where did all spruced up come from?

Answer 1

Spruce. Smart, dandified. The word is from In the old Fr. Pruce (Ger. Preussen), Prussia, and was originally (16th cent.) applied to Prussian leather of which particularly neat and smart looking jerkins were made.

(Following with Middle English spellings)

And after them, came, syr Edward Howard, then admyral, and with him sit Thomas Parre, in doblettes Crimosin velvet, voyded lowe on the backe, and before to the Cannell bone, faced on the breastes with chaynes of silver, and over that shorte clokes of Crimosyn satyne, and on their heades hattes after dauncers fashion, with fesauntes fethers in theim; They were appareyled after the fashion of Prusia or Spruce.-Hall's Chronicle: Henry Vlll, year 1 (1542)

Answer 2

I don't know specifically and I'm a little busy to look it up, HOWEVER I believe it is because of the wood used to make wardrobes, often made of spruce. You would put only your best clothes in the wardrobe (since you were likely wearing your other set on your back) and would 'spruce' yourself up by putting on the nice set.

The actual spruce wood was probably geographical as there are many aromatic woods. It just as likely might have been "all cedared up" :)

Answer 3

a song