speer

¹ American  

[speer] / spɪər /

Or speir,

verb (used with or without object)

1. Chiefly Scot. to ask; inquire.

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Speer ² American  

[speer, shpeyr] / spɪər, ʃpeɪr /

noun

1. Albert 1905–81, German Nazi leader: appointed by Hitler as official Nazi architect.

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Etymology

Origin of speer

before 900; Middle English speren, spiren, Old English spyrian to make tracks, trace, ask about; cognate with German spüren, Old Norse spyrja to ask; akin to spoor

Example Sentences

An’ a’ the time we could no speer a thing.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard against the evil eye.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Sawney, had ye yer taters here And neeps and carrots—dinna speer What price; though I might tell ye weel, Ye'd ainly think me a leein' chiel.

From The Cariboo Trail A Chronicle of the Gold-fields of British Columbia by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)

A man may speer the gate he kens fu' weel.

From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander

When that he came to John of the Scales, Up at the speer he looked then.

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Sidgwick, Frank