[f. SPIT v.2]
1. The action of ejecting saliva from the mouth; expectoration.
13[?]. K. Alis., 898 (Linc.). Hadde he biden ony þing, Abouȝt he hadde his spittyng.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxi. 5. I am reproue of men, in spittynge, buffetynge, and pungynge with þe thornes.
c. 1430. Freemasonry (Halliw. 1840), 711. From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe the also.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 250 b. His betynges & buffetynges…, with spyttynges, bobbynges & other turmentes.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Excreatio, a spittyng out with retchynge.
1609. B. Jonson, Silent Wom., IV. i. The spitting, the coughing, the laughter, the neesing.
1648. Sanderson, Serm., II. 235. Clamours and outcries, railing, and spitting, and buffeting.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, II. ix. § 5 (1734), 212. The Spitting or Salivation, so common in Nervous Distempers.
1786. J. Hunter, Treat. Vener. Dis., VI. i. (1810), 456. He rubbed in … mercurial ointment, and had a slight spitting.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 506. I looked … for a return of his consumptive symptoms after the spitting had ceased.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, xi. 260. Spitting seems an almost universal sign of contempt or disgust.
b. Const. of (blood, fire, etc.).
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Excreatio, It is bruysed … against spittyng of bludde.
1634. Massinger, Very Woman, III. v. Here will be spitting of fire o’ both sides presently!
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v., When this Spitting of Blood comes from the Stomach.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 339. Spitting of blood is generally preceded by a sense of weight.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxii. 261. We are surprised to find that cases of spitting of blood are not much more frequent.
2. Saliva ejected from the mouth; spittle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25489. Iesus, þat wald … Þi suete face … With Iuus spitting file.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 655. Of þe comes mykel foul thyng, Als fen, and uryn and spyttyng.
1483. Cath. Angl., 355/2. To cast Spyttynge, desputare, exscreare.
1639. S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 210. All Berards brags were as so many spittings vomited up against heaven.
1691. trans. Emiliane’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 114. So that the Precious Blood … is spilt upon the Ground, amongst the Filth and Spittings of the People.
1701. Stanhope, Pious Breathings, VII. ix. 333. That adorable face … was then defiled … with the spittings of unhallowed lips.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. v. In descending, he received a spitting (crachat) on the head, and some others on his clothes.
3. a. Sputtering; spec. of molten silver.
1611. Cotgr., Petillement,… the spitting of a candle.
1866. Chambers’ Encycl., VIII. 729/2. Silver,… when … it is fused,… absorbs a considerable quantity of oxygen, which it expels in the act of solidification with a peculiar sound, technically known as spitting.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 71/1. The presence of even very little base metal in the silver prevents this ‘spitting.’
b. A slight sprinkle or shower of rain.
1707. in R. M. F. Watson, Closeburn (1901), App. 274. All … shall be reckoned but as spittings before the great shower.
1869–. in dial. glossaries.
c. techn. (See quot.)
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., I. 271/1. In the needle-gun … the ‘spitting’ of fire at the breech is inconveniently great.
4. attrib. a. In sense ‘for spitting in or on,’ as spitting-box, -cup, -dish, -kettle, -mug, -pan, etc.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. A *spitting Box, un Crachoir.
1794. Parr, Let. Maltby, Wks. 1828, VIII. 336. Is there a smoking room, an arm-chair, a spitting-box, a wax-candle?
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 88. A large tin spitting-box [was] fixed to his chest by a strap over the shoulders.
1684. Hedges, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 149. A Beetle Box, Plate, Arrack Bowl, *Spitting Cup, and Silver handle for a Fan.
1706. Stevens, Span. Dict., I. Escupidero, a *spitting Dish.
1815. Hist. J. Decastro, III. 339. Let’s have … pipes and tobacco, some sawdust and a *spitting kettle.
1895. Army & Navy Price List, 15 Sept., 1316/1. *Spitting Mugs.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 88. There were *spitting-pans placed in different parts of the decks for the use of the men.
1731–8. Swift, Polite Conv., 39. Come, pray, stand out of my *spitting place.
1727. Pope, etc., Art of Sinking, 125. Paint, diet-drinks, *spitting-pots, and all other necessaries of life.
1776. Pennsylv. Even. Post, 27 April, 212/1. Blue and white artichoke cups and spitting pots.
1836. J. M. Gully, Magendie’s Formul., 127. The water used in washing the spitting-pots.
1662. Pepys, Diary, 21 Nov. To bed this night, having first put up a *spitting-sheet, which I find very convenient.
1684. A. Hall, Will (Somerset Ho.). One paire of spitting sheetes now used upon my bed.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 164. They left me, looking all over like an old Man’s Spitting-sheet.
1831. J. Jekyll, Corr. (1894), 286. The cigar-smokers of Dublin use *spitting vases in the shape of mitres.
b. In sense of ‘facilitating or inducing spitting,’ as spitting-drop, -pill.
1629. Massinger, Picture, IV. ii. He’s acquainted With the green water, and the spitting-pill’s Familiar to him.
1692. Poor Robin’s Alm., Advt., Spitting-Drops, that any one may safely take.
c. Misc., as spitting exordium, range, sickness.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. (Grosart), V. 245. This counterpoyson of the spitting sickenesse.
1600. Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., I. xii. H iv. He [Montaigne] … forceth you not to attention with a hem, and a spitting Exordium.
1774. J. Edwards, Hist. Redemp., II. ii. (1788), 226. He did not think it too much … to become the laughing-stock and spitting-stock of the vilest of men.
1895. Sir H. Maxwell, Duke of Britain, xix. 280. You had him almost within spitting range.
