spat

¹ American  

[spat] / spæt /

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms:

   set-to, scrap, tiff

2. a light blow; slap; smack.

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verb (used without object)

spatted, spatting

1. to engage in a petty quarrel or dispute.

2. to splash or spatter; rain spatting against the window.

verb (used with object)

spatted, spatting

1. to strike lightly; slap.

spat ² American  

[spat] / spæt /

verb

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

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spat ³ American  

[spat] / spæt /

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.

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spat ⁴ American  

[spat] / spæt /

noun

Zoology.

1. the spawn of an oyster or similar shellfish.

2. young oysters collectively, especially seed oysters.

3. a young oyster.

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spat ¹ British  

/ spæt /

noun

1. rare a slap or smack

2. a slight quarrel

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verb

1. rare to slap (someone)

2. (intr) to have a slight quarrel

spat ² British  

/ 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

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spat ³ British  

/ spæt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of spit 1

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spat ⁴ British  

/ spæt /

noun

1. another name for gaiter

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Etymology

Origin of spat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; perhaps imitative

Origin of spat³

First recorded in 1795–1805; short for spatterdash

Origin of spat⁴

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

Explanation

You probably recognize the word spat from the phrase "lover's spat," which describes a minor squabble between a couple. The spat is usually over something as silly as which partner has to do the laundry, and the relationship usually recovers quickly, with no long-term harm done. For the purposes of this definition, the noun spat refers to a minor argument or mild bickering. That is the definition by which spat is probably best known, but the word has other meanings. Depending on how you use spat, it can be the past participle of spit, the short piece of leather men wore over their shoes in the old days, or an oyster that hasn't quite reached its prime.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spat spatted spatting

The Bank of Canada announces an interest-rate decision at 9:45 a.m., where its assessment of the U.S.-Canadian trade spat will be in focus.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

While Gay was undone by the grubber, Lawrence came through multiple deliveries that spat and hit him on the body to further his case for long-term retention in the team.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

These are not neutral bystanders being swept into a media spat.

From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026

Sheinbaum later said at her daily press conference that the former official at the center of the spat, ex-prime minister Betssy Chavez, was being flown on Friday aboard a Mexican military plane to Mexico.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Boaz spat, and for a wild moment, Clara thought he might actually manage to break free; she’d never seen him so mad.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

In a reminder of the delicate nature of their ties, diplomats between the two countries last week spatted over a South Korean lawmaker’s visit to disputed islets located in the waters between the two countries.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2023

But later on the third night, Lady Beatty spatted with Frankie and drove off in a Huff.*

From Time Magazine Archive

Luxe is a clumsily tender Arcadi an idyl, the Isle of Cythera transferred to an as yet unpopular St.-Tropez, spatted with dots of neo-impressionist light.

From Time Magazine Archive

They had tried, these attendants, to expound, from time to time, on various objects to the spatted or braceleted clients of Scott and Fowles.

From Time Magazine Archive

Their rope-soled shoes tapped and spatted on the pavement.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find some subsection of the dinosaur community where people are spatting over science or fighting about feathers and scales.

From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2026

Then he turned and watched Freeman — with heavy spatting tape wrapped around his sprained right ankle — hobble across home plate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2024

Nelson, a Flower Mound Republican, said Monday of her House counterparts, “We’re not spatting with them.”

From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2015

Thanks to the magic of Twitter, we can now experience all of the spinning, spatting, and snarking from both sides of the aisle in real time.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2014

After breakfast she spent two hours in the kitchen with patient Nancy, spatting out little ginger cakes, and picking dirt from the cracks of the floor with a pin.

From The Twin Cousins by Sophie May

Related Words

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