Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Spurt?

\Spurt\, v. i. [Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See {Sprit}, v. i., {Sprout}, v. i.] To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt. Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock, Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. --Pope.
\Spurt\, v. t. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.
\Spurt\, n. [Cf. Icel. sprette a spurt, spring, run, spretta to sprit, spring.] A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. The long, steady sweep of the so-called ``paddle'' tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. --T. Hughes.
\Spurt\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Spurted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spurting}.] To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.