spittle

American  

[spit-l] / ˈspɪt l /

noun

1. saliva; spit.

2. Entomology. the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.

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spittle British  

/ ˈspɪtəl /

noun

1. the fluid secreted in the mouth; saliva or spit

2. Also called: cuckoo spit.   frog spit.  the frothy substance secreted on plants by the larvae of certain froghoppers

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Etymology

Origin of spittle

1470–80; blend of Middle English spit (noun) ( spit ¹ ) and spetil, Old English spǣtl, variant of spātl saliva

Example Sentences

“Peacemaker” creator James Gunn is fully aware of the music’s association with stinky Spandex, spittle and sloppy beer drunks.

From Salon

She waited patiently as words and spittle flew from his mouth.

From Literature

Cicadas, winged buggy noisemakers whose relatives include leaf-hoppers and spittle bugs, come in two varieties: the annual cicadas who, sure enough, appear every year and the periodical cicadas, who appear in 13-year and 17-year cycles.

From Salon

Measles, which can be prevented by vaccination, is an airborne disease spread by the coughs, sneezes and spittle of those infected.

From Washington Times

Hot spittle dropped on her, and the bukavac’s corpse breath washed across her face.

From Literature