spiles

Noun (1)

spile (plural spiles)

1. (Cumbria, dialectal, obsolete, Lancashire) A splinter.
2. A spigot or plug used to stop the hole in a barrel or cask.
   • So I felt my way down the passage back to the vault, and recked not of the darkness, nor of Blackbeard and his crew, if only I could lay my lips to liquor. Thus I groped about the barrels till near the top of the stack my hand struck on the spile of a keg, and drawing it, I got my mouth to the hold.[1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC
3. (US) A spout inserted in a maple (or other tree) to draw off sap.
   • Now, chamfering one end of the elderberry tube slightly to fit, I push it into the hole and wait. After a few seconds sap will begin to drip from the end of the tube, a tangible flow of life and vitality. […] Beneath the tube, properly called a spile, I place my cup to catch the drips.2023, Ray Mears, chapter 2, in British Woodland, Ebury Spotlight, →ISBN

Noun (2)

spile (plural spiles)

1. A pile; a post or girder.
   • The bottom of the river is of hard, sparkling white sand, into which spiles are easily driven; and the building and keeping up of such a wharf is a trifling trouble...1873, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Palmetto-Leaves

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