spat

¹

[spat]

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms: set-to, scrap, tiff

2. a light blow; slap; smack.

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

[spat]

verb

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

spat

³

[spat]

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.

spat

⁴

[spat]

noun

Zoology.

1. the spawn of an oyster or similar shellfish.

2. young oysters collectively, especially seed oysters.

3. a young oyster.

spat

¹

/ spæt /

noun

1. rare,  a slap or smack

2. a slight quarrel

verb

1. rare,  to slap (someone)

2. (intr) to have a slight quarrel

spat

²

/ 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

spat

³

/ spæt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of spit 1

spat

⁴

/ spæt /

noun

1. another name for gaiter

Word History and Origins

Origin of spat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; perhaps imitative

Origin of spat²

First recorded in 1795–1805; short for spatterdash

Origin of spat³

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spat¹

C19: probably imitative of the sound of quarrelling

Origin of spat²

C17: from Anglo-Norman spat; perhaps related to _spit ¹

Origin of spat³

C19: short for _spatterdash

Related Words

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