spit1
v.
(spits, spitting; past and past part. spat or spit)
- eject saliva forcibly from one's mouth.
▸forcibly eject (food or liquid) from one's mouth.
▸
(spit up)
N. Amer. (especially of a baby) vomit.
- utter in a hostile way.
- (of a fire or something being cooked) emit small bursts of sparks or hot fat with a series of explosive noises.
-
(it spits, it is spitting, etc.)
Brit. light rain falls.
n.
- saliva.
- an act of spitting.
Phrase
- be the spit
(or the dead spit)
of
informal look exactly like.
[see spitting image.]
- spit blood
(or Austral. chips)
be very angry. - spit feathers
informal, chiefly Brit. - be very thirsty.
- be very angry.
- spit in the eye
(or face)
of
show contempt or scorn for. - spit it out
[in imper.]
informal say something unhesitatingly. - spit-and-sawdust
Brit. informal (of a pub) old-fashioned and simple, of a type whose floor was originally covered with sawdust.
Derivative
Etymology
OE spittan, of imitative origin.
spit2
n.
- a long, thin metal rod pushed through meat in order to hold and turn it while it is roasted over an open fire.
- a narrow point of land projecting into the sea.
v.
(spits, spitting, spitted)
put a spit through (meat).
Etymology
OE spitu, of W. Gmc origin.
spit3
n.
(pl. same or spits)
a layer of earth whose depth is equal to the length of the blade of a spade.
Etymology
C16: from MDu. and Mid. Low Ger.; prob. rel. to spit2.
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