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Spat vs Wrangle - What's the difference?

spat | wrangle |

As verbs the difference between spat and wrangle

is that spat is past tense of spit while wrangle is to bicker, or quarrel angrily and noisily.

As nouns the difference between spat and wrangle

is that spat is the spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs while wrangle is an act of wrangling.

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 ----

    wrangle

    English

    Verb

    (wrangl)
  • To bicker, or quarrel angrily and noisily.
  • * Shakespeare
    • For a score of kingdoms you should wrangle .
  • * Addison
    • He did not know what it was to wrangle on indifferent points.
  • to herd horses or other livestock
  • To involve in a quarrel or dispute; to embroil.
  • * Bishop Robert Sanderson
    • When we have wrangled ourselves as long as our wits and strengths will serve us, the honest, downright sober English Protestant will be found in the end the man that walketh in the safest way, and by the surest line.
    • I don't know how, but she managed to wrangle us four front row seats at tonight's game.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * wrangler

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of wrangling.
  • An angry dispute.

    • See also

    * wangle