1. trans. To set about with spangles; to besprinkle or adorn with small glittering objects.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xiii. Notes 214. Every lofty top, which late the humorous night Bespangled had with pearle.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 80. [Stars] to adorn and bespangle a canopy over our heads.
1862. G. Lloyd, Tasmania, lii. 36. The genial morning dews … that used to glisten and bespangle the vernal-leaved kangaroo grass?
2. fig.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 115. Being bespangled with holiness and clad with the royal robe of righteousness.
1800. W. Taylor, in Month. Mag., X. 425. Other admirable similies bespangle this book.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. viii. 374. The subtilties and conceits with which the ancient Castilian verse is so liberally bespangled.
Hence Bespangled ppl. a., Bespangling vbl. sb.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 144. Women … sumptuously pearled and bespangled.
1611. Cotgr., Papillottement, a bespangling.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 118. Under a bespangled Canopie, the Firmament.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., V. i. 226. Uprushing pillars, star-bespangled roofs.
