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Webster 1913 Edition


Spatter

Spat′ter

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spattered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Spattering
.]
[From the root of
spit
salvia.]
1.
To sprinkle with a liquid or with any wet substance, as water, mud, or the like; to make wet of foul spots upon by sprinkling;
as, to
spatter
a coat; to
spatter
the floor; to
spatter
boots with mud
.
Upon any occasion he is to be
spattered
over with the blood of his people.
Burke.
2.
To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around;
as, to
spatter
blood
.
Pope.
3.
Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.

Spat′ter

,
Verb.
I.
To throw something out of the mouth in a scattering manner; to sputter.
That mind must needs be irrecoverably depraved, which, . . . tasting but once of one just deed,
spatters
at it, and abhors the relish ever after.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spatter

SPAT'TER

,
Verb.
T.
[This root is a derivative of the family of spit, or L. pateo. See Sputter.]
1.
To scatter a liquid substance on; to sprinkle with water or any fluid, or with any moist and dirty matter; as, to spatter a coat; to spatter the floor; to spatter the boots with mud. [This word, I believe, is applied always to fluid or moist substances. We say, to spatter with water, mud, blood or gravy; but never to spatter with dust or meal.]
2.
Figuratively, to asperse; to defame. [In this sense, asperse is generally used.]
3.
To throw out any thing offensive; as, to spatter foul speeches. [Not in use.]
4.
To scatter about; as, to spatter water here and there.

SPAT'TER

,
Verb.
I.
To throw out of the mouth in a scattered manner; to sputter. [See Sputter.]

Definition 2024


spatter

spatter

English

Verb

spatter (third-person singular simple present spatters, present participle spattering, simple past and past participle spattered)

  1. (transitive) To splash with small droplets.
    When my wet chihuahua shook himself, I was spattered with smelly water.
  2. (transitive) To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around.
    to spatter blood
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Alexander Pope to this entry?)
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To injure by aspersion; to defame.

Translations

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