splutter

Noun

splutter (countable and uncountable, plural splutters)

1. (countable) A forceful emission of something, especially in small drops or particles; a spluttering or sputtering.
   • a splutter of water from a pipe
   • [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...
2. (countable) A forceful choking or spitting sound.
3. (countable, figuratively) A 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...
   • [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. (countable, figuratively) A disagreement or dispute.

   Synonyms:

   controversy

5. (figuratively, uncountable) Chaotic and forceful speaking, verbal exchange, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.
   • a splutter of rage from the old man

   Synonyms:

   sputter

Verb

splutter (third-person singular simple present splutters, present participle spluttering, simple past and past participle spluttered)

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

   Synonyms:

   sputter

5. (intransitive) Of a thing: to forcefully emit something, especially in small drops or particles.
   • [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...
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   sputter

   1. (intransitive) To spray droplets of saliva from the mouth while eating or speaking.
6. (intransitive) Of 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. (intransitive) To 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...
8. (intransitive) Followed 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. (figuratively, intransitive) To 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...
   • 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. (figuratively, intransitive) To 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

Interjection

1. (obsolete, minced oath) A minced oath expressing anger or wonder, usually attributed to Welsh people: 'sblood.
   • 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...
   • 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