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cuspidor

 - 2 dictionary results

cus⋅pi⋅dor

[kuhs-pi-dawr]
–noun
a large bowl, often of metal, serving as a receptacle for spit, esp. from chewing tobacco: in wide use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Origin:
1770–80; < Pg: lit., spitter, equiv. to cusp(ir) to spit (≪ L conspuere to cover with spit; con- con- + spuere to spit ) + -idor < L -i-tōrium; see -i-, -tory 2
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cus·pi·dor   (kŭs'pĭ-dôr', -dōr')   
n.  A spittoon.

[Portuguese, from cuspir, to spit, from Latin cōnspuere, to spit upon : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + spuere, to spit.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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