spitfire

plural spitfires

1. A cannon.
2. figurativelyA person with a fiery temper, someone easily provoked to anger, especially a woman or girl.First known use 1801

   1801, Peter Viereck, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin., Volume ⅩⅠⅠⅠ, by John Nichols (arranged by Thomas Sheridan), p. 143, published in London "―But however provoked, are your scribbling spitfires never to be satisfied?"

   1 more example

   The young imp had been prepared for immediate flight the instant anyone appeared, but for some reason Won Chou's not very aggressive behest must have conveyed a peculiarly galling insult for its effect was to transform the wary gamin into a bristling little spitfire, who hurled back the accumulated scandal of the quarter.

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

   Synonyms: shitfire

3. A larva of the spitfire sawfly, Perga affinis.

plural Spitfires

1. historicalA single-seat fighter used by the RAF and allies during World War II, especially during the Battle of Britain.