Forms: 4 espi-, espyaile, -lle, (expyayle), 4–7 espiall(e, 6–7 espyal(l, 5– espial. [a. OF. espiaille the action of spying (concr. in pl. ‘spies’), f. espier, mod.F. épier: see ESPY v.]
1. The action of espying or spying.
a. The acting as a spy; the action of keeping watch; observation. Also attrib.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 353. Thanne schal ye evermore counterwayte embusshementz and alle espiaille.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 56. For espiall and mistrowinges They dide thanne suche thinges, That every man might other knowe.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 11 a. Be ware well that thou be not supprised by thin ennemyes, for lakke of wache and good espial.
1552. Huloet, Espiall place, or corner to spye out of.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl. O. T., XIX. ix. Wks. (1625), 1391. There are Spies vpon him, whose espials haue moued their anger, and admiration.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, 256. The Captain … cut a small hole of espial in the wall.
1876. Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., I. 73. A little room next the hall-door, a closet of espial.
† b. Detection, discovery. Obs.
a. 1557. G. Cavendish, Life Wolsey (T.). After the espial of this boy my lord revealed the same unto the Council.
c. The action of espying or catching sight of anything: the fact of being espied.
1580. Babington, Exp. Lord’s Prayer (1596), 212. A true espiall of sanctification of life in our selues.
1683. Kennett, trans. Erasmus’ Moriæ Enc., 24. They are as Eagle-sighted as may be in the espial of others faults.
1814. Byron, Corsair, I. xvii. Conrad’s prow pass’d by, Screen’d from espial by the jutting cape.
1830. Hood, Haunted House, I. ix. Roses with thistles struggled for espial.
† 2. concr. A body of spies; hence (chiefly in pl.) a spy, scout. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Friar’s T., 23. Ful prively he had his espiaile.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. vi. 188. Dauid by an espiall knewe that they were all faste on slepe.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 452. The Quene had amangis us her assured espiallis.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 174/2. His [Harold’s] vnskilfull espials tooke the Normans for priests.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., V. § 31. Our Judge stands as an espial and a watch over our actions.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, II. 51. The espialls returning assured him, there would bee no invasion.
transf. 1608. Topsell, Serpents, 73. Bees … when the flowers are spent neere their lodgings, to send out their espialls to looke for more in places further distant.
