ˈspawling, vbl. n. Now arch.
[f. spawl v.]
1. The action of the vb.; expectoration.
| 1609 Dekker Gull's Horn-bk. Wks. (Grosart) II. 207 The manner of spawling, slauering, spetting and driueling in all places. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xix. 799 A spontaneous Salivation or spawling preceeds Vomiting. 1727 De Foe Protestant Monast. 10 His spitting and spawling turn'd Madam's Stomach. 1753 J. Collier Art Torment. Concl. 228 The constant drumming upon the table..of another! The hawking and spawlting [sic] of a third! 1881 A. J. Duffield Don Quix. II. 577 By his spawling and clearing his throat [he] is preparing to sing something. |
| attrib. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. iv. Decay 166 A Visard, newly varnisht o'r With spauling Rheums, hot Fumes, and Ceruses. 1628 Gaule Pract. The. (1629) 335 Spite contemnes him, He's made their flapping, flouting, spawling Sport. |
2. pl. Spittle, spittings, saliva.
| 1614 Sylvester Tobacco Battered Wks. (Grosart) II. 270 A Drug for Jews..who did so foule abuse..with their Spawlings base, Our loving Saviour's lovely-reverend Face. Ibid. 274 How juster will the Heav'nly God..punish..Those, that on Earth..Offend the Eyes, with foul and loathsom spawlings. 1693 Congreve in Dryden's Juvenal xi. 290 Whose Marble Floors with drunken Spawlings shine; Let him lascivious Songs and Dances have. |