n. a small tube or spout of wood or metal inserted in a maple tree to carry the running sap into a pail or other receptacle.
- 1845  A spout, or spile as it is termed, is inserted about two inches below this incision with the same gouge.
- 1947  It is time . . . to get the rusty spiles and sap buckets down from the beams of the woodshed.
- 1966  Holes were bored in the trees with an auger and into these wooden spouts or "spiles" were inserted.