Med. Pl. sputa. [L. spūtum spit, spittle, neut. pa. pple. of spuĕre to spit.] Saliva or spittle mixed with mucus or purulent matter, and expectorated in certain diseased states of the lungs, chest or throat; a mass or quantity of this.
sing. 1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Sputum, a Liquor thicker than ordinary Spittle.
1784. Med. Comm., I. 397. The qualities of the sputum.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 37. Although the cough continues, the expectoration is more free, the sputum being of a thicker consistence and milder quality.
1881. Tablet, 28 Feb., 358. Some of the sputum left on the edge of the cup.
pl. 1829. Cooper, Good’s Study Med., II. 470. Frequently the characteristic sputa are observed only at the very beginning of the disease.
1876. Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 438. With the advance of the disease … the sputa usually become increased in quantity.
