Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Spit?

\Spit\, n. [OE. spite, AS. spitu; akin to D. spit, G. spiess, OHG. spiz, Dan. spid. Sw. spett, and to G. spitz pointed. [root]170.] 1. A long, slender, pointed rod, usually of iron, for holding meat while roasting. 2. A small point of land running into the sea, or a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore into the sea; as, a spit of sand. --Cook. 3. The depth to which a spade goes in digging; a spade; a spadeful. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
\Spit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spitted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spitting}.] [From {Spit}, n.; cf. {Speet}.] 1. To thrust a spit through; to fix upon a spit; hence, to thrust through or impale; as, to spit a loin of veal. ``Infants spitted upon pikes.'' --Shak. 2. To spade; to dig. [Prov. Eng.]
\Spit\, v. i. To attend to a spit; to use a spit. [Obs.] She's spitting in the kitchen. --Old Play.
\Spit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spit} ({Spat}, archaic); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spitting}.] [AS. spittan; akin to G. sp["u]tzen, Dan. spytte, Sw. spotta,Icel. sp?ta, and prob. E. spew. The past tense spat is due to AS. sp?tte, from sp?tan to spit. Cf. {Spat}, n., {Spew}, {Spawl}, {Spot}, n.] 1. To eject from the mouth; to throw out, as saliva or other matter, from the mouth. ``Thus spit I out my venom.''
\Spit\, n. The secretion formed by the glands of the mouth; spitle; saliva; sputum.
\Spit\, v. i. 1. To throw out saliva from the mouth. 2. To rain or snow slightly, or with sprinkles. It had been spitting with rain. --Dickens. {To spit on} or {upon}, to insult grossly; to treat with contempt. ``Spitting upon all antiquity.'' --South.