Forms: α. 1 spaca, 3, north. and Sc. 4– spake, 4–5 spak, 6–7, 9 spaik (7 spauk). β. 3– spoke, 5 spook-. γ. 6–7 spoak(e. [OE. spáca masc., = OFris. spêke (WFris. speake, speak), MDu. speke, speec (Du. speek), OS. spêca (MLG. and LG. spêke), OHG. speicha (MHG. and G. speiche) fem.; the ultimate etym. is uncertain.
The MDu. or MLG. speke was adopted in ME.: see SPEKE2. Du. spaak, LG. spake, etc., represent a different word (see sense 4 a).]
1. One of the set of staves, bars or rods radiating from the hub or nave of a wheel and supporting the felloes or rim.
α. c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 7. Swa swa þa spacan sticiað oðer ende on þære felʓe oþer on þære nafe. Ibid. Þa felʓa … hongiað on þæm spacan.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 106. Cantus, felʓa…. Radii, spacan.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1921. Hat … ȝarkin fowr hweoles, & let þurhdriuen … þe spaken & te felien mid irnene gadien.
1334–5. Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 525. In ij felys, ij spakes positis in rotis longe carecte.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, l. (Catherine), 853. All þe spakis … sall be fichit with hukis sere.
c. 1425. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 665. Hic radius, spake.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VI. ix. 185. On quhelis spakis speldit vtheris hingis.
1582. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 45. In the hen house. Certaine spaikes, j swall, lose bord [etc.].
1614. in D. Wedderburne, Compt-bk. (S.H.S.), 248. Fyve faldomis of burnewod with sum filleis and spaukis.
1815. G. Beattie, John o’ Arnha’ (1826), 16. The spaiks were like to lift their linen.
fig. 1737. Ramsay, Sc. Prov. (1750), 61. It is the best spake in your wheel.
β. c. 1275. XI Pains of Hell, 69, in O. E. Misc. A þusend spoken beoþ þer-on.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 208/278. A grislich ȝweol with spokene longe i-nowe.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 324. M[an] in the nathe doth spokes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 549. Twelf spokes hath a cart whel comunly.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 12642. Fyrst off alle, the[e] avyse How thys whel hath … .iiij. spokys strechchyd oute.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 5. The wheles … be made of nathes, spokes, fellyes, and dowles.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiv. 64. They haue wheeles made with spokes like coach wheeles, and … strongly shod with iron.
1717. Addison, trans. Ovid’s Met., Wks. 1758, I. 162. Here fell a wheel, and here a silver spoke, Here were the beam and axle torn away.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 27. Ten or twelve inches will be enough for the diameter of wheels with six spokes.
1873. Richards, Operat. Handbk., 165. The Blanchard lathe … may turn from five to seven hundred small spokes a day.
γ. 1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 11 b. The smaller sort [of husbandry necessaries] be these,… Strikes, Spoakes [etc.].
1594. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 89. For setting on towe felkes and towe spoakes in a wheele, vd.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 58. The spoakes … still neerer … gather, Till in the Nave their points hard meete together.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2272/4. The Good-speed,… loaden with Iron, Spoaks for Carts, &c.
b. In fig. contexts, esp. in reference to the wheel of Fortune.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 1757. While she is benygne, By influence graciously tassygne Hir spokes meue vn-to ȝoure plesaunce.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 1139. I dreid ȝe spaiks of Spritualitie Sall rew that ever I came in this cuntrie.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 517. Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele. Ibid., III. iii. 19. Maiestie … is a massie wheele,… To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things Are mortiz’d and adioyn’d.
1644. in Hartlib, Legacy (1655), 278. If all such dispersed spoaks and vallies were fixed in one Centre (viz. a faithfull, carefull, skilfull Steward).
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, IX. 153. The restless wheels of being,… Whose flashing spokes … Bicker and burn to gain their destined goal.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 69. The wheel of fortune keeps turning for the comfort of those who are at the lowest spoke.
c. One of a set of radial handles projecting from a cylinder or wheel (esp. a steering-wheel).
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magic, I. vi. 37. An axis or cylinder, having a rundle about it, wherin there are fastned divers spokes, by which the whole may bee turned round.
[1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine, s.v. Helm, The spokes of the wheel generally reach about eight inches beyond the rim or circumference, serving as handles to the person who steers the vessel.]
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 181. In relieving the wheel, the man should … go to the wheel behind the helmsman and take hold of the spokes.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 729. The helm … has a barrel,… and a wheel with spokes to assist in moving it.
2. A bar or rod of wood, esp. one used or shaped for a particular purpose; a stake or pole; a hand-spike; a weaver’s beam.
1467. Sc. Acts, Jas. III. (1814), II. 87. And at na merchandis gudis be revin nor spilt with vnresonable stollin as with spakis.
1496. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 289. To cary a laid of spakis fra the Castel to the Abbay, to mak pailȝoune pynnys. Ibid. (1513), IV. 508. Ane dusan akyn sperris to mak wyndes spakis.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1162. A weavers spoke, panus, jugum.
1869. McLennan, Peasant Life, 1st Ser. 260. She brought him to the weaver’s cottage, and pointed out ‘the spaik.’
b. A round or rung of a ladder, etc. Also fig.
a. 1658. Lovelace, Posth. Poems (1659), 71. Yet the Spoaks by which they scal’d so high, Gamble hath wisely laid of Vt Re Mi.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 990. The hay-racks to be made 2 feet and a half wide; the rungs (spokes) of 1 inch and a half deal.
1892. Stevenson, Across the Plains, 197. Except for the weedy spokes and shafts of the ladder.
c. Sc. One of a set of poles adapted for carrying a coffin to the graveside.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 74. Sum … liftis the Marquess corpis vpon litter:… the Marques sone … wes at his heid, the Erll of Morray on the right spaik, the Erll of Seafort on the left spaik [etc.].
1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, civ. When the coffin was borne to the entrance of the sepulchre, the spakes were drawn out.
1861. E. B. Ramsay, Sc. Life & Char., Ser. II. vi. 120. It was the old fashion, still practised in some districts, to carry the coffin to the grave on long poles or ‘spokes,’ as they were commonly termed.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 12. It’s a gey queer funeral this,… neither a hearse to draw, nor a spake to carry the deid on.
d. (See quots. and cf. 4 a.)
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Spoke,… a contrivance for skidding the wheels of a vehicle.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Spoke, a fastening for a wheel to lock it in descending a hill.
3. fig. In phrases denoting an attempt to give advice, or have some say, in a matter. Still in colloq. use in to put in one’s spoke (cf. OAR sb. 5 a).
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 29. With that Philautus came in with his spoake, saying [etc.]. Ibid., 413. Camilla not thinking to be silent, put in hir spoke as she thought into the best wheele.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, II. i. (1905), 28. You would seeme to be master? You would haue your spoke in my cart? you would aduise me to entertaine ladies?
† b. In uses suggestive of association with SPEAK v.: A saying, maxim, remark. Obs.
It is doubtful whether mod. dial. spoke in the sense of ‘speech,’ ‘story,’ is a survival of this usage.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. (Grosart), V. 108. The spoke was this, Frustra pius, as much as to say, as fruitles seruice.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 40. Hee’l answere With some rime rotten sentence or olde saying, Such spokes as the ancient of the parish vse.
1615. Curry-combe for Coxcombe, iii. 135. Had we a good Townestocke, thou shouldest haue a pension, for thy good spoake.
c. Denoting speech or action intended to advance a person’s interests. rare.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., To put a spoke in a man’s wheel, is to say something of him to his advantage.
1884. ‘H. Collingwood’ (W. J. C. Lancaster), Under Meteor Flag, 50. I shall perhaps be seeing … your new captain … this evening, and, if so, I will put a spoke in your wheel for you.
4. fig. a. In phrases denoting action that is intended or likely to thwart, obstruct or impede some person or proceeding; esp. to put a spoke in one’s wheel.
Possibly a mistranslation of Du. een spaak (= bar, stave) in ’t wiel steeken.
(a) 1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, G j b. If you haue learnd the eight liberall science, I mean cogging, I will sett a spoke to your cogge.
1661. Merry Drollery, II. 37. He … look’d to be made an emperor for’t, But the Devel did set a spoke in his Cart.
c. 1681. Hickeringill, Trimmer, iv. Wks. 1716, I. 377. The reason why I have not been prefer’d, and advanc’t according to my merits, is the whispers, and sly insinuations of such Trimmers suggestions, as this is, which has put a spoke in my Ladder.
(b) 1617. Fletcher, Mad Lover, III. vi. I’le put a spoak among your wheels.
1656. Ld. Broghill, in Thurloe’s St. Papers (1742), V. 295. Argile has been very industryous to be chosen, but we have put a spoke in his wheel.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 498, ¶ 2. They had clapt such a Spoke in his Wheel, as had disabled him from being a Coachman for that Day.
1801. trans. Gabrielli’s Myst. Husb., III. 164. If you was to attempt to make your escape, I should be obligated to put a spoke in your wheel.
1853. E. Forbes, in Geikie, Mem., xiv. (1861), 527. I trust in you … to put a spoke in the wheels of my opponents if you find them going too fast.
1885. Manch. Exam., July, 135/1. Capitalists … were trying to put a spoke in the wheel of Socialism.
(c) 1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 411. Shee should not put in her spoke to withstand the motion, but should rather further her husband in such an honest businesse.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1687), I. 149. He letteth them proceed on in a full carriere:… then instantly he checketh, putteth in a spoak, he stoppeth, or turneth them backward.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 8. I did hope the policy would haue put a spoke in our tour, but, unluckily, it gives me latitude to travel all over Europe.
b. Some thing, action or fact that prevents, impedes or obstructs; an impediment or obstacle. Usually with in the (or one’s) wheel: cf. above.
1689. Mem. God’s last 29 Yrs. Wond. Eng., 64. Both which Bills were such Spokes in their Chariot-wheels, that made them drive much heavier.
1748. Foote, Knights, I. Wks. 1799, I. 69. So, Jack, here’s a fresh spoke in your wheel…. This is a cursed cross incident!
1755. Kidgell, Card, II. 179. Here Mrs. Walker thought it would be no small Spoke in the Wheel of her present Design, to take up her Residence herself.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 212. Rely upon it a bold united front at this moment would be a spoke in the wheel.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ix. And thinks I there’s a spoke in your wheel, you stuck-up little old Duchess.
5. transf. † a. Bot. A pedicel or peduncle of an umbel; a radius or ray. Obs.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 614. The spokes [of Ammi visnaga] … the Italians and Spaniardes doo use as tooth-pickes.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), I. 83. Spokes (radii), the fruit-stalks of flowers collected into Umbels or Umbellules. Ibid., II. 79. Fruit-stalks … forming a sort of umbel, the outer spokes of which are gradually shorter and shorter.
b. A ray or beam of light, sunshine, etc.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, xiv. (1856), 138. The sun had got low, and he shivered his dazzling spokes of light behind one edge of it [a bank of vapour]. Ibid., 152. While here and there a broad bright hazy spoke off the sun came cutting down into the forest.
6. attrib. and Comb., as spoke-flange; spoke-bone Anat., = RADIUS 1 c; spoke-brush, -river, -wood (see quots.). Also SPOKE-SHAVE.
A number of technical uses are given and defined in Knight, Dict. Mech. (1875) and Suppl. (1884), as spoke-auger, -clamp, -gage, -groove, -lathe, -wheel; spoke-pointer, -setter, -trimmer; spoke-driving, -facing, -inserting, etc.
a. 1843. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VII. 303. [In fishes] there is usually an aperture between the lower edge of the spoke-bone and the upper edge of the ulna. Ibid., 326. The Fore-Arm [in birds] consists of two bones, the cubit and spoke-bone, of which the latter is always in a state of semipronation.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 362/1. The street-vendors sell wash-leathers,… spoke-brushes (to clean carriage-wheels), and coach-mops.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Spoke-river, a wheelwright, or shaper of spokes or rounds for ladders.
1869. Archaeol., XLII. 126. Skewer-wood … is also called spoke-wood.
1876. J. Greenwood, Low-life Deeps, 218. The sand-paperer … had caught up a spoke-brush, and was poising it for a throw.
1898. Cycling, 48. The hub should not measure less than 2 in. between the spoke-flanges.
