[f. SPURT v.1 + -LE. Cf. SPIRTLE v.]
1. trans. a. To besprinkle or bespatter. rare.
1633. J. Fisher, True Trojans, III. vii. The conduits of his vitall spring being ript, Spurtled my robes, solliciting Reuenge.
1868. R. W. Huntley, Cotswold (Glouc.) Dial., Spurtle, to sprinkle with any fluid.
b. To cause to spurt or spatter. rare.
1858. Caswall, Poems, 111. Around thee swarm Spirits of darkness fresh from yawning hell, Spurtling their fiery insatiate wrath on thy defenceless lead.
2. intr. a. To burst or fly out in a small quantity or stream with some force or suddenness; to spirt or spurt.
1651. Ogilby, Æsop (1665), 37. Whilst warm Blood spurtles in his face and eyes.
1656. W. Coles, Art of Simpling, 39. The seed will spurtle forth suddenly.
1899. J. G. Frazer, in Fortn. Rev., April, 660. Some young men,… opening veins in their arms, allow the blood to spurtle over the edge of the rock.
b. To sputter.
1671. Grew, Anat. Pl., I. (1682), 17. So Fenil-Seeds, held in the flame of a Candle, will spit and spurtle, like the Serum of Blood.
