Now dial. [var. of SPANG sb.3]
1. A long narrow piece or strip (of ground or land).
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. ix. 185. Shiloh succeeds (in a narrow southern spong of this Tribe). Ibid., IV. ii. 22. A spong of ground somewhat nigh a thousand miles,… and not bearing a proportionable breadth.
a. 1800–. in dialect glossaries (E. Anglia, Leic., Northampt.).
† 2. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1811. Miss L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., II. 103. A laboring man gave notice that he was going to drive the tumbril (two-wheeled cart) to the spong (drift-way for cattle).
