Nearby Words
verb (used without object)
1.
to eject saliva from the mouth; expectorate.
2.
to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.
3.
to sputter: grease spitting on the fire.
4.
to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.
verb (used with object)
5.
to eject from the mouth: The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.
6.
to throw out or emit like saliva: The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.
7.
to set a flame to.
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Spitting
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
noun
Verb phrase8.
saliva, especially when ejected.
9.
the act of spitting.
10.
Entomology. Also called spittle. the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.
11.
a light fall of rain or snow.
12.
Idiomspit up, to vomit; throw up: The wounded soldier spat up blood. If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.
13.
spit and image, Informal. exact likeness; counterpart: Hunched over his desk, pen in hand, he was the spit and image of his father at work. Also, spitting image, spit 'n' image.
Origin:
before 950; (v.) Middle English spitten, Old English spittan; cognate with German (dial.) spitzen to spit; akin to Old English spǣtan to spit, spātl spittle; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.
before 950; (v.) Middle English spitten, Old English spittan; cognate with German (dial.) spitzen to spit; akin to Old English spǣtan to spit, spātl spittle; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.
Related forms
spit·like, adjective
Synonyms
3. spatter.
3. spatter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.
2.
any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.
3.
a narrow point of land projecting into the water.
4.
a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.
verb (used with object)
5.
to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit; impale on something sharp.
6.
to thrust a spit into or through.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English spite, Old English spitu; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German spit, spet, Old High German spiz spit; akin to Old Norse spīta peg
before 1000; Middle English spite, Old English spitu; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German spit, spet, Old High German spiz spit; akin to Old Norse spīta peg
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To spitting
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
spit
"sharp-pointed rod on which meat is roasted," O.E. spitu, from P.Gmc. *spituz (cf. M.Du. spit, Swed. spett, O.H.G. spiz, Ger. Spieß "spit," Ger. spitz "pointed"), from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (see spike (n.1)). This is also the source of the word meaning "sandy point"
EXPAND(1670s). O.Fr. espois, Sp. espeto "spit" are Gmc. loan-words. The verb meaning "to put on a spit" is recorded from c.1200.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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