Spelk
(Spelk) n. [AS. spelc, spilc, a little rod by which a thing is kept straight, a splint for binding up
broken bones, akin to Icel. spelkur, pl., a splint. Cf. Spell a splinter.] A small stick or rod used as a
spike in thatching; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
Spell
(Spell) n. [OE. speld, AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle,
G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda
a writing tablet. Cf. Spillsplinter, roll of paper, Spell to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.]
Holland.
Spell
(Spell), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [AS. spelian to supply another's
place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
Spell
(Spell), n.
1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is
carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead.
A spell at the wheel is called a trick.
Ham. Nav. Encyc. 2. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of
time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.
Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather.
Washington. 3. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells. [R.]
Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by
spells.
Garew. 4. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell. [Local, U.S.]
Spell
(Spell) n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS. & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill. Cf.
Gospel, Spell to tell the letters of.]
1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] "Hearken to my spell." Chaucer.
2. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any
charm.
Start not; her actions shall be holy as
You hear my spell is lawful.
Shak. Spell
(Spell), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled or Spelt ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [OE. spellen, spellien,
tell, relate, AS. spellian, fr. spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spilln.e Spell
a tale. In sense 4 and those following, OE. spellen, perhaps originally a different word, and from or
influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf. D.
spellen to spell. Cf. Spell splinter.]
1. To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.]
Might I that legend find,
By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes.
T. Warton. 2. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. "Spelled
with words of power." Dryden.
He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot.
Sir G. Buck.
