splutter

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A forceful emission of something, especially in small drops or particles

   A forceful emission of something, especially in small drops or particles; a spluttering or sputtering.

   • a splutter of water from a pipe
   • [He] broke down a slap, as he called it, in a dry stone fence, and lugged the unresisting animal [a horse] through the breach, about a rood of the simple masonry giving way in the splutter with which he passed.
2. 2

   A forceful choking or spitting sound.

3. 3

   A noisy commotion.

   • But party carries every thing nowadays, and what a splutter have I heard about the wit of that saying, repeated with admiration about a hundred times in half an hour.
   • [M]y ways of out-of-the-wayness were by no means quiet, but perpetually firing up under their feet in little splutters and spitfires of the most appalling heresy; […]
4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A disagreement or dispute.

   2. 5

      Chaotic and forceful speaking, verbal exchange, etc.

      Chaotic and forceful speaking, verbal exchange, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.

      • a splutter of rage from the old man
   3. 6

      To forcefully emit (something), especially in small drops or particles

      To forcefully emit (something), especially in small drops or particles; to sputter.

   4. 7

      To soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a substance, often a liquid

      To soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a substance, often a liquid; to bespatter, to spatter.

   5. 8

      To direct angry words, criticism, insults, etc., at (someone or something).

      • There has been much spluttering about the prince’s use of ‘Americanisms’ in a letter to Emmanuel Macron, but the truth is more complicated[.]
   6. 9

      Sometimes followed by out

      Sometimes followed by out: to speak (words) hurriedly, and confusedly or unclearly.

      • Alas, for the expectations of man! His hopes are like the fruits of that melancholy shore, where death appears to live and life to die. He biteth, and spluttereth forth the unsavoury and abominable deception.
   7. 10

      Of a thing

      Of a thing: to forcefully emit something, especially in small drops or particles.

      • [H]e at once stepped into the stationer's shop, and requested to be served with a sheet of the best gilt-edged letter-paper, and a hard-nibbed pen which could be warranted not to splutter.
      • You see if my pen doesn't splutter, Polly, the moment I address Richard Paulette.
      • The log on the fire spluttered and sent a cloud of sparks up the chimney, and shadows of the bell-ringers started up on the walls and disappeared in the intricacies of the roof.
   8. 11

      Of a substance

      Of a substance: to be emitted forcefully in small drops or particles.

      • Suddenly a beautiful delf blue-and-white flower-pot, which had been set on the window-sill of an upper storey, fell to the ground with a crash, and the fragments spluttered up around my father's legs.
   9. 12

      To make a sound or sounds of something forcefully emitting a substance in small drops or…

      To make a sound or sounds of something forcefully emitting a substance in small drops or particles.

      • So you may see Jobson on such occasions, […] puffing, strutting, and spluttering, to get the justice put in motion, […]
   10. 13

       Followed by out

       Followed by out: to go out (as a flame) or stop functioning (as an engine or machine) with a spluttering action or sound (senses 2.1 or 2.3).

   11. 14

       To speak hurriedly, and confusedly or unclearly.

       • If thou splutterest so, thou wilt drop out thy teeth; that is, if they be thine, which I for one doubt!
       • He was in such a rage that his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. He could not even swear. He could only splutter.
   12. 15

       To perform in an inconsistent manner to a substandard level.

   13. 16

       A minced oath expressing anger or wonder, usually attributed to Welsh people

       A minced oath expressing anger or wonder, usually attributed to Welsh people: 'sblood.

       • I vvill ſhevv him that I vvas not bred at Oxford for nothing.—Splutter! I vvill ſhevv him my head is good for ſomething elſe beſides preaching.
       • Here he vvas interrupted vvith, "Splutter and oons! you louſy tog, vvho do you call my maſter?[…]."

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