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Spat vs Spot - What's the difference?

spat | spot |

In ambitransitive terms the difference between spat and spot

is that spat is to spawn. Used of shellfish as above while spot is to stain; to leave a spot (on).

As verbs the difference between spat and spot

is that spat is past tense of spit while spot is to see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.

As nouns the difference between spat and spot

is that spat is the spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs while spot is a round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.

As a proper noun Spot is

a popular given name for a dog.

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 ----

    spot

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.
    • The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur.
  • A stain or disfiguring mark.
    • I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
  • A pimple, papule or pustule.
    • That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin.
    I think she's got chicken pox; she's covered in spots .
  • A small, unspecified amount or quantity.
    • Would you like to come round on Sunday for a spot of lunch?
  • (slang, US) A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars.
    • Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot''' and two five '''spots .
  • A location or area.
    • I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
    For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
  • * Milton
    • That spot to which I point is Paradise.
  • * Wordsworth
    • "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! / But something ails it now: the spot is cursed."
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • Yachvilli made it 6-0 with a second sweet strike from 45 metres after Matt Stevens was penalised for collapsing a scrum, and then slid another penalty just wide from the same spot .
  • A parking space.
  • *
  • (sports) An official determination of placement.
    • The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
  • A bright lamp; a spotlight.
  • (US, advertising) A brief advertisement or program segment on television.
    • Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
  • Difficult situation; predicament
    • She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
  • (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting) One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter
  • (soccer) penalty spot
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot . }}
  • The act of spotting or noticing something.
    • - You've misspelled "terrapin" here.
    ''- Whoops. Good spot .
  • A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak.
  • A food fish (Liostomus xanthurus ) of the Atlantic coast of the United States, with a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides.
  • The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail.
  • (in the plural, brokers' slang, dated) Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
  • An autosoliton.

    • Derived terms

    * on the spot * put someone on the spot * sitspot * shot spot * spot check * spot color / spot colour * spot market * spot on * spot remover * spotty * X marks the spot

    Verb

    (spott)
  • To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify
    • Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
  • (finance) To loan a small amount of money to someone.
    • I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
  • (ambitransitive) To stain; to leave a spot (on).
    • Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
    a garment spotted with mould
  • To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.
    • I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
  • (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting, climbing) To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates.
    • I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
  • (dance) To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.
    • Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
  • To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
    • My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
    • If ever I shall close these eyes but once, / May I live spotted for my perjury.
  • To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing.

    • Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----