sb. (and a.). Forms: α. 5 Spaignarde, Spaynard(e, -erde, Spaynnarde, 6 Spaynerd; 5 Spayneyarde, 6 Spaynyard (Sc. -ȝard), Spainierd (Sc. -ȝerd, -ȝeard). β. 5 Sc. Spanȝeart, 6 Spanyard(e, Sc. -ȝard), 6–7 Spanyard, 6– Spaniard. [ad. OF. Espaignart, Espaniard, f. Espaigne SPAIN: see -ARD. So MHG. Span(n)igerd.]
1. A native of Spain; a member of the Spanish race. Sometimes (with the) in collective sing. = the Spanish nation or people.
α. c. 1400. Brut, cxcvii. 220. Þe grete lordes … were mellede wiþ oþere nacions,… somme Frenchemen, somme Normans, somme Spaignardes.
c. 1420. Contin. Brut, ccxxxv. 325. In þis comyng oppon of þe Spaynardes, all þe English men … were take or slayn.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce, ii. The spaynard was wonderly wrothe.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 73. That maist ancient toung of the alde Spaynȝards. Ibid., II. 130. Against the spaynerds of portugal.
β. 1491. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 179. To the Spanȝeartis that dansyt before the Kyng.
1522. Skelton, Why not to Court? 921. Our nobles are gone Amonge the Burgonyons, And Spanyardes onyons.
1592. G. Harvey, Four Lett., Wks. (Grosart), I. 175. The Spanyard … will bee aduised before he entangle himselfe with more warres attonce.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 164. Who entertained a very hot skirmish with the Spaniards.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., III. viii. (1654), 247. The poor Indians … profest they would not goe to heaven if any Spanyards were there.
1713. Addison, Ct. Tariff, § 22. He found him a true Spaniard, nothing but show and beggary.
1777. R. Watson, Philip II., I. (1812), I. 14. He was too much a Spaniard to relish anything that was not Spanish.
1832. Macaulay, Armada, 39. Far on the deep the Spaniard saw … those twinkling points of fire.
1891. Skeat, Princ. Eng. Etymol., Ser. II. 317. The real place of meeting between the Englishman and the Spaniard was in the western world and on the open sea.
2. A Spanish ship or vessel.
1537. Adm. Cyt. Exempl., I. No. 174. Seeing a ship coming somewhat rome with theym,… Mr. Payne toke it ffor a Spanyard.
1689. in Cal. Treas. P., I. Pref. 37. The French has taken 5 Dutch West Indiamen…, also a very rich Spaniard that came from Portabello.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4710/3. This Day sailed a Spaniard for Amsterdam.
1761. Ann. Reg., Chron., 157/1. Near the Spaniard below the Nore.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson, 36. The Spaniard’s mizen-mast fell.
1908. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 April, 1/3. To be told at breakfast … that ‘a Spaniard’ was on the rocks.
3. a. The New Zealand plant Aciphylla Colensoi, characterized by its long prickly grass-like leaves; New Zealand bayonet- or spear-grass.
1851. in R. B. Paul, Lett. fr. Canterb. (1857), 108. The country through which I have passed has been most savage, one mass of Spaniards and spear grass.
1882. T. H. Potts, Out in the Open, 287 (Morris). Carefully avoiding contact with the long-armed leaves of Spaniards.
b. A species of sallow or willow (see quots.).
1871. W. Scaling, Salix or Willow (ed. 2), Descr. Cat. 5. Salix Legustriana, known as Common Spaniard.
1875. Encycl. Brit., III. 422/1. In the third class, which are known in the trade as ‘Spaniards’ or Spanish willows, are included about thirty varieties which are classed under Salix amygdalina. Ibid. The ‘Spaniards’ comprise some of the most useful basket-willows.
c. The jack-spaniard (see JACK sb.1 37).
1909. in Cent. Dict. Suppl.
4. attrib. (or as adj.) and Comb., as Spaniard governor, ship; Spaniard-aping, -hunting; Spaniard-like adv.; Spaniard’s beard, Spanish beard.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 27. Paid … to the Boteswayne of a Spaynard ship. Ibid. (1488), 79. iij Spaynard Shippes.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, X j. Spanyerdlike [she] was as careles as he.
1611. Cotgr., Espagnolé,… made Spanish, or Spaniard-like.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 373. When the Spaniard Governour heard this, he calls to William Atkins.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! III. v. 132. He asked them, whether they would go Spaniard-hunting with him?
1892. Stevenson, Across the Plains, 79. Long aisles of pine-trees hung with Spaniard’s Beard.
Hence (chiefly in recent journalistic use) Spaniardism, Spanish methods or practice; Spaniardization, the making of a place or thing Spanish; Spaniardize v. trans., to make Spanish; hence Spaniardizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Spainiardship, used as a mock title in speaking of a Spaniard.
1733. Fielding, Quix. in Eng., I. i. If your master does not pay me, I shall lay his Spaniardship fast in a place, which [etc.].
1880. Daily News, 6 May, 5/8. We combat … that Spaniardism he has ushered in.
1886. Symonds, Renaiss. It., Cath. React. (1898), VII. xi. 183. Italian society … beneath the shadow of a score of Spaniardising princelings.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 29 Sept., 2/3. Signs of the Spaniardisation of Sloane-street.
