[Corruption of espial, due to the influence of L. specĕre to look, or possibly to confusion with next.] = ESPIAL 1 and 2 a.
a. 1500. Chaucer’s Friar’s T., 23 [MS. Petworth especiale, MSS. Corpus, Lansd. especiaile; other MSS. have the correct reading espiaille].
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 283. His especials and Explorators declared and accompted to hym that all the Realme was up.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., II. II. (Arb.), 112. One of their coompanye standynge vppon the toppe of a hyghe rocke of especiall … beganne to crye Lynnyn sayles.
