spitfire

American  

[spit-fahy^uhr] / ˈspɪtˌfaɪər /

noun

1. a person, especially a girl or woman, who is of fiery temper and easily provoked to outbursts.

2. (initial capital letter) a British fighter plane with a single in-line engine used by the R.A.F. throughout World War II.

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spitfire British  

/ ˈspɪtˌfaɪə /

noun

1. a person given to outbursts of spiteful temper and anger, esp a woman or girl

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Etymology

Origin of spitfire

First recorded in 1590–1600; spit ¹ + fire

Example Sentences

He’s also a widower who lost his wife not to some boring disease but in a way that only a real spitfire would go, by flipping her ATV.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

A Taiwanese American human rights lawyer by day, Chung imbues her debut novel — based in part on memories shared by her grandmother — with spitfire flair and real-life specificity.

From New York Times • May 30, 2024

The book, written by Sean Tuohy’s childhood friend, was adapted into the John Lee Hancock film that starred Quinton Aaron as Oher and Bullock as his spitfire adoptive mom.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023

When Bruce Cassidy took the job coaching Vegas, he knew Marchessault could score goals and make plays but said, “You don’t see the little spitfire in him.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 13, 2023

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone as graceful as this eighty-something-year-old woman, her body straight, her cane at her side, a spitfire glare on her face.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed