cuspidor

[ kuhs-pi-dawr ]

noun

1. a large bowl, often of metal, serving as a receptacle for spit, especially from chewing tobacco: in wide use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

cuspidor

/ ˈkʌspɪˌdɔː /

noun

1. another word (esp US) for spittoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuspidor¹

1770–80; < Portuguese: literally, spitter, equivalent to cusp ( ir ) to spit (≪ Latin conspuere to cover with spit; con- con- + spuere to spit ¹ ) + -idor < Latin -i-tōrium; -i-, -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuspidor¹

C18: from Portuguese, from cuspir to spit, from Latin conspuere, from spuere to spit

Example Sentences

Jack Bowden rose, spit carefully into the shiny brass cuspidor, placed there to preserve the long-haired red carpet, and began.

From Project Gutenberg

His clothes were seedy, and his remarks punctuated by amber-colored shots at the cuspidor.

From Project Gutenberg

"Dutch" scratched his head, and, to better conceal his emotion, let go another flyer of saliva at the cuspidor.

From Project Gutenberg

Twice after he took his seat at the bade end of the double line he tried for a wooden cuspidor ten feet away.

From Project Gutenberg

Roaring Rory spat a huge cud of tobacco into a cuspidor six feet away, the better to express his astonishment.

From Project Gutenberg