spat

Etymology 1

Old English spittan, spætan.

verb

1. simple past and past participle of spit
   There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window.
   If I had known you had a spittoon in the corner I would never have spat on the floor.

Etymology 2

Uncertain; perhaps related to spit.

noun

1. The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.
   As spat-fall often occurs in areas away from environments suitable for oyster growing, the collection, transport and sale of oyster spat has developed into a separate industry. 2005, TVR Pillay, MN Kutty, Aquaculture: Principles and practices, page 525
   But Orata’s oysters were, like the dormice and fish, collected in the wild, as spat. 2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 243
2. A juvenile shellfish which has attached to a hard surface.
   Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat. 2011, The Pearl Oyster, page 256
   If the spat are allowed to remain attached to the tank bottom for more than two days, they are difficult to remove without damage to the shell. 1988, Bivalve Mollusc Culture Research in Thailand, page 28

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To spawn. Used of shellfish as above.

Etymology 3

Shortening of spatterdash, from spatter + dash. 1779.

noun

1. (often in the plural) A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe.
   Coordinate term: gaiter
2. (automotive, UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car.
3. (aviation) A drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear.

Etymology 4

1804. American English, probably imitative.

noun

1. A brief argument, falling out, quarrel.
   get into a trivial spat over punctuality
   have a vicious spat with the cousins
   2017-01-14, “Some Thais worry that a lasting power struggle is brewing. Others see a minor spat over language, which will quickly be forgotten.”, in The Economist:
   The downside of this cost-saving strategy was that the train service could only be covered by goodwill. Whenever there was a spat between ASLEF and management - regardless of cause - the withdrawal of this goodwill became a stick with which unions could beat management. November 16 2022, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32

verb

1. To quarrel or argue briefly.

Etymology 5

Attested from 1823.

noun

1. A light blow with something flat.

verb

1. (transitive and intransitive) To strike with a spattering sound.
   He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney. 1922, B. M. Bower, chapter 3, in The Trail of the White Mule
   "She mentioned she had spatted Kelsey on her diaper with a hairbrush," said Mildred Johnson, a co-worker. 13 July 2007, Nolan Clay, “Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother”, in Daily Oklahoman, retrieved 2009-08-25
2. (US, dialect) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands.
   Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands. 1845, Sylvester Judd, Margaret

Etymology 6

Latin spatium (“space”)

noun

1. An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres.