spy n, v OED ~ sb 5 ~ Wednesday Ir (1842), JOYCE 333.
Comb spy bucket, ~ glass: device with glass in bottom for viewing fish underwater; FISH GLASS.
1895 St Nicholas [NY] Apr, p. 449 A curious implement of fishing in these waters is a spy-glass with plain window-glass in place of a lens. A man in the bow of a fishing-boat thrusts the glass in the water [and peers through it]. 1936 SMITH 45 On Sunday, the 26th, I got in the punt and sculled in to the trap and looked down with the spy bucket; the trap was filled with fish, and it was a great temptation to haul it.
spy master: crewman sent aloft to look out for seals; BARREL-MAN.
1924 ENGLAND 51 Her 1922 complement ... comprised: Captain, second hand, barrel men (or spy masters), scunners. 1925 Dial Notes v, 343 ~ Barrel master; a man who spies for seals. 1928 Nfld Qtly Oct, p. 31 He was spy master and I was bridge master.
spy wednesday: day before Maundy Thursday.
C 67-21 She supposed Spy Wednesday was called that because on that day the Jews sent out men to spy on Christ and see if there were any way of capturing him.
