[f. SPLASH v.1]
1. A quantity of some fluid or semi-liquid substance dashed or dropped upon a surface.
1736. Ainsworth, I. A splash, or splatch of dirt.
1818. Todd, Splash, wet or dirt thrown up from a puddle [etc.].
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 542. The shapes of the patches will be further altered by the addition of each splash of colour.
1863. Baring-Gould, Iceland, 120. The snow was blotched with large splashes of blood.
1879. ‘E. Garrett’ (Mrs. Mayo), House by Works, viii. 150. A Turkey rug, of the right age for subdued richness of color, lay on the stone floor of the wash-house, befouled with splashes of grease and dirty water.
b. spec. (See quot.)
1813. Montagu, Suppl. Ornith. Dict., A a 3 b. Where the fowler perceives perforations made by the bill of a Woodcock,… or the mutings, called the splash.
c. The fragmentary metal resulting from the shattering of bullets upon impact.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Sept., 5/2. Several sheep … had been poisoned by swallowing minute portions of bullets—the ‘splash’—which lay scattered on the grass.
1887. Daily News, 25 Oct., 4/7. He granted an injunction … to use the other target in a way that would cause bullets or splashes of bullets to fall upon the plaintiff’s land.
d. Amer. A body of water suddenly released in order to carry down logs.
1879. Lumberman’s Gaz., 23 Aug. Some of these … logs may possibly be moved by a splash to have been made at Little Falls dam.
2. colloq. A striking or ostentatious display, appearance or effect; something in the nature of a sensation or excitement; a dash: a. In the phrases to make, or cut, a splash.
1806. Surr, Winter in Lond., II. 91. Three of my old schoolfellows at Eton, who were very clever, and cut a splash in the ‘Microcosm.’
1824. Lady Granville, Lett. (1894), I. 287. I expect our drum to make a great splash.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xvii. 147. A band is all very well for making a splash in the first procession to the hustings.
1890. Spect., 14 June, 829/1. Distinction shows itself without making a splash, without calling attention to itself.
b. In other contexts.
1810. Splendid Follies, III. 188. Many a demirep lounges in Tom’s curricle for a splash through the city.
1863. Fonblanque, Tangled Skein, II. 33. What a grand splash you had on the 31st! We saw it all in the ‘Illustrated.’
1885. Daily Tel., 28 Dec. (Encycl. Dict.). Enable him to have a rattling good splash for it somehow—break or make.
c. Without article: Sensation, excitement.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 5 Dec., 3/1. That last speech of his caused enough splash for some time to come.
3. The act or result of suddenly and forcibly striking or dashing water or other fluid; the sound produced by this.
1819. Shelley, Cyclops, 19. All my boys … with splash and strain Made white with foam the green and purple sea.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xi. 99. Billy made all the splash he could in the water as Murphy lifted the fish to the surface.
1898. Watts-Dunton, Aylwin, XIV. iv. (1899), 388. And hark! that pebble which falls into the water with a splash.
fig. 1834. Southey, Doctor, xii. (1864), II. 213. Popularity [is] a splash in the great pool of oblivion.
b. ellipt. A splash-net.
1855. ‘C. Idle,’ Hints Shooting & Fishing, [232. The Splash Net. Ibid.] 235. To use the splash advantageously at night, the tide and weather must both be in your favour.
4. The act, result or sound of water falling or dashing forcibly upon something.
1832. De la Beche, Geol. Man. (ed. 2), 83. This water being apparently derived from the drain of the mountains behind, and the splash of the sea.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, I. 214. The splash and stir Of fountains spouted up and showering down.
1885. L’pool Daily Post, 1 May, 4/9. What if days of foggy drizzle alternate with days of steady splash?
5. A large or irregular patch of color or light.
1832. T. Brown, Bk. Butterfl. & M. (1834), I. 197. In Papilio agala this silver is disposed in distinct splashes, or spots.
1856. in A. J. C. Hare, Two Noble Lives (1893), II. 88. C. wore his … uniform, which made such a splash of gold that we were quite fine enough.
1883. Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 253. [The light] fell in a great splash upon the thicket.
1897. Ld. E. Hamilton, Outlaws of Marches, iii. 24. A bright bay … with a great white splash on its forehead.
b. A variety of the domestic pigeon. Also attrib., as splash bird, cock, tumbler.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 332/1. For the best pair of Almond, or Splash Tumblers. Ibid. What is a Splash, but an Almond-bred bird?
1867. Tegetmeier, Pigeons, 120. It is no easy matter to lay down certain rules for matching Splashes, or indeed any other coloured birds.
1879. L. Wright, Pigeon Keeper, 112. These … included Almonds, Splashes,… black Splash cock, and red cock.
6. slang. (See quot.)
1865. Slang Dict., 242. Splash, complexion powder used by ladies to whiten their necks and faces.
