sperit

No use going after the 'sperit' with a band of cowards.

Jane Allen, Junior Edith Bancroft

So I have the 'sperit' to put up a man's bars while I sit here and smoke, and what's more, Miss

Opening a Chestnut Burr Edward Payson Roe 1863

I cried out, 'have ye the pass? or what brings ye walking here, in nomine patri?' for I was so confused whether it was a 'sperit' or not,

The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer — Volume 2 Charles James Lever 1839

I cried out, 'have ye the pass? or what brings ye walking here, in nomine patri?' for I was so confused whether it was a 'sperit' or not,

The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer — Complete Charles James Lever 1839

‘“REST my honour?” says the sperit (fairly gettin’ red in the face with the madness), “Rest my honour?” says he.

The Purcell Papers 2003

An 'a heejus sperit whut he name Moldy Pa'm place he hand on de head ob li'l black Mose, an' he hand feel like ye yunner side ob a lizard, an 'he say:

The Boy Scouts Book of Campfire Stories Franklin K. [Editor] Mathiews

But den, folks as is used to seein 'sech tings knows de look ob a sperit _out_ o' de body from de look ob a sperit

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 04, No. 25, November, 1859 Various

"That's right; I like your sperit!" said the miserable Ducklow.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 96, October 1865 Various

The captain had been agin him all along on account of his too much sperit, and that capterin 'o' the whale finished up the business, and pinted his fate.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 121, November, 1867 Various

Why, either his sperit, or the devil in his shape, kapes watch over it; and all the money in Dublin wouldn't timpt me there agin after dark. '

Adrift in the Ice-Fields Charles W. Hall