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Spat vs Spad - What's the difference?

spat | spad |

As verbs the difference between spat and spad

is that spat is past tense of spit while SPAD is to pass a signal at danger.

As nouns the difference between spat and spad

is that spat is the spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs while spad is a government adviser, often in a political or media role.

As an initialism SPAD is

signal passed at danger.

spat

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) spittan,

Verb

(head)
  • (spit)
    • There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window.
    If I had known you had a spittoon in the corner I would never have spat on the floor.

    Etymology 2

    Of uncertain origin; perhaps related to (spit).

    Noun

    (-)
  • The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.
  • * 2005 , TVR Pillay & MN Kutty, Aquaculture: Principles and practices , p. 525:
    • As spat-fall often occurs in areas away from environments suitable for oyster growing, the collection, transport and sale of oyster spat has developed into a separate industry.

    Verb

    (spatt)
  • (ambitransitive) To spawn. Used of shellfish as above.

    • Etymology 3

    Shortening of spatterdash, from spatter + dash. 1779.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe.
  • (automotive) (UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car.
    • Synonyms
    * (automotive) fender skirt (US)
    See also
    * gaiter

    Etymology 4

    1804. American English, unknown origin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a brief argument, falling out, quarrel

    • Verb

    (spatt)
  • to quarrel or argue briefly
    • (Smart)

    Etymology 5

    Attested from 1823.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A light blow with something flat.

    • Verb

    (spatt)
  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To strike with a spattering sound.
  • * 1922 , , The Trail of the White Mule , ch. 3:
    • He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney.
  • * 2007 , Nolan Clay, " Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother," Daily Oklahoman , 13 July, (retrieved 25 Aug. 2009):
    • "She mentioned she had spatted Kelsey on her diaper with a hairbrush," said Mildred Johnson, a co-worker.
  • (US, dialect) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands.
  • * Sylvester Judd
    • Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands.

    Etymology 6

    (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres.

    • Anagrams

    * * * * * English irregular past participles English irregular simple past forms English terms with multiple etymologies English terms with unknown etymologies ----

    spad

    English

    Alternative forms

    * SpAd

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A government adviser, often in a political or media role.
  • * 2009 , Ben Wright, Hidden world of the political advisers, BBC:
    • A successful stint as a spad can be a crucial political apprenticeship - as many of the current crop of professional politicians including the Miliband brothers, David Cameron and George Osborne can testify - so long as they stay in the dark.
  • * 2012 , Avoid The Thick of It-style spad appointments, ministers told, The Guardian :
    • The hit BBC sitcom satirising the inner workings of Whitehall and the so-called spads contains "more than a grain of truth", the head of the cross-party public administration select committee has warned.