From Late Middle English spelde (past tense) and spelled, ispeled, ispelled (past participles). The past tense reflects an early Middle English syncopation of spellede, while the past participle remained largely disyllabic until the general Early Modern English reduction of the -ed suffix. In both cases, once the medial vowel was lost, the final alveolar stop underwent phonetic devoicing after the sonorant /l/, resulting in the modern -t spelling. Compare dwelt, felt, and smelt. By surface analysis, spell + -t.
Meanings
(UK, form-of, participle, past) simple past and past participle of spell
Yes, yes; he teaches boys the hornbook. What is a, b, spelt / backward with the horn on his head? c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
From Middle English spelt, from Old English spelt (“spelt, corn”), from Old Saxon spelta (“spelt”); or from Late Latin spelta (“spelt”), from Frankish *spelta (“spelt”); all from Proto-Germanic *spiltaz (“spelt”).
Meanings
(uncountable, usually) A grain, considered either a subspecies of wheat, Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta, or a separate species Triticum spelta or Triticum dicoccon.
fa کندروس (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · gl espelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · es escanda (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · tr kavuzlu buğday (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · hy հաճար (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ba борай (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · pl orkisz (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · fa گندم آلمانی (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ca espelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sh пир (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · et speltanisu (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · is spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · la spelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · wa speate (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · hu tönkölybúza (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · fa جوگندم (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · it spelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · grc ὄλυρα (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · el όλυρα (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · nl spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · fi spelttivehnä (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · kum полба (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · de Spelz (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · cv пӑри (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · cs špalda (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · bg шпелта (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sh prapšenica (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · tt борай (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ru по́лба (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ro alac (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · no spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · lb Spelz (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · kum къарабудай (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · fi speltti (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · is speldi (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · br yell (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · be полба (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · fr épeautre (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · az pərinc (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sv spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · mk кру́пник (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ja スペルトコムギ (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · gl melga (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · eu espelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · mk пи́ра (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · zza xeleyo derg (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · ga speilt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · de Dinkel (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · es espelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · cy sbelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · uk спельта (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · pl szpelc (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · da spelt (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sv dinkel (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · he כוסמין (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · eo spelto (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · cmn 斯卑爾脫小麥 /斯卑尔脱小麦 (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · myv виш (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · pt espelta (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sl pira (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sh прапшеница (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sq tepë (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · sh pir (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta) · mhr висте (a type of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta)
The noun is from Middle English spelt, from Old English spelt, connected with the verb. Compare speld and German Spelze (“husk”).
The adjective is from Middle English spelt, probably a contraction of spelked, past participle of spelken (“to bruise (beans)”), itself of obscure origin. Compare Scots spilkings (“split peas”), the later verb, and perhaps also splet.
The verb is probably from the adjective. Compare earlier spald, speld.
Meanings
(not-comparable, obsolete, rare) Of dried beans: pounded, crushed, or split.
In Summer, in Choleric Fevers eſpecially, let him feed upon things effectually cold, as Vine-buds, Willow-leaves, Pond-reeds, Dog-graſs, Endive and Lettuce; in the Winter, Hay ſprinkl’d with Honey, Spelt Beans, and Oates, never giving ’em either Barly or Straw in Fevers, which will but harden the dung, and make it difficult to paſs through the Bowels. 1687, F. M., “Of a Fever”, in The Jockey’s Guide, and Farrier’s Companion: […], London: […] Henry Rhodes, […], →OCLC, page 76:
[H]alfe an houre after give him a pottell of Oates and a pinte of ſpelt Beanes, then a ſmall bottel of Hay: […] 1631, Garvase Markham, “The Third Booke: Of Feeding, Breeding, and Curing. of Cattell. […]”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry Contained in Foure Bookes. […], London: […] T. C. for Richard More, […], →OCLC, page 226:
Theſe loaves baked and cooled, after three days cut off the Cruſt, and with Oats well dryed and rubbed between your hands, being alſo winnowed and ſifted, and a quantity of the beſt ſpelt Beans; […] 1684, “Rules to be Observed in the Fourth or Last Fortnights Keeping, as Well in Relation to His Dyet as Usage”, in The Experienced Jocky, Compleat Horseman; or Gentlemans Delight. […], London: […] Will[iam] Whitwood, […], →OCLC, page 72:
The next day very early as may be, firſt feed, then dreſſe, after cloath and ſaddle, then ayre him abroad, and water him as hath been before ſhewed, after bring him home, and feed him with oats, ſpelt beans, and bread, as was laſt of all declared, onely very little Hay, […] a. 1638, G[ervase] Markam, “Ordering of the Horse after His Scowring”, in The Complete Farriar, or The Kings High-Way to Horsmanship. […], London: […] I. D[awson] for R. Young, and are sold by P[hilip] Nevill […], published 1639, →OCLC, page 53:
The noun is from Middle English spelt, from Old English spelt, connected with the verb. Compare speld and German Spelze (“husk”).
The adjective is from Middle English spelt, probably a contraction of spelked, past participle of spelken (“to bruise (beans)”), itself of obscure origin. Compare Scots spilkings (“split peas”), the later verb, and perhaps also splet.
The verb is probably from the adjective. Compare earlier spald, speld.
Meanings
(Northern-England, Scotland, dialectal) A thin piece of wood or metal; a splinter.
The noun is from Middle English spelt, from Old English spelt, connected with the verb. Compare speld and German Spelze (“husk”).
The adjective is from Middle English spelt, probably a contraction of spelked, past participle of spelken (“to bruise (beans)”), itself of obscure origin. Compare Scots spilkings (“split peas”), the later verb, and perhaps also splet.
The verb is probably from the adjective. Compare earlier spald, speld.
Meanings
(obsolete, transitive) To grind or crush (grain or pulses).
spelted Beans 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC: