back-speirback-spearv.
/bakˈspɪə/, /ˈbakspɪə/, U.S. /ˈbækˌspɪ(ə)r/, Scottish English /bakˈspir/, /ˈbakspir/ Scottish.
To re-examine, cross-examine. back-speirer n. cross-examiner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > [noun] > cross-examination > person conducting
back-speirera1689
cross-examiner1838
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)] > cross-examine
cross-examine1664
cross-question1760
targea1796
back-speir1796
cross-hackle1826
a1689 W. Cleland Coll. Poems (1697) 101 Several times affronted By slie Backspearers, and accounted An emptie Rogue.
1796 J. Ramsey in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott (1839) I. 348 It is however easier to backspeir you.
1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life i. 111 ‘I winna be back-spiered noo, Polly Fullarton.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
v.a1689