speight

See also: Speight

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From late Northern Middle English specht (“woodpecker”), from Old English *spiht, *speoht, from Proto-West Germanic *spiht, *speht, from Proto-Germanic *spihtaz, *spehtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peyk- (“a kind of bird, woodpecker, magpie”).

Traditionally considered to be borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, but this is rendered problematic by the mention of Spehtesberie in Domesday (Middle English Speghtesbury, Spettesbury; modern Spettisbury). Compare Dutch specht (“woodpecker”), German Specht (“woodpecker”), Danish spætte (“woodpecker”), Latin pīcus (“woodpecker”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /speɪt/, /spaɪt/
  • Rhymes: -eɪt, -aɪt
  • Homophones: spate, spite

Noun

speight (plural speights)

  1. (obsolete) A woodpecker.
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