- spittle
- noun Etymology: Middle English spetil, from Old English spǣtl; akin to Old English spittan to spit Date: before 12th century 1. saliva 2. spit IV,1b(1)
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
spittle
Look at other dictionaries:
Spittle — Spit tle, n. [From {Spit} to eject from the mouth: cf. {Spattle}, and AS. sp[=a]tl.] The thick, moist matter which is secreted by the salivary glands; saliva; spit. [1913 Webster] {Spittle insect}. (Zo[ o]l.) See {Cuckoo spit} (b), under {Cuckoo} … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Spittle — Spit tle, n. See {Spital}. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Spittle — Spit tle, v. t. [See {Spit} to spade.] To dig or stir with a small spade. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Spittle — Spit tle, n. A small sort of spade. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spittle — late 15c., saliva, spit, probably an alteration (by influence of SPIT (Cf. spit) (v.)) of O.E. spætl, spatl, from P.Gmc. *spætlan, which is related to O.E. spætan to spit … Etymology dictionary
spittle — ► NOUN ▪ saliva, especially as ejected from the mouth. ORIGIN dialect spattle, altered by association with SPIT(Cf. ↑spitter) … English terms dictionary
spittle — [spit′ l] n. [earlier spettle < ME spetil < OE spætl, var. of spatl: for IE base see SPEW] 1. saliva; spit 2. the frothy secretion of larval spittlebugs … English World dictionary
Spittle — This very rare and interesting surname is of early medieval English origin, and is from an occupational name for someone who was employed at a lodging house. The name is derived from the Middle English (1200 1500) spital , an aphetic form of the… … Surnames reference
spittle — [[t]spɪ̱t(ə)l[/t]] N UNCOUNT Spittle is the watery liquid which is produced in your mouth. [OLD FASHIONED] A tiny roll of spittle oozed down his jaw. Syn: spit … English dictionary
spittle — Spital Spit al, n. [Abbreviated from hospital.] [Written also {spittle}.] A hospital. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spittle — /ˈspɪtl / (say spitl) noun 1. saliva; spit. 2. the frothy protective secretion exuded by spittle insects. {alteration (conformed to spit1) of obsolete or dialect spattle, Middle English spatel, Old English spātl, related to spǣtan spit} …
