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What is the difference between spittle and spit?

spittle | spit |

As nouns the difference between spittle and spit

is that spittle is spit, usually frothy and of a milky coloration while spit is a rod on which meat is grilled (UK English) or broiled (US English).

As verbs the difference between spittle and spit

is that spittle is to dig or stir with a small spade while spit is to impale on a spit.

spittle

English

Noun

(-)
  • Spit, usually frothy and of a milky coloration.
  • Something frothy and white that resembles spit.
  • Spit-up or drool of an infant.
  • A small sort of spade.
  • * (rfdate), George Herbert, The Thanksgiving :
    • "I'll build a spittle, or mend common ways..."

    Derived terms

    * lickspittle * spittly

    Verb

    (spittl)
  • To dig or stir with a small spade.

    • Anagrams

    *

    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