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spit¹

(spĭt)

1. Saliva, especially when expectorated; spittle.

2. The act of expectorating.

3. Something, such as the frothy secretion of spittle bugs, that resembles spit.

4. A brief, scattered rainfall or snowfall.

5. Informal The perfect likeness: He's the spit and image of his father.

v. spat (spăt) or spit, spit·ting, spits

v.tr.

1. To eject from the mouth: spat out the grape seeds.

2. To eject as if from the mouth: a fire spitting sparks.

3. To emit suddenly and forcefully: spat out an insult.

v.intr.

1. To eject matter from the mouth; expectorate.

2. To express contempt or animosity, especially by ejecting matter from the mouth.

3. To make a hissing or sputtering noise: french fries spitting in the pan.

4. To rain or snow in light, scattered drops or flakes.

Phrasal Verb:

spit up

To vomit. Used especially of a baby.

[Middle English, from spitten, to spit, from Old English spittan, ultimately of imitative origin.]

spit²

(spĭt)

1. A slender, pointed rod on which meat is impaled for roasting.

2. A narrow point of land extending into a body of water.

tr.v. spit·ted, spit·ting, spits

To impale on or as if on a spit.

[Middle English, from Old English spitu.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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