1897. Marshall, Pomes. 123. 'You must spit it out a bit!' I yelled, and Ike began once more.
Spitalfield's breakfast, subs.
phr. (East London).—No breakfast
at all; 'a tight necktie and a
short pipe': cf. Irishman's
dinner, Duke Humphrey, &c.
Spit-curl, subs. phr. (costers').—A
curl lying flat on the temple; a
soap-curl (q.v.): see Aggeravators.
Spite, verb. (Winchester).—See
quots.
c.1840. Mansfield, School Life (1866), 235. When a boy suffered some injury himself, in order to spite another person; or, having in some way injured another, received punishment, he was said to be spiting Gabell. Dr. Gabell was formerly Head-master, and the extreme inexpediency of attempting to annoy him gave rise to the proverb.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word Book, s.v. Spite. The word in Wykehamical usage generally connoted the frame of mind rather than the acts in which it finds expression. But the phrase 'to spite Gabell,' describes the act popularly known as 'cutting off your nose to spite your face.'
Spitfire, subs. (old).—A hot
tempered person: see Furioso
(Grose).
1623. Mabbe, Guzman [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 83. There are the phrases . . . a brown study . . . fire spitting devils, whence comes our spitfire].
1687. Brown, Works, i. 87. 'Tis some comfort to me . . . Bully spit-fire, that thou canst not abuse me without falling foul upon my Country.
1695. Congreve, Love for Love, ii. 3. But there's but one virgin among the twelve signs, spitfire, but one virgin.
1891. Marriot-Watson, Web of Spider, xii. Foster was right. . . . She is a little spitfire.
1899. Hyne, Furth. Adv. Captain Kettle, ix. It was clear that this little spitfire of a sailor, with his handy pistol, daunted him.
Spit-frog, subs. phr. (old).—A
small sword.
1630. Taylor, Works. I would not see thy spightfull spit-frog drawn.
1677. Wrangling Lovers. And each a little spit-frog by his side.
Spithead-nightingale, subs. phr.
(nautical).—A bo'sun or bo'sun's
mate.
Spitter, subs. (common).—Slight
rain: see Spit, verb.
Spittle (or Spital), subs. (old).—A
hospital or lazar-house. Hence,
spittle-whore (or sinner) = a
foundered harlot; a spittle-rogue
(or man) = (1) a gaol-bird;
and (2) a diseased outcast:
whence a general term of contempt.
1580. Baret, Alvearie. Spittle whore, a very common whore.
1607. Davies, Summa Totalis, 26. Good preachers that liue ill (like spittle-men) Are perfect in the way they neuer went.
1632. Massinger, Fatal Dowry, iii. 1. I will rather choose a spittle sinner . . . though three parts rotten. Ibid. (1632), City Madam, iii. 1. Ramb. Rank and rotten, is she not? Shave. Your Spittle-rogueships.
Spittoon, subs. (Bee: now recognised).—'An
utensil mostly used
in public-houses for the reception
of smokers' expectorations.'
Splash, subs. (common).—1. Face
powder; slap (q.v.). As verb.
= to make up (q.v.).
2. (common).—Display; exertion; effort. Hence, splash up = in good style; quick time; bang-up (q.v.)
1885. D. Telegraph, 28 Dec. Enable him to have a rattling good splash for it somehow—break or make.
