different between spittle vs smittle

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp?.t(?)l/
• Rhymes: -?t?l

Etymology 1

Alteration of dialectal spattle (by association with spit (noun)), from Old English sp?tl, which is related to sp?tan (whence spit (verb)).

Noun

spittle (countable and uncountable, plural spittles)

1. Spit, usually frothy and of a milky coloration.
2. Something frothy and white that resembles spit.
3. Spit-up or drool of an infant.

Derived terms

• lickspittle
• spittly

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

spittle (countable and uncountable, plural spittles)

1. (now archaic) Alternative form of spital
   • a. 1633, George Herbert, The Thanksgiving:

     I'll build a spittle, or mend common ways […]

Etymology 3

Representing a frequentative form of spit (“a spade's depth”), equivalent to spit +? -le.

Noun

spittle (countable and uncountable, plural spittles)

1. A small sort of spade.

Verb

spittle (third-person singular simple present spittles, present participle spittling, simple past and past participle spittled)

1. To dig or stir with a small spade.

Anagrams

• pittles

English

Etymology

Frequentative from Middle English smitten (“to smear; smudge; stain; taint”), from Old English smittian (“to defile; pollute; befoul”). Cognate with German schmitzen (“to pollute”), Danish smitte (“to infect”). Related also to smite.

Verb

smittle (third-person singular simple present smittles, present participle smittling, simple past and past participle smittled)

1. (obsolete, Britain, dialect, transitive) To infect.

Adjective

smittle

1. (obsolete, Britain, dialect) Infectious.

Noun

smittle (plural smittles)

1. (obsolete, Britain, dialect) An infection.

Related terms

• smit