'The shepherds and vulgar people in South Wilts call Februarie "sowlegrove," and have this proverb of it:—"Soulgrove sil lew,"—February is seldome warme—sil pro seld, seldome.'—Aubrey, Anecdotes, Camden Society, cxlvii.
Spade. The congealed gum of the eye (A.B.). Also Spady in N. Wilts. A.S. sped, phlegm.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard, &c.)
*Spances. 'Raves or sides, spances, compose the waggon-bed' (D.).
Spanky. Showy, dashing (A.B.).—N.W.
Spar. In thatching, the 'elms' are fastened down with 'spicks' or 'spars,' split hazel rods, pointed at both ends, and bent into hairpin shape, with a twist just at the bend to give them a tendency when fixed to spring outwards, and so hold faster.—S.W.
Sparked, Sparky. Of cattle, mottled or of two colours (D.); pied, variegated (Wilts Arch. Mag. vol. xxii. p. 225).—N. & S.W.
'One of the earliest indictments on the roll of the Hilary Sessions [Wilts], 1603-4, tells of quatuor vaccas quar' due color sparked et una alia coloris rubri et altera color browne.'—Wilts Arch. Mag. vol. xxii. p. 225-6.
Sparked-grass. Phalaris arundinacea, L., Striped Ribbon-grass.—S.W. (Som. bord.)
*Spawl. A chip or splinter from a stone.—N.W. (Malmesbury.)
Spear. (1) n. A stalk of reed-grass (S.).—N.W. (2) v. See Spurl.—S.W.