Spittle
name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Spit, usually frothy and of a milky coloration. countable, uncountable
""Who are you?!" he blurted into the woman's palm, and she shook it off in obvious disgust, wiping spittle onto his D-class uniform."
- 2 Alternative form of spital. alt-of, alternative, archaic, countable, uncountable
"I'll build a spittle, or mend common ways […]"
- 3 A small sort of spade. countable, uncountable
- 4 a clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth; moistens the mouth and starts the digestion of starches wordnet
- 5 Something frothy and white that resembles spit. countable, uncountable
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- 6 Spit-up or drool of an infant. countable, uncountable
- 1 To dig or stir with a small spade.
- 1 A surname.
Example
More examples"This type of bug will cover itself in its own foamy spittle while it feeds."
Etymology
Alteration of dialectal spattle (by association with spit (noun)), from Old English spātl, which is related to spǣtan (whence spit (verb)).
Representing a frequentative form of spit (“a spade's depth”), equivalent to spit + -le.
Two main origins: * From Middle English spitel (“lodging house”), an occupational surname for someone who was employed at a lodging house. * Americanized spelling of German Spittel, a metonymic occupational surname for someone who worked in an infirmary, from Middle High German spital (“hospital”).
Related phrases
More for "spittle"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.