[L. spatula, var. of spathula SPATHULA, dim. of spatha SPATHA. Cf. Sp. espatula, It. spatola.
The erroneous form spattular occurs in Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1607) 511. For Anglicized forms see SPATULE, SPATUL, SPATTLE sb.2, SPARTLE sb., also (with change of ending) SPATURE and SPATTER sb.1]
1. A simple implement of wood, ivory, or metal, having a flat elongated form with various modifications of shape and size, used for a variety of purposes: a. For stirring mixtures (esp. of a medical nature), spreading ointments or plasters, etc.
1525. trans. Jerome of Brunswick’s Surg., C iv/2. Take a spatula & styrre all these togeder.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 45/1. Reverberate the same dilligentlye with the spatula, and it will be the better.
1639. T. de Gray, Expert Farrier, 305. Laid on a Spatula plaister-wise.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 187. Over which fume … we directly plac’d a Spatula.
1683. Pettus, Fleta Min., I. (1686), 162. Stir it about continually with a wooden spatula.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 15. We many times stir the Body that is to be calcin’d with a Spatula, or else mix it with something else.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 40. Take some cotton, and with a spatula, or your hands, work that, the nitre and the brandy, together.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 382. Being stirred with a spatula till the whole becomes incorporated.
1837. Flemish Husb., 61, in L. U. K., III. The butter … is well washed and worked with … a kind of spatula or flat spoon.
1873. E. Spon, Workshop Rec., Ser. I. 18/1. The mixture is removed from the stone by a spatula.
b. For minor surgical operations or for the medical examination of certain organs.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., II. 45. This Scab … hath fallen off, by the help onely of a Spatula.
1694. Phil. Trans., XVIII. 220. With a small Spatula … she pick’d out five or six Worms at a time.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 39. The tongue … must be loosened with a spatula.
1803. Med. Jrnl., X. 330. He ordered the patient to take in his mouth a silver spatula, to which the conducting chain had been adapted.
1853. Lowell, Lett. (1894), I. iii. 222. There is no spatula with which you can hold the Public’s tongue while you force things down their throat.
1879. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., II. 5. This is best done by introducing the little finger or a spatula into the nostril.
c. For technical operations of various kinds.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 306. The strip of bark … being raised up … by the spatula of the budding-knife.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, xi. 358. The pottery was all made by women. Their tools were very simple, consisting of … a flat mallet or spatula for the surface [etc.].
1883. T. Hopkins, in Harper’s Mag., Oct., 775/2. The few simple tools of the craft—chisel, hammer, spatula—lay in various places.
1887. D. Maguire, Art Massage, ii. (ed. 4), 22. We give this name [i.e., palette] to a kind of spatula in the shape of a battledoor with a long handle.
2. A ferule. rare–1.
1830. Mrs. Bray, Fitz of Fitz-ford, iii. (1884), 29. A large birchen rod,… and a wooden spatula, to inflict punishment on the hand.
3. Ornith. The roseate spoonbill.
1872. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 138. The rose-coloured spatula, a bird that frequents lakes and rivers [in America], and lives on fish.
4. attrib., as spatula-hand, -hook; † spatula-bird, a spoonbill.
1750. London Mag., May, 224/2. As to the Spatula-bird,… it is a kind of water fowl, of the goose or duck kind.
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages, vii. 66. The spatula hand … is rather that of a mechanician than an artist.
1895. Arnold & Sons’ Catal. Surg. Instrum., 145. Spatula Hook…, in ivory handle.
5. Comb., as spatula-like, -shaped.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), IV. 100. The spatula-shaped leaves appear at the end of these branches.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., IV. xlvi. 271. Spatulate.… Spatula-shaped. Broader and rounded at the apex, linear and narrow at the base.
1834. H. M’Murtrie, Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 150. Their bill … becoming widened and flattened … so as to form a spatula-like disk.
1880. Miss Bird, Japan, II. 93. A spatula-shaped shuttle of engraved wood.
1906. Alice Werner, Natives Brit. Central Africa, v. 107. She … scraped from the nape of the neck forward and upward, with a little spatula-shaped iron razor.
