spall

American  

[spawl] / spɔl /

noun

1. a chip or splinter, as of stone or ore.

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verb (used with object)

1. to break into smaller pieces, as ore; split or chip.

verb (used without object)

1. to break or split off in chips or bits.

spall British  

/ spɔːl /

noun

1. a splinter or chip of ore, rock, or stone

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verb

1. to split or cause to split into such fragments

Other Word Forms

• nonspalling
  adjective
• spaller
  noun

Etymology

Origin of spall

1750–60; origin uncertain; compare late Middle English spalle a chip

Example Sentences

Rafe Spall will play the prime minister, Katherine Parkinson his chief of staff, and Jenna Coleman the deputy chief of staff.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

At noon, the ceremony began with a recitation of Winston Churchill's famous VE Day speech by actor Timothy Spall.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

The blessing is that Buckley, Colman, Spall, and Vasan are expert enough that dimensional character work still peeks through the vibe of cookie-cutter idiosyncrasy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2024

Mr Spall said he was honoured to be playing "the remarkable Peter Farquhar", who he described as an "extremely charismatic and inspiring" teacher.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2023

Mamma thought it was awful, like—like Aunt Charlotte wanting to marry the piano-tuner, or poor Jenny wanting to marry Mr. Spall.

From Mary Olivier: a Life by Sinclair, May