Obs. exc. dial. Forms: α. 1 spatl (spadl, spaðl), 3 spatel, 5 -ell, -ill, -ylle, 6 -ele, -yll, spattyl (Sc. -ill); 6 spatle, 6–7, 9 dial., spattle. β. 3–4 spotle, 3, 9 dial., spottle; 4 spotol(e, 4–5 -il, 5 -ell, -yl(l. [OE. spátl (spádl, also spáld SPOLD), f. *spát-, stem of spǽtan to spit. Cf. MLG. spêdel, OFris. spêdel, spêdla.] Spittle.

1

  α.  c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxvi. 26. Se ilca … se na ne forbeaʓ mid his nebbe ðara triowleasena monna spatl, ðonne hie him on ðæt nebb spætton.

2

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John ix. 6. [He] uorhte lam of ðæm spadle & ahof þæt lam ofer eʓo his.

3

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., Matt. xxvii. 30. Spittende on him heor spaðl.

4

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 226. ʓif þonne ʓit sio adl eʓle, do spatl to.

5

a. 1240.  Wohunge, in O. E. Hom., I. 279. Þat tu mihtes wið þat spatel … wasche mi sawle.

6

c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 72. Þat shalt þow knowe … by þy spatill rennand to þy mouth.

7

c. 1410.  Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xii. Put it in a dysshe wt þe spatell of iii. or iiii. fastynge men.

8

1483.  Cath. Angl., 352/1. A Spatylle, saliua, sputum.

9

a. 1529.  Skelton, P. Sparowe, 358. I …fed him with my spattyl, With his byll betwene my lippes.

10

1555.  W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, II. xii. 277. He mingleth earthe and his spattle toguether, and smereth the eyes, eares, and nosethrilles of the childe.

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1601.  Deacon & Walker, Answ. Darel, 180. By the touch of Christs finger, and the loosing of his tongue by his spattle.

12

1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., I. 10. A Wood-Louse…. This Animal fastened to the object-plate, by a little spattle, looks like polish’d silver.

13

1876–.  in Yorks. and Som. glossaries.

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  β.  a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 288. Þauh heo bispeteð hire mid hire blake spotle.

15

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 362. Seint Marc with is spottle watte a luyte vrþe on þe grounde.

16

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 193. Cristis spotel hadde greet vertue.

17

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 195. Men þat heleþ smytynge of serpentes wiþ touche or wiþ spotel.

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 469/2. Spyt, or spotle, sputum, screa, saliva.

19

1460–70.  Bk. Quintessence, II. 19. Mortifie it wiþ fastynge spotil.

20

1886.  Rochdale Gloss., 83. Spottle, matter (saliva) spit from the mouth.

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