Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Spile

//spaɪl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A splinter. Cumbria, dialectal, obsolete
  2. 2
    A pile; a post or girder.

    "The bottom of the river is of hard, sparkling white sand, into which spiles are easily driven; and the building and keeping up of such a wharf is a trifling trouble..."

  3. 3
    a plug used to close a hole in a barrel or flask wordnet
  4. 4
    A spigot or plug used to stop the hole in a barrel or cask.

    "So I felt my way down the passage back to the vault, and recked not of the darkness, nor of Blackbeard and his crew, if only I could lay my lips to liquor. Thus I groped about the barrels till near the top of the stack my hand struck on the spile of a keg, and drawing it, I got my mouth to the hold."

  5. 5
    a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    A spout inserted in a maple (or other tree) to draw off sap. US

    "Now, chamfering one end of the elderberry tube slightly to fit, I push it into the hole and wait. After a few seconds sap will begin to drip from the end of the tube, a tangible flow of life and vitality. […] Beneath the tube, properly called a spile, I place my cup to catch the drips."

Verb
  1. 1
    To plug (a hole) with a spile.
  2. 2
    To support by means of spiles. transitive
  3. 3
    spoil. US, ambitransitive, dialectal
  4. 4
    To draw off (a liquid) using a spile.
  5. 5
    To drive piles into. transitive
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To provide (a barrel, tree etc.) with a spile.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile (“splinter, peg”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *spīlaz (“splinter, peg”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“prickle, pointed stick”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spyl, German Speil (“chip, splinter, gore, wedge”), Danish spile, Dutch spijl.

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile (“splinter, peg”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *spīlaz (“splinter, peg”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“prickle, pointed stick”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spyl, German Speil (“chip, splinter, gore, wedge”), Danish spile, Dutch spijl.

Etymology 3

Alteration of pile, after Etymology 1, above.

Etymology 4

Alteration of pile, after Etymology 1, above.

Etymology 5

Alteration of spoil.

See also for "spile"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: spile