Ramsay. The Gentle Shepherd.
Souch, S, the sound of gentle wind or breath.
“Hark how the westlin’ win’ souchs through the reeds.”
Ibid.
Spang-hew, S and C, to fling to the winds.
Spang-hewing is a cruel mode practised by school-boys of putting birds, frogs, etc., to death. A stick is laid across a block, the victim placed on one end and the other struck sharply, throwing the poor animal high into the air, killing, and generally, mutilating it.
Spats, S and C, abbrev. of spatterdashes—gaiters.
“Their stumps, erst used to philabegs,
Are dight in spatterdashes.”
Ferguson. Leith Races.