spat

¹

[ spat ]

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms: set-to, scrap, tiff

2. a light blow; slap; smack.

verb (used without object)

, spat·ted, spat·ting.

1. to engage in a petty quarrel or dispute.
2. to splash or spatter; rain spatting against the window.

verb (used with object)

, spat·ted, spat·ting.

1. to strike lightly; slap.

spat

²

[ spat ]

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of spit ¹.

spat

³

[ spat ]

noun

1. a short gaiter worn over the instep and usually fastened under the foot with a strap, worn especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

spat

⁴

[ spat ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. the spawn of an oyster or similar shellfish.
2. young oysters collectively, especially seed oysters.
3. a young oyster.

spat

¹

/ spæt /

noun

1. a larval oyster or similar bivalve mollusc, esp when it settles to the sea bottom and starts to develop a shell
2. such oysters or other molluscs collectively

spat

²

/ spæt /

noun

1. another name for gaiter

spat

³

/ spæt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of spit 1

spat

⁴

/ spæt /

noun

1. rare.
   a slap or smack
2. a slight quarrel

verb

1. rare.
   to slap (someone)
2. intr to have a slight quarrel

Word History and Origins

Origin of spat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; perhaps imitative

Origin of spat²

First recorded in 1795–1805; short for spatterdash

Origin of spat³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of spat¹

C17: from Anglo-Norman spat; perhaps related to spit ¹

Origin of spat²

C19: short for spatterdash

Origin of spat³

C19: probably imitative of the sound of quarrelling

Example Sentences

“We sat on the opposite side of the table with lawsuits with each other,” Gelsinger said, referencing the companies’ various legal spats, including a patent lawsuit that they eventually settled in 2011.

From Fortune

Those spats seem to be heating up as publisher pursuit of revenue during the coronavirus-induced recession becomes increasingly fraught.

From Digiday

The famous director was late, and the small talk stuttered and spat like an old truck on a bumpy road.

From Fortune

Every so often, the spat between the two digital operations reemerges.

From Digiday

We see a couple shouting or arguing or something, we don’t know is this really an emergency, or is this just two people having a spat.

From Freakonomics

Upstairs, in the living room, splintered logs of hemlock cackled and spat from inside the wood stove.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier in the year, TMZ alleged, citing a police report, that a hotel room spat between the two left Nicki with a busted lip.

From The Daily Beast

They kicked and fought and spat and succeeded in repeatedly filling their opponents with fear.

From The Daily Beast

He licked them up with a slick bronzy tongue and spat a thick wad of honey-brown juice into the empty teacup.

From The Daily Beast

Meathead spat another long stream of dip juice into the wedding china.

From The Daily Beast

Long before we got there the deep-throated thunder was growling over us, and the clouds spat occasional flurries of rain.

From Project Gutenberg

Coming to the map of Europe, he smothered Russia with kisses and spat on all the rest of the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he spat upon the ground, and with an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders re-entered the house.

From Project Gutenberg

Big Sid turned around, spat out his cigaret, heeled it into the concrete.

From Project Gutenberg

The sputum, spat out or coughed out, is a means whereby the disease is spread.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• altercation
• bickering
• brouhaha
• difference of opinion
• disagreement
• discord
• falling-out
• feud
• flare-up
• fracas
• friction
• misunderstanding
• run-in
• squabble
• strife
• tiff