spile

¹ American  

[spahyl] / spaɪl /

noun

1. a peg or plug of wood, especially one used as a spigot.

2. a spout for conducting sap from the sugar maple.

3. a heavy wooden stake or pile.

4. Mining. forepole.

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verb (used with object)

spiled, spiling

1. to stop up (a hole) with a spile or peg.

2. to furnish with a spigot or spout, as for drawing off a liquid.

3. to tap by means of a spile.

4. to furnish, strengthen, or support with spiles or piles.

spile ² American  

[spahyl] / spaɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

spiled, spiling

1. spoil.

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spile British  

/ spaɪl /

noun

1. a heavy timber stake or pile

2. a spout for tapping sap from the sugar maple tree

3. a plug or spigot

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verb

1. to provide or support with a spile

2. to tap (a tree) with a spile

3. dialect a splinter

Etymology

Origin of spile

1505–15; < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile splinter, peg; cognate with German Speil

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spile spiled spiling

I strip a tough vine of its leaves, thread it through the hollow center, and tie the spile securely to my belt.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

I have the pearl, though, secured in a parachute with the spile and the medicine at my waist.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Then I think of the spile and wrest it from the tree trunk.

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

Finnick and I stand with our weapons poised while he works the spile in, but no threat appears.

From "Catching Fire" 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

Now, you quarrelsome little whelps," said Si, after quiet had been restored, "you've got to take them rations that you've spiled for yourselves.

From Si Klegg, Book 6 (of 6) Si And Shorty, With Their Boy Recruits, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign by McElroy, John

"There's more good men spiled by schoolmasters than we hear tell of in the noospapers."

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend

It wuz a shame to hev sech a good match spiled.

From David Dunne A Romance of the Middle West by Maniates, Belle Kanaris

I've stood down on mine, and as good as spiled 'em.

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend

"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 Trollope, Anthony

Now get out of here–the both of you: you’re spiling trade.

From In the Heart of a Fool by White, William Allen

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 Bonehill, Ralph

Then the spiling gave way under the strain that for several minutes had been put upon it, and the dam went out with a crash and a roar, accompanied by a series of terrifying explosions.

From Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods by Flower, Jessie Graham [pseud.]

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 Bonehill, Ralph

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