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 16. But Rosette for a potman's regard didn't care; She preferred her swell specials.

Speck, subs. (costers').—In pl. = damaged oranges.

Specklebelly, subs. (provincial).—A dissenter. [Hotten: 'Used in Worcester and the North.']

Speech, subs. (racing).—Information: spec. a tip (q.v.): e.g., to give (or get) the speech. Fr. tuyau.

Speecher, subs. (Harrow).—1. Speech-day: usually the first Thursday in July. The Speecher = The Speech-room: built 1871.

Speedyman, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—The herald of news of a vacancy at New College, Oxford. Whence sped to New College = elected to a scholarship.

Speel, verb. (common).—To decamp: see Absquatulate. To speel the drum = to make off to the highway.

Speeler, subs. (American).—A gambler. Also speel (see quot.).

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 151. We bet our money. They bet all they had, including a roll of bogus bills, called spiels, used for that kind of work [railway sharping], and pocketed all the money.

Speg, adj. (Winchester: obsolete).—Smart.

Spell, subs. (colloquial).—1. A turn of work [Bailey: 'A sea term']. Hence 2. (spec. Ausralian) a turn of rest. Also (3) a period of love, weather, adventure, sickness, luck, temper, and so forth (see quot. 1869). As verb. = (1) to relieve; and (2) = to rest.

c. 1586. Hakluyt, Voyages [Arber, Eng. Garner, 5, 514]. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 6. Men work by spells there was an old English spelung (turn, change)].

1602. Carew, Survey of Cornwall, fol. II. Their toyl is so extreame as they cannot endure it above foure houres in a day, but are succeeded by spels.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 25. He believes there is no more Sin in taking a spell with a Whore, than in pumping a leaky Vessel.

1775. Washington, Letter 'To J. Reed,' 25 Dec. Nothing new has happened except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather, and a considerable fall of snow.

1823. Jamaica Planters' Guide, 340. Sometimes there are two ostensible boilers to spell and relieve one another. When one is obliged to be spelled for the purpose of natural rest, he should leave his injunctions to a judicious negro.

1829. B. Hall, Travels in N. A., I. 188. A poor old negro offered to give me a spell when I became tired.

1835. Crockett, Tour Down East, 90. He had come home from the South, where he had been peddling a spell.

1846. J. L. Stokes, Disc. in Australia, II. 42. In order to spell the oars, we landed at a point on the east side.

1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., I. 182. A gentle, misty air makes me hope that we are going to have a warm spell.