spit

¹

[ spit ]

verb (used without object)

, spit or spat, spit·ting.

1. to eject saliva from the mouth; expectorate.
2. to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.
3. to sputter:

   grease spitting on the fire.

   Synonyms: spatter

4. to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.

verb (used with object)

, spit or spat, spit·ting.

1. to eject from the mouth:

   The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.

2. to throw out or emit like saliva:

   The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.

3. to set a flame to.

noun

1. saliva, especially when ejected.
2. the act of spitting.
3. Entomology. Also called spittle. the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.
4. a light fall of rain or snow.

verb phrase

1. to vomit; throw up:

   The wounded soldier spat up blood.

   If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.

spit

²

[ spit ]

noun

1. a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.
2. any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.
3. a narrow point of land projecting into the water.
4. a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.

verb (used with object)

, spit·ted, spit·ting.

1. to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit; impale on something sharp.
2. to thrust a spit into or through.

spit

¹

/ spɪt /

noun

1. the depth of earth cut by a spade; a spade's depth

spit

²

/ spɪt /

noun

1. a pointed rod on which meat is skewered and roasted before or over an open fire
2. Also calledrotisserierotating spit a similar device rotated by electricity or clockwork, fitted onto a cooker
3. an elongated often hooked strip of sand or shingle projecting from the shore, deposited by longshore drift, and usually above water

verb

1. tr to impale on or transfix with or as if with a spit

spit

³

/ spɪt /

verb

1. intr to expel saliva from the mouth; expectorate
2. informal.
   intr to show disdain or hatred by spitting
3. (of a fire, hot fat, etc) to eject (fragments of coal, sparks, etc) violently and with an explosive sound; splutter
4. intr to rain very lightly
5. troften foll byout to eject or discharge (something) from the mouth

   he spat the food out

   to spit blood

6. troften foll byout to utter (short sharp words or syllables), esp in a violent manner
7. spit chips slang.
   to be very angry Also (NZ)spit tacks
8. spit it out! informal.
   a command given to someone that he should speak forthwith

noun

1. another name for spittle
2. a light or brief fall of rain, snow, etc
3. the act or an instance of spitting
4. informal.
   another word for spitting image

Derived Forms

• ˈspitter, noun

Other Words From

• spitlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spit¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English verb spitten, spit(te), Old English spyttan, spittan; cognate with Old Norse spýta, German (dialect) spitzen “to spit”; the noun is derivative of the verb

Origin of spit²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English spit(e), spitte, Old English spitu; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German spit, spet, Old High German spiz “spit”; akin to Old Norse spīta “wooden peg, spit”

Word History and Origins

Origin of spit¹

C16: from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German spit

Origin of spit²

Old English spitu; related to Old High German spiz spit, Norwegian spit tip

Origin of spit³

Old English spittan; related to spǣtan to spit, German dialect spitzen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. spit and image, Informal. exact likeness; counterpart: Also spitting image, spit 'n' image.

   Hunched over his desk, pen in hand, he was the spit and image of his father at work.

Example Sentences

One particular SPT subunit stood out to the researchers as the subject of future research, since the team suspects it is responsible for selectively spitting dangerous lipids out of the liver.

From Science Daily

The incidents ranged from officers using batons, spray gas, leg restraints, spit hoods, and empty-handed force.

From BBC

The other was another edition of a baking contest that featured a dirty turkey cake and one with a gaping orifice that spits stuffing.

From Los Angeles Times

Over a career of 21 years, Cumbria Constabulary's PC Ruth Coates has been "punched, kicked, spat at numerous times, headbutted and dragged along by a moving vehicle".

From BBC

He complained in his book that the Army "spit me out," adding, "I didn’t want this Army anymore either."

From Salon

Related Words

• drool
• hiss
• spew
• sputter