spitfire

American  

[spit-fahy^uhr] / ˈspɪtˌfaɪər /

noun

1. a person, especially a girl or woman, who is of fiery temper and easily provoked to outbursts.

2. (initial capital letter) a British fighter plane with a single in-line engine used by the R.A.F. throughout World War II.

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spitfire British  

/ ˈspɪtˌfaɪə /

noun

1. a person given to outbursts of spiteful temper and anger, esp a woman or girl

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Etymology

Origin of spitfire

First recorded in 1590–1600; spit ¹ + fire

Example Sentences

The iconic red brick building which houses Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum contains thousands of artefacts - from a full sized elephant beneath a spitfire to Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross.

From BBC

He’s also a widower who lost his wife not to some boring disease but in a way that only a real spitfire would go, by flipping her ATV.

From Salon

She was a real spitfire, star outside hitter Jordan Larson thought.

From Los Angeles Times

A planned fly past by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will no longer take place following death of a pilot in a spitfire crash last month.

From BBC

It is understood he issued a Mayday call soon after take off and the spitfire was seen turning just before it plunged toward the ground.

From BBC