spile

Meanings

Noun

• A splinter.
• A spigot or plug used to stop the hole in a barrel or cask.
• A spout inserted in a maple (or other tree) to draw off sap.
• A pile; a post or girder.

Verb

• To plug (a hole) with a spile.
• To draw off (a liquid) using a spile.
• To provide (a barrel, tree etc.) with a spile.
• To support by means of spiles.
• To drive piles into.
• spoil.

Origin

• From Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spile ("splinter, peg"), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *spīlaz ("splinter, peg"), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- ("prickle, pointed stick"). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spyl, German Speil ("chip, splinter, gore, wedge"), Danish spile, Dutch spijl.
• Alteration of pile, after Etymology 1, above.
• Alteration of spoil.