spit

¹

[spit]

verb (used without object)

spit, spat, spitting. 

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, spat, spitting. 

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. Also called spittle. Entomology.,  the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.

4. a light fall of rain or snow.

verb phrase

1. spit up,  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)

spitted, spitting 

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 /

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. to eject or discharge (something) from the mouth

   he spat the food out

   to spit blood

6. to utter (short sharp words or syllables), esp in a violent manner

7. Also (NZ): spit tacks. slang,  to be very angry

8. 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

spit

²

/ spɪt /

noun

1. a pointed rod on which meat is skewered and roasted before or over an open fire

2. Also called: rotisserie.  rotating 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 /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• spitlike adjective
• spitter noun

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

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

Origin of spit²

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

Origin of spit³

C16: from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German spit

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. spit and image, 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

Little leaguers tell me, “Coach gives us sunflower seeds so we can spit.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The remark points to the potential for further spats over trade and investment, analysts say.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Most wannabe activists have been chewed up and spit out by the rising market, which has imposed losses on many short sellers.

Read more on Barron's

"It's meant to break up sputum, but kids under two can't spit it out, so the mucus can be aspirated into the lungs, causing pneumonia - yet it is still prescribed."

Read more on BBC

Watson, who recently hit headlines after a public spat with Potter author JK Rowling, sparked rumours she was engaged by wearing a sparkling ring on her wedding finger.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• drool 
• hiss 
• spew 
• sputter