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.