• (RP, GA) IPA: /spɪt/

spit (plural spits)

1. A thin#Adjective|thin metal#Adjective|metal or wooden rod on which meat is skewer#Verb|skewered for cook#Verb|cooking, often over a fire#Noun|fire.

   Synonyms: broach

2. A generally low#Adjective|low, narrow#Adjective|narrow, pointed#Adjective|pointed, usually sandy peninsula.
   • 1874, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Ordered South”, in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, London: C[harles] Kegan Paul & Co., […], published 1881, OCLC 504702577 ↗, page 147 ↗:

     Or perhaps he may see a group of washerwomen relieved, on a spit of shingle, against the blue sea, [...]

• French: broche
• German: Spieß
• Italian: girarrosto, spiedo
• Portuguese: espeto
• Russian: ве́ртел
• Spanish: brocheta, asador

• German: Nehrung, Landzunge
• Portuguese: ponta
• Russian: коса́
• Spanish: barra

spit (spits, present participle spitting; past and past participle spitted)

1. (transitive) To impale on a spit; to pierce with a sharp#Adjective|sharp object#Noun|object.

   to spit a loin of veal

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene iii], page 79 ↗, column 1:

     [W]hy in a moment looke to ſee / The blind and bloody Souldier, with foule hand / Deſire the Locks of your ſhrill-ſhriking Daughters: / Your Fathers taken by the ſiluer Bears, / And their moſt reuerend Heads daſht to the Walls: / Your naked Infants ſpitted vpon Pykes, / Whiles the mad Mothers, with their howles confus'd, / Doe breake the Clouds, [...] / What ſay you? Will you yeeld, and thus avoid#English|auoyd? / Or guiltie in defence, be thus destroy'd.

2. (transitive) To use#Verb|use a spit to cook#Verb|cook; to attend to food that is cooking on a spit.

   She’s spitting the roast in the kitchen.

   • 1607, W. S. [attributed to Thomas Middleton or William Shakespeare (doubtful)], The Pvritaine. Or The VViddovv of Watling-streete. […], imprinted at London: By G[eorge] Eld, OCLC 81461068 ↗, Act II ↗:

     Moll. Ha's my Mother ſeene him yet. / Frail[ty]. O no, ſhee's—ſpitting in the Kitchin.

• French: embrocher
• Portuguese: espetar
• Russian: насаживать
• Spanish: espetar

spit (spits, present participle spitting; past and past participle spat)

1. (ambitransitive) To evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth#Noun|mouth, etc.

   Synonyms: expectorate

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Matthew 27:30 ↗:

     And they ſpit upon him [Jesus Christ#English|Jesus Christ], and tooke the reed, and ſmote him on the head.

   • 1682, Thomas Otway, Venice Preserv’d, or, A Plot Discover’d. A Tragedy. […], London: Printed for Jos[eph] Hindmarsh […], OCLC 664400715 ↗, Act III, scene i, page 23 ↗:

     Aquil[ina]. [...] pray what Beast will your Worship please to be next? / Anto[nio]. Now I'l be a Senator agen, and thy Lover little Nicky Nacky! [He sits by her.] Ah toad, toad, toad, toad! spit in my Face a little, but a little bit—spit in my Face prithee, spit in my Face, never so little: [...]

2. (ambitransitive) To emit or expel in a manner similar to evacuating saliva from the mouth; specifically, to rain#Verb|rain or snow#Verb|snow slightly.

   a hot pan spitting droplets of fat

   • 1834 October, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “The Steam Excursion”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. In Two Volumes, volume II, 2nd edition, London: John Macrone, […], published 1836, OCLC 912950347 ↗, page 310 ↗:

     It had been "spitting" with rain for the last half-hour, and now it began to pour in good earnest.

3. (ambitransitive) To utter (something) violently.
4. (transitive, slang, hip-hop) To rap#Verb|rap, to utter.
5. (intransitive) To make#Verb|make a spitting sound#Noun|sound, like an angry cat.

• French: cracher
• German: spucken
• Italian: sputare
• Portuguese: cuspir
• Russian: плева́ть
• Spanish: escupir

spit

1. (uncountable) Saliva, especially when expectorated.

   Synonyms: expectoration, spittle

   There was spit all over the washbasin.

2. (countable) An instance of spitting; specifically, a light#Adjective|light fall#Noun|fall of rain#Verb|rain or snow#Verb|snow.
3. (uncountable) Synonym of slam#English|slam (“card game”)

• French: crachat
• German: Speichel, Spucke
• Italian: sputo
• Portuguese: cuspe, saliva
• Russian: слюна́
• Spanish: escupida

• French: crachement
• Portuguese: cuspida
• Russian: плево́к

spit (plural spits)

1. The depth to which the blade of a spade#Noun|spade goes into the soil#Noun|soil when it is used for dig#Verb|digging; a layer#Noun|layer of soil of the depth of a spade's blade.
2. The amount#Noun|amount of soil that a spade hold#Verb|holds; a spadeful.

spit (spits, present participle spitting; past and past participle spitted)

1. (transitive, dialectal) To dig#Verb|dig (something) using a spade#Noun|spade; also, to turn#Verb|turn (the soil#Noun|soil) using a plough#Noun|plough.
2. (transitive, dialectal) To plant#Verb|plant (something) using a spade.
3. (intransitive, dialectal) To dig, to spade#Verb|spade.

   Synonyms: delve

spit (uncountable)

1. (internet) Abbreviation of spam#English|spam over Internet#English|Internet telephony#English|telephony.