spat

[ spat ]

/ spæt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spat ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a petty quarrel.

a light blow; slap; smack.

verb (used without object), spat·ted, spat·ting.

to engage in a petty quarrel or dispute.

to splash or spatter; rain spatting against the window.

verb (used with object), spat·ted, spat·ting.

to strike lightly; slap.

Origin of spat

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; perhaps imitative

SYNONYMS FOR spat

1 tiff, scrap, set-to.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spat ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby spat

spastic gait, spastic hemiplegia, spastic ileus, spastic paralysis, spasticity, spat, spatchcock, spate, spathaceous, spathe, spathic

Definition for spat (2 of 6)

spat ²

[ spat ]

/ spæt /

verb

a simple past tense and past participle of spit¹.

Definition for spat (3 of 6)

spat ³

[ spat ]

/ spæt /

noun

a short gaiter worn over the instep and usually fastened under the foot with a strap, worn especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Origin of spat

First recorded in 1795–1805; short for spatterdash

Definition for spat (4 of 6)

spat ⁴

[ spat ]

/ spæt /

noun

the spawn of an oyster or similar shellfish.

young oysters collectively.

a young oyster.

seed oyster.

Origin of spat

⁴

1350–1400; Middle English; origin uncertain

Definition for spat (5 of 6)

spit ¹

[ spit ]

/ spɪt /

verb (used without object), spit or spat, spit·ting.

to eject saliva from the mouth; expectorate.

to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.

to sputter: grease spitting on the fire.

to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.

verb (used with object), spit or spat, spit·ting.

to eject from the mouth: The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.

to throw out or emit like saliva: The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.

to set a flame to.

noun

saliva, especially when ejected.

the act of spitting.

Entomology. Also called spittle. the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.

a light fall of rain or snow.

Verb Phrases

spit up, to vomit; throw up: The wounded soldier spat up blood. If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.

Origin of spit

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.

SYNONYMS FOR spit

3 spatter.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spit ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spit

spit·like, adjective

Definition for spat (6 of 6)

spit ²

[ spit ]

/ spɪt /

noun

a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.

any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.

a narrow point of land projecting into the water.

a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.

verb (used with object), spit·ted, spit·ting.

to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit; impale on something sharp.

to thrust a spit into or through.

Origin of spit

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

Example sentences from the Web for spat

Upstairs, in the living room, splintered logs of hemlock cackled and spat from inside the wood stove.

Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau |Ian Frisch |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They kicked and fought and spat and succeeded in repeatedly filling their opponents with fear.

Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage |Arthur Chu |October 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He licked them up with a slick bronzy tongue and spat a thick wad of honey-brown juice into the empty teacup.

Short Stories from The Daily Beast: Four Hundred Grand |Elliot Ackerman |July 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The two spat back and forth, with Allen bringing up Hopkins' affair with a married colleague.

Who Pays For Michelle Obama's Clothing?; Scout Willis Speaks Out Regarding Topless Photos |The Fashion Beast Team |June 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But some people took it as if I had spat on the Koran or something.

The Prodigious Roddy Doyle Is the Celtic Tiger of Irish Literature |Allen Barra |March 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Another blow on the sand, a howl, and a furious burst from the monkey, who spat and scolded more fiercely.

Mother Carey's Chicken |George Manville Fenn
John bit off the end of a cigar and spat it out in front of Mr. Dround.

The Memoirs of an American Citizen |Robert Herrick
Mason turned his quid deliberately and spat at the open door.

Bob Hampton of Placer |Randall Parrish
He spat a mouthful of tobacco juice into the dust and fingered the torn brim of his hat.

The Voice of the People |Ellen Glasgow
The Deemster spat on the floor, and called on the carriers to take up their burden.

The Deemster |Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for spat (1 of 7)

spat ¹

/ (spæt) /

noun

rare a slap or smack

a slight quarrel

verb spats, spatting or spatted

rare to slap (someone)

(intr) US, Canadian and NZ to have a slight quarrel

Word Origin for spat

C19: probably imitative of the sound of quarrelling

British Dictionary definitions for spat (2 of 7)

spat ²

/ (spæt) /

verb

a past tense and past participle of spit 1

British Dictionary definitions for spat (3 of 7)

spat ³

/ (spæt) /

noun

another name for gaiter (def. 2)

Word Origin for spat

C19: short for spatterdash

British Dictionary definitions for spat (4 of 7)

spat ⁴

/ (spæt) /

noun

a larval oyster or similar bivalve mollusc, esp when it settles to the sea bottom and starts to develop a shell

such oysters or other molluscs collectively

Word Origin for spat

C17: from Anglo-Norman spat; perhaps related to spit 1

British Dictionary definitions for spat (5 of 7)

spit ¹

/ (spɪt) /

verb spits, spitting, spat or spit

(intr) to expel saliva from the mouth; expectorate

(intr) informal to show disdain or hatred by spitting

(of a fire, hot fat, etc) to eject (fragments of coal, sparks, etc) violently and with an explosive sound; splutter

(intr) to rain very lightly

(tr often foll by out) to eject or discharge (something) from the mouth he spat the food out; to spit blood

(tr often foll by out) to utter (short sharp words or syllables), esp in a violent manner

spit chips Australian slang to be very angry Also (NZ): spit tacks

spit it out! British informal a command given to someone that he should speak forthwith

noun

another name for spittle

a light or brief fall of rain, snow, etc

the act or an instance of spitting

informal, mainly British another word for spitting image

Derived forms of spit

spitter, noun

Word Origin for spit

Old English spittan; related to spǣtan to spit, German dialect spitzen

British Dictionary definitions for spat (6 of 7)

spit ²

/ (spɪt) /

noun

a pointed rod on which meat is skewered and roasted before or over an open fire

Also called: rotisserie, rotating spit a similar device rotated by electricity or clockwork, fitted onto a cooker

an elongated often hooked strip of sand or shingle projecting from the shore, deposited by longshore drift, and usually above water

verb spits, spitting or spitted

(tr) to impale on or transfix with or as if with a spit

Word Origin for spit

Old English spitu; related to Old High German spiz spit, Norwegian spit tip

British Dictionary definitions for spat (7 of 7)

spit ³

/ (spɪt) /

noun

the depth of earth cut by a spade; a spade's depth

Word Origin for spit

C16: from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German spit

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spat

noun

verb (used without object), spat·ted, spat·ting.

verb (used with object), spat·ted, spat·ting.

Origin of spat

SYNONYMS FOR spat

Words nearby spat

Definition for spat (2 of 6)

verb

Definition for spat (3 of 6)

noun

Origin of spat

Definition for spat (4 of 6)

noun

Origin of spat

Definition for spat (5 of 6)

verb (used without object), spit or spat, spit·ting.

verb (used with object), spit or spat, spit·ting.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of spit

SYNONYMS FOR spit

OTHER WORDS FROM spit

Definition for spat (6 of 6)

noun

verb (used with object), spit·ted, spit·ting.

Origin of spit

Words related to spat

Example sentences from the Web for spat

British Dictionary definitions for spat (1 of 7)

noun

verb spats, spatting or spatted

Word Origin for spat

British Dictionary definitions for spat (2 of 7)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for spat (3 of 7)

noun

Word Origin for spat

British Dictionary definitions for spat (4 of 7)

noun

Word Origin for spat

British Dictionary definitions for spat (5 of 7)

verb spits, spitting, spat or spit

noun

Derived forms of spit

Word Origin for spit

British Dictionary definitions for spat (6 of 7)

noun

verb spits, spitting or spitted

Word Origin for spit

British Dictionary definitions for spat (7 of 7)

noun

Word Origin for spit