splutter

plural splutters

1. countableA forceful emission of something, especially in small drops or particles; a spluttering or sputtering.

   a splutter of water from a pipe

   3 more examples

   [He] broke down a slap, as he called it, in a dry stone fence, and lugged the unresisting animal [a horse] through the breach, about a rood of the simple masonry giving way in the splutter with which he passed.

   1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter I, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC, page 13

   As certain liquors, confined in casks too cramped in their dimensions, will ferment, and fret, and chafe in their imprisonment, so the spiritual essence or soul of Mr. Tappertit would sometimes fume within that precious cask, his body, until, with great foam and froth and splutter, it would force a vent, and carry all before it.

   1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 4.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 256

   There was a flicker of matches as they were applied to the fuses, and then a splutter of sparks. An instant later it seemed as if the whole heavens had been lighted up.

   1912, Victor Appleton [pseudonym], “Tom’s Mysterious Box”, in Tom Swift in Captivity: Or A Daring Escape by Airship (Tom Swift Series), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC, page 164

2. countableA forceful choking or spitting sound.
3. countablefigurativelyA noisy commotion.

   But party carries every thing nowadays, and what a splutter have I heard about the wit of that saying, repeated with admiration about a hundred times in half an hour.

   1711 February 11 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XV.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XIV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 346

   1 more example

   [M]y ways of out-of-the-wayness were by no means quiet, but perpetually firing up under their feet in little splutters and spitfires of the most appalling heresy; […]

   1887, John Ruskin, “Rome”, in Præterita. Outlines of Scenes and Thoughts Perhaps Worthy of Memory in My Past Life, volume II, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 61

4. countablefigurativelyA disagreement or dispute.

   Synonyms: controversy

5. figurativelyuncountableChaotic and forceful speaking, verbal exchange, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.

   a splutter of rage from the old man

   Synonyms: sputter

present singular third person splutters · participle present spluttering · participle past spluttered · past spluttered · first person past singular spluttered · archaic present second person singular splutterest · past second person singular spluttered · archaic past second person singular splutteredst · present singular third person splutters · archaic present singular third person spluttereth · past singular third person spluttered · past plural spluttered · past subjunctive spluttered · participle present spluttering · participle past spluttered

1. transitiveTo forcefully emit (something), especially in small drops or particles; to sputter.
2. transitiveTo soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a substance, often a liquid; to bespatter, to spatter.
3. figurativelytransitiveTo 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. figurativelytransitiveSometimes 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

   Synonyms: sputter

5. intransitiveOf a thing: to forcefully emit something, especially in small drops or particles.

   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

   4 more examples

   [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

   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

   Synonyms: sputter

   1. intransitiveTo spray droplets of saliva from the mouth while eating or speaking.

      Synonyms: sputter, sputter

6. intransitiveOf 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

7. intransitiveTo 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

8. intransitiveFollowed 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).
9. figurativelyintransitiveTo 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

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: sputter

10. figurativelyintransitiveTo 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

1. obsoleteminced oathA minced oath expressing anger or wonder, usually attributed to Welsh people: 'sblood.

   Here he vvas interrupted vvith, "Splutter and oons! you louſy tog, vvho do you call my maſter?[…]."

   1748, [Tobias Smollett], “The Behaviour of Mr. Morgan— […]”, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, pages 229–230

   1 more example

   I vvill ſhevv him that I vvas not bred at Oxford for nothing.—Splutter! I vvill ſhevv him my head is good for ſomething elſe beſides preaching.

   1731 (date written), Scriblerus Secundus [pseudonym; Henry Fielding], “The Grub-Street Opera. […]”, in The Works of Henry Fielding, Esq; […], volume II, London: […] John Bell, […], published 1775, →OCLC, Act III, scene xiii, page 240