An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/speien

by Friedrich Kluge

speien, vb., ‘to spit, vomit,’ from the equiv. MidHG. spîen, OHG. spîwan, str. vb.; a root vb. common to Teut. and found also in other Aryan languages. Comp. Goth. speiwan, OIc. spýja, AS. and OSax. spîwan, E. spew and Du. spuwen, ‘to spit’; corresponding to the equiv. Lat. spuo, Gr. πτύω, Lith. spiáuju, OSlov. pljują, Sans. šṭhîv. Speichel and speutzen are also connected probably with this common Aryan root spī̆w, ‘to spit.’