Spit vs Splutter - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between spit and splutter

is that spit is to impale on a spit or spit can be (transitive) to evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth while splutter is to spray droplets while speaking.

As a noun spit

is a rod on which meat is grilled (uk english) or broiled (us english) or spit can be (uncountable) saliva]], especially when [[expectorate|expectorated.

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

splutter

English

Verb

(en verb)

to spray droplets while speaking

to speak hurriedly and confusedly

to perform to a substandard level

*{{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=January 5 , author=Mark Ashenden , title=Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester United come next for Wolves in the Premier League but McCarthy's men will fear no one after beating Chelsea for the first time in 18 years, while Ancelotti has much to ponder as his players continue to splutter .}}