Hypertext Webster Gateway: "sputter"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Sputter \Sput"ter\, v. t.
To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a
spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without
control over the organs of speech.
In the midst of caresses, and without the last pretend
incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations.
--Swift.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Sputter \Sput"ter\, n.
Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also,
confused and hasty speech.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Sputter \Sput"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sputtered}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Sputtering}.] [From the root of spout or spit to
eject from the mputh. Cf. {Splutter}.]
1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small,
scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so
rapidly as to emit saliva.
They could neither of them speak their rage, and so
fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting
apples. --Congreve.
3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a
noise like that made by one sputtering.
Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame.
--Dryden.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
sputter
n 1: the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively;
"he heard a spatter of gunfire" [syn: {spatter}, {spattering},
{splatter}, {splattering}, {splutter}, {sputtering}]
2: an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage)
[syn: {splutter}]
v 1: make an explosive sound
2: cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed: "The
solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of
the dust"
3: climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling [syn: {clamber}, {scramble},
{shin}, {shinny}, {skin}, {struggle}]
4: utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage [syn: {splutter}]
5: spit up in an explosive manner [syn: {splutter}, {spit out}]
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