spell v also spill* DC ~ v 2 Nfld (1920-). To carry a burden on one's shoulders, usu halting from time to time for a rest; to carry by other methods; drag; HAUL v.
1866 WILSON 215 If wood be wanted before the snow fall, it must be 'spelled out,' that is, carried on men's shoulders. 1895 St Nicholas [N Y] Apr, p. 451 The Newfoundland seal-hunters always speak of seals as 'swiles,' and for our word carry they say 'spell.' A school-master, who had been listening to a seal-hunter's story, said sneeringly: 'Swiles! How do you spell swiles?' 'We don't spell 'em,' replied the hunter; 'we most generally hauls 'em!' 1896 J A Folklore ix, 25 In Newfoundland ... it is used especially to denote carrying on the back or shoulders. 'He has just spelled a load of wood out,' meaning, he has carried it on his back. [1906] GRENFELL 167 Pete had left one bag behind because he was physically unable to 'spell' the two on his back at once. [1915] 1972 GORDON 37 To begin with, one had to spell the wood up from the landwash, where it had been stuck up to dry during the summer. 1924 ENGLAND 249 Dey spilled [brought] deir gaves an' ropes alang. 1952 STANSFORD 137 I spent most of my time spelling and cutting wood. T 55/6-64 Women 'd spell youngsters in a kozak [cassock] on their back. 1964 Evening Telegram 17 July, p. 22 She spelled more water from the Hamilton Street tank than any other two women. T 43-64 That would be probably up to forty quintals o' fish, see, that he'd have to spell out on the flake. T 185-65 We used to have to spell all up over this hill in handbar then, an' have to make [the fish] ashore. 1966 HORWOOD 157 Course, a man can spell out a moose, even ten or fifteen mile, once 'e's quartered. C 75-48 The men cut their own firewood and spelled it home on their backs.
