[f. as prec.] That spatters, in senses of the vb.
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 148. His beard sluttish, driveling and filthy, with spattering snevell deformed.
1611. Cotgr., Crache en-ruelle, a spawling, or spattering fellow.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 567. They … instead of Fruit Chewd bitter Ashes, which th’ offended taste With spattering noise rejected.
1708. J. Phillips, Cyder, I. 28. With a writhen mouth and spattering noise He tastes the bitter morsel.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxx. A continued spattering fire, in which every shot was multiplied by a thousand echoes.
1849. E. B. Eastwick, Dry Leaves, 27. A sudden squall, which … sprinkled us with a spattering rain.
1883. Mag. of Art, Sept., 470/2. What heaps of linen! What a spattering fire of blows!
