spile

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile (“splinter, peg”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *spīlaz (“splinter, peg”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“prickle, pointed stick”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spyl, German Speil (“chip, splinter, gore, wedge”), Danish spile, Dutch spijl.

noun

1. (obsolete or dialectal) A splinter.
2. A spigot or plug used to stop the hole in a barrel or cask.
3. (US) A spout inserted in a maple (or other tree) to draw off sap.

verb

1. To plug (a hole) with a spile.
2. To draw off (a liquid) using a spile.
3. To provide (a barrel, tree etc.) with a spile.

Etymology 2

Alteration of pile, after Etymology 1, above.

noun

1. A pile; a post or girder.
   […]we'd settled that I’d pick up some spiles from Greg Fitch first thing on Monday morning and get something done about that fence. 1975, Catherine Aird, Slight Mourning

verb

1. (transitive) To support by means of spiles.
2. (transitive) To drive piles into.

Etymology 3

Alteration of spoil.

verb

1. (US, dialect, transitive, intransitive) spoil.