▪ I. spattle, n.1 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈspæt(ə)l)
Forms: α. 1 spatl (spadl, spaðl), 3 spatel, 5 -ell, -ill, -ylle, 6 -ele, -yll, spattyl (Sc. -ill); 6 spatle, 6–7, 9 dial., spattle. β. 3–4 spotle, 3, 9 dial., spottle; 4 spotel(e, 4–5 -il, 5 -ell, -yl(l.
[OE. spátl (spádl, also spáld spold), f. *spát-, stem of spǽtan to spit. Cf. MLG. spêdel, OFris. spêdel, spêdla.]
Spittle.
| α c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxvi. 261 Se ilca..se na ne forbeaᵹ mid his nebbe ðara triowleasena monna spatl, ðonne hie him on ðæt nebb spætton. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John ix. 6 [He] uorhte lam of ðæm spadle & ahof þæt lam ofer eᵹo his. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxvii. 30 Spittende on him heor spaðl. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 226 Ᵹif þonne ᵹit sio adl eᵹle, do spatl to. a 1240 Wohunge in O.E. Hom. I. 279 Þat tu mihtes wið þat spatel..wasche mi sawle. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 72 Þat shalt þow knowe..by þy spatill rennand to þy mouth. c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xii, Put it in a dysshe w{supt} þe spatell of iii. or iiii. fastynge men. 1483 Cath. Angl. 352/1 A Spatylle, saliua, sputum. a 1529 Skelton P. Sparowe 358, I..fed him with my spattyl, With his byll betwene my lippes. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. xii. 277 He mingleth earthe and his spattle toguether, and smereth the eyes, eares, and nosethrilles of the childe. 1601 Deacon & Walker Ans. to Darel 180 By the touch of Christs finger, and the loosing of his tongue by his spattle. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 10 A Wood Louse..fastened to the object-plate by a little spattle. 1876– in Yorks. and Som. glossaries. |
| β a 1225 Ancr. R. 288 Þauh heo bispeteð hire mid hire blake spotle. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 362 Seint Marc with is spottle watte a luyte vrþe on þe grounde. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 193 Cristis spotel hadde greet vertue. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 195 Men þat heleþ smytynge of serpentes wiþ touche or wiþ spotel. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 469/2 Spyt, or spotle, sputum, screa, saliva. 1460–70 Bk. Quintessence ii. 19 Mortifie it wiþ fastynge spotil. 1886 Rochdale Gloss. 83 Spottle, matter (saliva) spit from the mouth. |
▪ II. spattle, n.2
(ˈspæt(ə)l)
Also 5 spatyl, 6 -yll, 6–7 spatle (7 spatwel).
[Anglicized f. spatule. Cf. Du., G., Da., and Sw. spatel.]
1. A spatula. Now rare or Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 467/2 Spatyl, instrument to clense wythe soorys, pessaria. 1530 Palsgr. 273/2 Spatyll, an instrument. 1576 G. Baker tr. Gesner's Jewell of Health 194 When the same shall begynne to melte..Sturre with a spattle. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. ii. 38 With a woodden spatle or spoone, beat them wel together. 1605 Timme Quersit. iii. 155 Stirre it continually with an yron spattle. 1658 A. Fox Würtz' Surg. ii. ix. 80 Unguentum Mucilaginis put into the wounded Eye with a spattle will clear the sight. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. March-Pane, Let all be afterwards well incorporated, with the Spattle. 1854 Pappe Silva Capensis (1862) 59 Spathulate, shaped like a spattle. |
2. techn. and dial. (See quots.)
In first quot. associated with spattle v.2
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2254 Spattle,..a tool for mottling a molded article with coloring matter. 1888 Addy Sheffield Gloss. 231 Spattle, a wooden spoon used for lifting meal from the meal-tub to the bake-stone. 1899 Cumbld. Gloss. 307/2 Spattle, a peel..used for putting the loaves into the oven, and for removing them. |
▪ III. ˈspattle, n.3 dial.
[Alteration of pattle n., perh. after prec.]
A plough-spade or other small spade. Also spattle-hoe.
| 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 460 Another, perhaps, gives the sock, another the stilts, another the spattle. 1834 Tait's Mag. I. 528 Farmers became country gentlemen; changing..the spattle-hoe for the riding-whip. 1869–94 in Lanc. and Northumbld. glossaries. |
▪ IV. † ˈspattle, v.1 Obs.
Also 4–5, 7 spatle, 5 spatel.
[OE. spátlian (more commonly spǽtlan, -ian), f. spátl spattle n.1]
intr. and trans. To spit. Also with out.
| c 1000 ælfric Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 162 Pitisso, ic spatliᵹe. c 1325 Old Age in E.E.P. (1862) 149, I spitte, i spatle, in speche i sporne. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8196 [The dragons] Spatled, spouted, belewed, & byten. c 1450 Lydg. Secrees 1416 Erthe, Autumpnus, and Age accordyn in oon, Slough, malencolye, spatlyng euere among. a 1470 H. Parker Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) viii. xiv. 341/1, I suffered to be beten and bounde, to be spateled and despysed. 1538 Bale Thre Lawes 444, I can werke wyles in battle, If I do ones but spattle. 1554 Philpot Examin. & Writ. (Parker Soc.) 313, I would I had a fountain of spittle to spattle on them. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven (1617) 160 Would to God..that we were come to such a..loathing of lying, that we should euen spattle at it! 1611 Cotgr., Cracher, to spit; spawle; spattle, bespatter. Ibid., Craché, spet, or spatled out. |
▪ V. spattle, v.2 Now techn. and dial.
(ˈspæt(ə)l)
Also 7 spatle.
[Related to spatter v.]
trans. To spatter or sprinkle; to mottle.
| 1611 Cotgr., Enfanger, to spatle, beray, or durtie all ouer with myre. Ibid., Entretaché, spotted (and spatled) here and there. 1875 [see spattling vbl. n.2]. 1879– in Shropshire and Cheshire glossaries. |