splutter
verbEtymology The noun is imitative. The verb is derived from the noun.
11 senses
- 1To forcefully emit (something), especially in small…
- 2To soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a…
- 3To direct angry words, criticism, insults, etc., at…
- 4Sometimes followed by out: to speak (words) hurriedly…
- 5Of a thing: to forcefully emit something, especially in…
- 6To spray droplets of saliva from the mouth while eating…
- 7Of a substance: to be emitted forcefully in small drops…
- 8To make a sound or sounds of something forcefully…
- 9Followed by out: to go out (as a flame) or stop…
- 10To speak hurriedly, and confusedly or unclearly.
- 11To perform in an inconsistent manner to a substandard level.
1
To forcefully emit (something), especially in small drops or particles; to sputter.
2
To soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a substance, often a liquid; to bespatter, to spatter.
3
Figuratively 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[.]2019 April 18, David Shariatmadari, “Ize on the prize: is Prince Charles the last guardian of British spelling?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
4
Figuratively 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.1831 February 13, “The Dreamer. No. I.”, in The Monthly Repository and Review of Theology and General Literature, volume V (New Series), number LI, London: C[harles] Fox, […], published March 1831, →OCLC, page 180:
5
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.1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Weller the Elder Delivers Some Critical Sentiments Respecting Literary Composition; and, Assisted by His Son Samuel, Pays a Small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC, page 341:
- You see if my pen doesn't splutter, Polly, the moment I address Richard Paulette.1863, [Mary Elizabeth Braddon], “A Stolen Honeymoon”, in John Marchmont’s Legacy. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 90:
3 more examples
- 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.1867, Joseph Hatton, “Ringing the New Year in”, in Mrs. Alfred Gatty [i.e., Margaret Gatty], editor, Aunt Judy’s May-Day Volume. For Young People. […], London: Bell & Daldy, […], →OCLC, page 157:
- I grieve for lack of wit and store of words to tell the doings patly, for my pen halteth and spluttereth sadly; but I doubt if even a pen from a quill of the Raven could limn them suitably.1887 January, “Football in 185–”, in The Downside Review, volume VI, Yeovil, Somerset: […] Western Chronicle Company, published 1889, →OCLC, page 23:
- The old-fashioned pen spluttered and scratched as he wrote.1951, Lloyd L[ouis] Brown, chapter 15, in Richard Yarborough, editor, Iron City […] (The Northeastern Library of Black Literature), Boston, Mass.: Northeastern University Press, published 1994, →ISBN, section 1, page 198:
6
To spray droplets of saliva from the mouth while eating or speaking.
7
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.1848 April – 1849 October, E[dward] Bulwer-Lytton, chapter IV, in The Caxtons: A Family Picture, volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1849, →OCLC, part I, page 26:
8
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, […]1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter VII, in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 163:
9
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).
10
Figuratively 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!1853, John Wynne, “The Advocate of Durango; or, The Avenging Spirit. A Tale of Mexico. A Romantic, Domestic Drama, in Four Acts.”, in Three Original Plays, […], London: Thomas Bosworth […], →OCLC, act II, scene iii, page 204:
- 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.1881, Walter Besant, James Rice, “How Will Would Not Be Crossed”, in The Chaplain of the Fleet […], volume III, London: Chatto and Windus, […], →OCLC, part II (The Queen of the Wells), pages 163–164:
11
Figuratively To perform in an inconsistent manner to a substandard level.
- Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester United come next for Wolves in the Premier League but [Mick] McCarthy's men will fear no one after beating Chelsea for the first time in 18 years, while [Carlo] Ancelotti has much to ponder as his players continue to splutter.2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 – 0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
- Derived terms
- splutterer, spluttering, splutteringly, spluttery