"spell" meaning to relieve ?dialect

Question

Hello,When I was growing up in Virginia many years ago, it was fairly common to hear the word "spell" used as a synonym for "relieve" or "take over temporarily". For example, a man working at a job might ask a co-worker to relieve him temporarily by asking, "Can you spell me while I get a drink?"As I recall, the usage was not limited to either black or white dialect.I mentioned this usage recently and was surprised to find that none of the people I was with (in Florida) had ever heard the word used in this manner.There was no mention of this usage in the on line Webster's dictionary.I seem to remember its use by William Faulkner as well, a master of both black and white southern dialect, but I can't be sure. Has anyone else heard of "spell" used in this manner? Thanks.Jack

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[nq:1]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ago, it was fairly common to hear the word "spell" ... and white southern dialect, but I can't be sure. Has anyone else heard of "spell" used in this manner? Thanks.[/nq]
I'm not sure that I've heard it but I've certainly read it.

This use of "spell" is in dictionaries.
From the OED
spell, v.3
1. trans.a. To take the place of (a person) at some work or labour; to relieve (another) by taking a turn at work. Now U.S.
b. To relieve by an interval of rest; to rest (esp. a horse). Chiefly Austr.
2. Naut. To take a turn or turns of work at (the pump, etc.).
3. intr.a. To replace one set of workers by another; to take turns.

b. Austr. To take an interval of rest.
spell, n.3
1. A set of persons taking a turn of work in order to relieveothers; a relay, relief-gang, or shift. Now rare.
2.a. A turn of work taken by a person or set of persons in relief of another.
b. to give a spell, to relieve another by taking a turn of work.
c. Without article, in phr. spell and spell (about), spell for spell; to keep or take spell.
3.a. A continuous course or period of some work, occupation, or employment; a turn or bout at something. Also without const.
b. dial. and Austral. An interval or period of repose or relaxation; a rest.
Examples from 1863 to 1975 may be found in Dict.
Newfoundland English (1982).
..

4.a. A period or space of time of indefinite length; usu. with adjs. denoting duration, as long, short, etc.
b. A period having a certain character or spent in a particular way.
c. by spells, at intervals, now and again.
d. for a spell, for a time. In U.S. without prep.; also a spell ago, some time ago.
e. N.Z. One of the periods into which a game of rugby is divided.
f. Cricket. A period or series of overs during a session of play in which a bowler bowls unchanged.
5.a. A continuous period or stretch of a specified kind of weather.
b. With adjs., as cold, hot, dry, wet, etc.
6. U.S. A period of being indisposed, out of sorts, orirritable; an attack or fit of illness or nervous excitement.

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ago, it was fairly common to hear the word "spell" ... and white southern dialect, but I can't be sure. Has anyone else heard of "spell" used in this manner? Thanks.[/nq]
Sure. A "spell" is a short time. "Sit a spell" is a similar use. The "spell me" use is something that I've certainly heard and used.

M-W Online defines that usage:
Main Entry: 4spell
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English spale substitute, from Old English spala

1 a archaic : a shift of workers b : one's turn at work
2 a : a period spent in a job or occupation b chiefly Australian : aperiod of rest from work, activity, or use

3 a : an indeterminate period of time ; also : a continuous period of time b : a stretch of a specified type of weather

Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ... used as a synonym for "relieve" or "take over temporarily".[/nq]
[nq:1]This use of "spell" is in dictionaries. From the OED[/nq]

And worth recording that the cites go back to the 16th Century for the verb ...
1595 Raleigh Discov. Guiana (1596) 44 Euery gentleman and others takingtheir turns to row, and to spell one the other at the howers end.

... and for the noun
1593 P. Nichols Drake Revived (1628) 27 Rowing in the eddy+by spels, withoutceasing, each company their halfe houre glasse. 1602 Carew Cornwall 10b, In most places, their toyle is so extreame, as they cannot endure it aboue foure houres in a day, but are succeeded by spels. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ii. 9 In pumping they vse to take spels, that is, fresh men to releeue them.

John Dean
Oxford

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[nq:1]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ago, it was fairly common to hear the word "spell" ... Florida. I am white and have lived (for long periods) in New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Texas. And I am 75.[/nq]
I believe (but am not sure) that my grandmother,
who was born in New Foundland but raised in New York City and spent most of her adult life in New Jersey, used it. She was born in 1864. My companion, who has lived mostly in Texas and Arizona, is 45. I asked him if he were busy at some task and needed a break, whether he would understand "Can I spell you for a bit?" Without hesitation he said "yes". Strange about Floridians not knowing the expression.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ago, it was fairly common to hear the word "spell" ... and white southern dialect, but I can't be sure. Has anyone else heard of "spell" used in this manner? Thanks.[/nq]
I have and I use it that way, but I can't really say for certain whether I used it that way before I moved to Alabama from Illinois, or whether I picked it up there. I do know that the noun form (like 'a coughing spell' or 'it's been really rainy for a spell') was used in my family in the Midwest before I went to Alabama.
Merriam-Webster online has it as definition # 4 and #5,
Main Entry: 4 spell
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English spale substitute, from Old English spala

1 a archaic : a shift of workersb : one's turn at work

2 a : a period spent in a job or occupationb chiefly Australian : a period of rest from work, activity, or use
3 a : an indeterminate period of time {waited a spell beforeadvancing}; also : a continuous period of time {did a spell in prison} b : a stretch of a specified type of weather

4 : a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder {a spell ofcoughing} {fainting spells}
Main Entry: 5 spell
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): spelled /'speld/; spell·ing
Etymology: Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala substitute
transitive verb

1 : to take the place of for a time : RELIEVE {he and the otherassistant...spelled each other Mary McCarthy}

2 : RESTintransitive verb

1 : to work in turns
2 chiefly Australian : to rest from work or activity for a time

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Strange about Floridians not knowing the expression.[/nq]
It's not a "Floridian" thing. It's more likely an age or family environment thing. Words and phrases do cross state lines.

Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Strange about Floridians not knowing the expression.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's not a "Floridian" thing. It's more likely an age or family environment thing. Words and phrases do cross state lines.[/nq]
Spell in the context the OP asked about is a common usage. Also used as " I' think I'll rest a spell" .
With Florida being such a cosmopolitan place I'd think it would have a large vocabulary.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]It's not a "Floridian" thing. It's more likely an age or family environment thing. Words and phrases do cross state lines.[/nq]
[nq:1]Spell in the context the OP asked about is a common usage. Also used as " I' think I'll rest a spell" . With Florida being such a cosmopolitan place I'd think it would have a large vocabulary.[/nq]
I've read it, in novels, set in various places in the country but all published in New York. It's in the American Heritage Dictionary: http://www.bartleby.com/61/37/S0623700.html
Cece

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello, When I was growing up in Virginia many years ... mention of this usage in the on line Webster's dictionary.[/nq]
[nq:1]M-W Online defines that usage: Main Entry: 4spell Function: noun Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English spale substitute, from Old ... a continuous period of time b : a stretch of a specified type of weather[/nq]
The online M-W offers separate definitions for a given word as each distinct part of speech. It's possible that the OP went no further than the first offered definition of "spell", which is as a verb, and therefore missed the fourth definition, which is the one he sought "spell" as a noun.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]M-W Online defines that usage: Main Entry: 4spell Function: noun ... b : a stretch of a specified type of weather[/nq]
[nq:1]The online M-W offers separate definitions for a given word as each distinct part of speech. It's possible that the ... as a verb, and therefore missed the fourth definition, which is the one he sought "spell" as a noun.[/nq]
Yes, it offers separate definitions, and all five possibilities were listed in the pull down menu at the top of the page, and all five were visible in the window without having to pull it down at all.

Besides, "I didn't see it" is not the same as "It doesn't have it."

"spell" meaning to relieve ?dialect

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