- spill
-
I. verb
(spilled; also spilt; spilling)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English spillan; akin to Old English spildan to destroy and perhaps to Latin spolium animal skin, Greek sphallein to cause to fall
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic kill, destroy
b. to cause (blood) to be lost by wounding
2. to cause or allow especially accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted
3.
a. to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it
b. to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines
4. to throw off or out <a horse spilled him> 5. to let out ; divulge <spill a secret> intransitive verb 1. a. to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost <water spilling over the dam> b. to cause or allow something to spill 2. to spread profusely or beyond bounds <crowds spilled into the streets> 3. to fall from one's place (as on a horse) • spillable adjective • spiller noun II. noun Date: circa 1845 1. the act or an instance of spilling; especially a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position 2. something spilled III. noun Etymology: Middle English spille; akin to Middle Low German spīle thin stick, peg Date: 14th century 1. a wooden splinter 2. a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
