What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Spit vs Cape - What's the difference?

spit | cape |

As nouns the difference between spit and cape

is that spit is a rod on which meat is grilled (UK English) or broiled (US English) while cape is a piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into a sea or lake; a promontory; a headland.

As verbs the difference between spit and cape

is that spit is to impale on a spit while cape is to head or point; to keep a course.

As a proper noun Cape is

the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Province, South Africa.

spit

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) spitu , from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A rod on which meat is grilled (UK English) or broiled (US English).
  • A narrow, pointed, usually sandy peninsula.
  • * 1881 , :
    • Or perhaps he may see a group of washerwomen relieved, on a spit of shingle, against the blue sea [..]
  • The depth to which a spade goes in digging; a spade; a spadeful.
    • (Halliwell)

    Verb

    (spitt)
  • To impale on a spit.
    • to spit a loin of veal
  • * Shakespeare
    • infants spitted upon pikes
  • To attend to a spit; to use a spit.
    • She's spitting in the kitchen.
  • To spade; to dig.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) spittan, from (etyl) (compare Danish spytte, Swedish spotta), from (etyl) Ayto, John, Dictionary of Word Origins , Arcade Publishing, New York, 1990, of imitiative origin (see spew) spew], [[w:Online Etymology Dictionary, Online Etymology Dictionary], Douglas Harper

    Verb

  • (transitive) To evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth.
    • Don't spit on the street.
    The teacher told her to spit out her bubble gum.
  • * 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) Chapter 2
    • At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth, stepped back from the tree and listened. There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision.
  • To rain or snow slightly, or with sprinkles.
  • * Charles Dickens
    • It had been spitting with rain.
  • To utter violently.
  • * 1915 , , Shadows of Flames , page 240 [http://books.google.com/books?id=-9AcAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA240&dq=spat]:
    • "Why, you little emasculated Don Juan— You—" he spat an unmentionable name— "d'you think I'd fight one of your tin-soldier farces with you? Clear out!"
  • * 2004 , edition, ISBN 0743483790, chapter 3, page 23 [http://books.google.com/books?id=d9F9MUiOQD4C&pg=PA23&dq=spat]:
    • "Gentleman? You?" he spat .
  • (transitive, slang, hip-hop) To utter.
  • * 2005 , Giselle Zado Wasfie, So Fly
    • A group of black guys were spitting rhymes in the corner, slapping hands and egging one another on.
    Usage notes
    * Spit'' as the past form is common only in the US, while ''spat is common everywhere.
    Synonyms
    * expectorate
    Derived terms
    * spit it out * spit nails * spitting chips * spitting distance

    Noun

  • (uncountable) Saliva]], especially when [[expectorate, expectorated.
    • There was spit all over the washbasin.
  • (countable) An instance of spitting.
    • Synonyms
    * expectoration, saliva
    Derived terms
    * spitball * spit-cup * spitshine * spittoon * spit wad

    Anagrams

    * * *

    References

    English terms with multiple etymologies

    cape

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) cap, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geography) A piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into a sea or lake; a promontory; a headland.
    • Synonyms
    * chersonese * peninsula * point

    Etymology 2

    (wikipedia cape) (etyl) capa, from .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sleeveless garment or part of a garment, hanging from the neck over the back, arms, and shoulders, but not reaching below the hips.
  • *
    • Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […]  Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.
    See also
    * cloak

    Verb

    (cap)
  • (nautical) To head or point; to keep a course.
    • The ship capes southwest by south.
  • (obsolete) To gape.
    • (Chaucer)
  • To skin an animal, particularly a deer.

    • Anagrams

    * ----