spittle

Meanings

Noun

• Spit, usually frothy and of a milky coloration.
• Something frothy and white that resembles spit.
• Spit-up or drool of an infant.
• Alternative of spital
• A small sort of spade.

Verb

• To dig or stir with a small spade.

Origin

• Alteration of dialectal spattle (by association with spit#Etymology_2), from Old English spātl, which is related to spǣtan (whence spit#Etymology_2).
• Representing a frequentative form of spit#Etymology_3, equivalent to spit#Etymology_3 + -le.