Spurt, spurt, v.t. to spout, or send out in a sudden stream, as water.—v.i. to gush out suddenly in a small stream: to flow out forcibly or at intervals.—n. a sudden or violent gush of a liquid from an opening: a jet: a sudden short effort, a special exertion of one's self for a short time, in running, rowing, &c. [Formerly spirt—Ice. sprettr, a spurt—spretta, to start, to sprout.]
Spurtle, spur′tl, n. (Scot.) a short stick for stirring porridge, broth, &c.—n. Spur′tle-blade, a sword.
Sputter, sput′ėr, v.i. to spit in small drops, as in rapid speaking: to throw out moisture in scattered drops: to speak rapidly and indistinctly, to jabber.—v.t. to throw out with haste and noise: to utter hastily and indistinctly.—n. moist matter thrown out in particles.—n. Sputt′erer, one who sputters. [The freq. of spout (q.v.).]
Sputum, spū′tum, n. spittle, the matter expectorated:—pl. Spū′ta. [L.,—spuĕre, to spit.]
Spy, spī, n. one sent into an enemy's country or camp to find out their strength, &c.: one who keeps a watch on others: one who secretly conveys information.—v.t. to see: to discover, generally at a distance: to discover by close search: to inspect secretly:—pa.t. and pa.p. spied.—ns. Spy′al=Spial; Spy′-craft, Spy′ism, the art or practice of spying; Spy′glass, a small hand-telescope; Spy′-hole, a peep-hole; Spy′-mon′ey, money paid for secret intelligence. [O. Fr. espier—Old High Ger. spehōn; L. specĕre.]
Spyre, spīr, v.i. (Spens.) to shoot forth. [L. spirāre, to sprout.]
Squab, skwob, adj. fat, clumsy: curt, abrupt: unfledged, newly hatched: shy, coy.—n. a young pigeon, the young of other animals before the hair or feathers are grown: a short stumpy person: a thickly-stuffed cushion, a sofa padded throughout, an ottoman.—v.t. to stuff thickly and sew through, the stitches being concealed by buttons, &c.—v.i. to fall heavily.—adv. flat: heavily, as a fall.—adjs. Squab′bish, thick, heavy; Squab′by, squat.—ns. Squab′-chick, a fledgling; Squab′-pie, a pie made of strips of mutton, onions, and slices of apple. [Prob. Scand.; cf. Sw. dial. sqvapp, a word imitative of a splash, sqvabb, loose flesh, sqvabbig, flabby.]
Squabash, skwa-bash′, v.t. to crush, smash.
Squabble, skwob′l, v.i. to dispute in a noisy manner: to wrangle.—n. a noisy, petty quarrel: a brawl.—n. Squabb′ler. [Scand., Sw. dial. skvabbel, a dispute.]
Squacco, skwak′ō, n. a small crested African heron.