Spit

n. [A-S. spitu, D. spit, O. D. spet, L. Ger. spitt, O. H. Ger. spiz, N. H. Ger. spiesz, Dan. spid, Sw. spett. Icel. spita, a wooden nail, spiot, a spear, Dan. spyd, Sw. spjut.]

1Sense 1. An iron prong or bar pointed, on which meat is roasted. Spit. (1.)

2Sense 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.

3Sense 3. [D. spit, a spade.] A spade; hence, such a depth of earth as is pierced by the spade at once; a spadeful. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

n. [Dan. spyt, Icel. spyta. See the verb.] The secretion formed by the glands of the mouth; saliva; spawl; sputum.

[imp. & p. p. SPITTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SPITTING.] [From the noun; Icel. spita, to impale; D. speten. Cf. SPEET.]

1Sense 1. To thrust a spit through; to put upon a spit; as, to spit a loin of veal.

2Sense 2. Hence, to thrust through; to pierce. Shak.

3Sense 3. To spade; to dig. [Prov. Eng.]

v. i. To attend to a spit; to use a spit. [Obs.] She's spitting in the kitchen. Old Play.

[imp. & p. p. SPIT (SPAT, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. SPITTING.] [A-S. spittan, spætan, spātan, Dan. spytte, Sw. spotta, Icel. spýta, M. H. Ger. spitzen, O. & Up. Ger. spitzen. Cf. Lat. sputare, from spuere, and cf. SPET and SPEW.]

1Sense 1. To eject from the mouth; to throw out, as saliva or other matter, from the mouth.

2Sense 2. To eject or throw out with violence.

To throw out saliva from the mouth. To spit on or upon, to insult grossly; to treat with contempt. “Spitting on all antiquity before them.” South.