Now dial. Also 7 spertle. [f. SPIRT v.1 + -LE.]
1. trans. To sprinkle, spatter or splash with something. Also fig.
1603. Drayton, Odes (1619), xi. 28. I creepe behind the Time From spertling [= being spirtled] with their Crime.
1610–1. J. Davies (Heref.), Paper’s Compl., Wks. (Grosart), II. 76/1. He scraped mee With Pens that spirtled me with Villany.
1854–. in midland and western glossaries.
2. To cause to spatter or splash; to disperse in small particles.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., ii. 283. The braines and mingled blood were spertled on the wall.
1704. Phil. Trans., XXV. 1786. I suppose from some of the fouled Oyl of the Pump spirtled on the Wheels.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., I. iv. 34. The Terraqueous Globe … would by the centrifugal force of that Motion, be soon dissipated, and spirtled into the circumambient Space.
1749. W. Ellis, Shepherd’s Guide, 117. A sharp rain that so bashes the earth and spirtles it upon the grass as to cause a rot on … sheep.
3. intr. To become dispersed or scattered.
1725. N. Robinson, Th. Physick, 7. Without which Power this Globe of ours would spirtle into ten thousand Millions of Pieces.
