spile
1 Americannoun
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a peg or plug of wood, especially one used as a spigot.
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a spout for conducting sap from the sugar maple.
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a heavy wooden stake or pile.
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Mining. forepole.
verb (used with object)
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to stop up (a hole) with a spile or peg.
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to furnish with a spigot or spout, as for drawing off a liquid.
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to tap by means of a spile.
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to furnish, strengthen, or support with spiles or piles.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a heavy timber stake or pile
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a spout for tapping sap from the sugar maple tree
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a plug or spigot
verb
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to provide or support with a spile
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to tap (a tree) with a spile
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dialect a splinter
Etymology
Origin of spile
1505–15; < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile splinter, peg; cognate with German Speil
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Rhys: I don’t do much with Instagram but my algorithm is generally older men showing you how to kind of spile a garboard plank next to a keel, things like that.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
I cut the vine that ties the spile to my belt and hold the metal tube out to him.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
My fingers fumble at my belt and find the spile still hanging from its vine.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Peeta’s found a good vein and the water begins to gush from the spile.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
A silver parachute that holds a spile for tapping trees, and the pearl Peeta gave me a few hours before I blew out the force field.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Many tech stocks were having a rough start after Broadcom’s fiscal second-quarter report sparked a 15.5% decline in the stock—and spiled across the sector.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
"Them hardtack wuz spiled, anyway," said Shorty, as they fished themselves out, found their overcoats, and made their way back to the regiment.
From Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6) Thru The Stone River Campaign And In Winter Quarters At Murfreesboro by John McElroy
Oh! there's nothing else spiled or flung down the sink, jist now," said Drusa, "but something's at hand a heap worse than all.
From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Eliza Leslie
“Hit means a she-bear, shore as a cap-shootin’ gun; but you’ve done spiled it all by tellin’.
From Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart
I loved my little birdie; but I was a foolish man, and I should ha' spiled her.
From The Lamplighter by Maria S. Cummins
Down below two dark forms, covered with mud and flour paste, could be seen clutching at the slippery braces of the spiling.
From Young Hunters of the Lake by Ralph Bonehill
I rushed forrard, and raised her to my arms: spiling thereby a new weskit and a pair of crimson smalcloes.
From The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush by William Makepeace Thackeray
Here his feet were close to the water, but he supported himself on a cross rail nailed from one section of the spiling to another.
From Young Hunters of the Lake by Ralph Bonehill
"Faix—we wouldn't be afther spiling your honer's divarsion, my lord, on no account," said another.
From The Kellys and the O'Kellys by Anthony Trollope
Now get out of here–the both of you: you’re spiling trade.
From In the Heart of a Fool by William Allen White
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