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spital

American  
[spit-l] / ˈspɪt l /

noun

Archaic.
  1. a hospital, especially one for lazars.

  2. a shelter on a highway.


spital British  
/ ˈspɪtəl /

noun

  1. a hospital, esp for the needy sick

  2. a highway shelter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spital

1625–35; alteration of spittle, Middle English spitel < Medieval Latin hospitāle; hospital

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.

A witch from the spital or almshouse would have been a goddess in comparison to the late beautiful huntress.

From Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft by Scott, Walter, Sir

News have I, that my Doll is dead i' the spital Of malady of France; And there my rendezvous is quite cut off.

From King Henry V by Shakespeare, William

A witch from the spital or almshouse would have been a goddess in comparison to the late beautiful huntress. 

From Folk-Lore and Legends Scotland by Anonymous

The institution now known as the "orspittle" was called by our unlettered forefathers the "spital," hence the names Spittle and Spittlehouse.

From The Romance of Names by Weekley, Ernest