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.

---

spitfire British  

/ ˈspɪtˌfaɪə /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of spitfire

First recorded in 1590–1600; spit ¹ + fire

Example Sentences

She was a real spitfire, star outside hitter Jordan Larson thought.

From Los Angeles Times

A planned fly past by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will no longer take place following death of a pilot in a spitfire crash last month.

From BBC

It is understood he issued a Mayday call soon after take off and the spitfire was seen turning just before it plunged toward the ground.

From BBC

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

“She was a spitfire of a comic,” Fisher said by phone, “and she was glorious as a banjo player.”

From Seattle Times