spat

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of spit

   There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window.

   1 more example

   If I had known you had a spittoon in the corner I would never have spat on the floor.

plural spats

1. countableuncountableThe spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.

   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

   1 more example

   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

2. countableuncountableA 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

   1 more example

   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

present singular third person spats · participle present spatting · participle past spatted · past spatted

1. ambitransitiveTo spawn, used of shellfish as above.

plural spats

1. in pluraloftenA covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe.
2. AustraliaUKautomotiveA piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car.

   Synonyms: fender skirt

3. aeronauticsA drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear.

plural spats

1. A brief argument, falling out, quarrel.

   have a vicious spat with the cousins

   2 more examples

   get into a trivial spat over punctuality

   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.

   2022 November 16, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32

   Synonyms: tiff

present singular third person spats · participle present spatting · participle past spatted · past spatted

1. intransitiveTo quarrel or argue pettily briefly.

   Synonyms: tiff, squabble, barney, bicker, quarrel, wrangle, argue, tiff

plural spats

1. A light blow with something flat.

present singular third person spats · participle present spatting · participle past spatted · past spatted

1. intransitivetransitiveTo 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

   1 more example

   "She mentioned she had spatted Kelsey on her diaper with a hairbrush," said Mildred Johnson, a co-worker.

   2007 July 13, Nolan Clay, “Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother”, in Daily Oklahoman, retrieved 25 Aug 2009

2. USdialectalTo 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

plural spats

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