▪ I. ˈspluttering, vbl. n.
[f. as prec.]
The action of the verb in various senses.
| 1739 J. Miller's Jests No. 167, But all his spluttering was in vain. 1840 Thackeray Catherine vi, He emptied, with much spluttering and grimaces,..the beer into the fire. 1856 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 299 What galloping and spluttering over the paper. |
▪ II. ˈspluttering, ppl. a.
[f. as prec.]
That splutters or sputters.
| 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 28 The End of War-ships is Fighting; but this spluttering Manager seems to believe them built..purely for Sailing. 1846 Hawthorne Mosses i. i, By the hissing and spluttering rain. 1852 Motley Corr. (1889) I. v. 141 The noisy spluttering politics which constitute our vital elements. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal III. viii. 164 Dopsy exploded in a little spluttering laugh behind her napkin. |