spurtn.1
/spəːt/, U.S. /spərt/ 1. † a. A short spell of (something). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > short spell of something
spurta1566
spirt1829
snatch1880
spurtlet1921
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Fij It is very..trimme, Tis Musselden ich weene, of fellowship let me haue an other spurt, Ich can drinke as easly now, as if I sate in my shurte.
1614 J. Day Dyall ix. 241 O how great iniustice is it..to..deliver vp that Soule to thy adversary the Divell, and all for a spurt of pleasure.
a1699 J. Bonnell in W. Hamilton Life & Char. Bonnell (1703) ii. 91 Those Qualities of Vanity and Worldliness, which I have contracted in this spurt of Health.
b. A short space of time; a brief period. Esp. in for a spurt.Frequently in the 17th cent.; now dialect. Not always clearly separable from 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > a short or moderate space of time
weekeOE
littleOE
roomOE
stoundOE
startc1300
houra1350
furlong wayc1384
piecea1400
weea1400
speed whilec1400
hanlawhilea1500
snack1513
spirt?1550
snatch1563
fit1583
spurta1591
shortness1598
span1599
bit1653
thinking time1668
thinking-while1668
onwardling1674
way-bit1674
whilie1819
fillip1880
a1591 H. Smith 2nd Serm. Lord's Supper (1611) 90 To amend thy euill life, not when age commeth, or for a spurt, but to begin now, and last till death.
a1618 W. Raleigh Remains (1644) 121 To dispatch the whole manage of all eternity..in so short a spurt.
1694 W. Salmon Pharmacopœia Bateana i. viii. 346/1 And such kind of Medicines are not to be given only for a little while, for a spurt and away, but assiduously for several weeks together.
1703 T. Baker Tunbridge-walks i. sig. C1v- C2 But this Course of Life, Sister, is but for a Spurt; we must now think of settling our Condition.
1798 F. Burney Lett. 10 Dec. Herschel has been in town for short spurts, and back again, two or three times.
1894 Trans. Amer. Folk-lore Soc. (E.D.D.) Excuse me for a spurt.
2.
a. A brief and unsustained effort; a sudden outbreak or spell of activity or exertion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [noun] > spell or bout of action > sudden
brunt1440
fit1586
spurta1591
burst1862
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > short spell of something > spurt of activity or exertion
spurta1591
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [noun] > spell of strenuous action > brief
spurta1591
spirt1829
a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1592) 874 Some come to God as if they did fetch fire, a spurt and away, like a messenger which is gone before he haue his answeare.
1643 A. Tuckney Balme of Gilead 30 A short spurt doth not try me, but the length and hardnesse of the way will at last tell me what leg I halt on.
1654 T. Fuller Comment on Ruth 193 in 2 Serm. After a spurt in their Calling for some few houres, they relapse againe to lazinesse.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 115 Although the savages held out,..yet, for a spurt, the Englishmen were more nimble and speedy.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Dec. 2/1 Not with a fitful spurt, but year in, year out, do these thousands of..lay helpers toil.
1885 Huxley in Life (1900) II. vi. 90 Quinine..has given me a spurt for the last two days.
b. Const. of.
ΚΠ
1791 R. Mylne 2nd Rep. Navigation Thames 11 The Millers having a spurt of Business to do, were using all the Water as fast as possible.
1792 M. Wollstonecraft Vindic. Rights Woman vii. 293 I do not forget the spurts of activity which sensibility produces.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. lx. 172 One of those men who seem born to surprise the world by a spurt of prosperity.
1868 Daily News 8 July Weak governments are like weak people; they put on spurts of energy and independence now and then.
c. A short spell of rapid movement; a marked or sudden increase of speed attained by special exertion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > [noun] > increasing rate of movement or progress > short or sudden spell of
start1604
flash1706
spurt1787
burst1824
1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsemen 34 The Doctor went off at a spurt.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table xi. 314 An easy gait—two, forty-five—Suits me;..Perhaps, for just a single spurt, Some seconds less would do no hurt.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. xiv. 269 Their boat..dipped a little when they put on anything like a severe spurt.
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 844 It is hard to say what happens during [bicycling] spurts or at the outset of an excursion.
d. transferred. A marked increase or improvement in business; a sudden advance or rise of prices, etc.; also, the period during which this lasts.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > business affairs > [noun] > improvement in business
spurt1814
1814 Stock-Exchange laid Open 25 When the Jobbers find the spurt, as they call it, is over.
1880 Sat. Rev. 1 May 565 Men of business instinctively felt what was coming, and, buying up large stocks at the lowest quotations, realized fortunes when the spurt came.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 17 Nov. 10/1 It is clear that the recent spurt in the price of the shares was unwarranted.
e. A spell of gaiety; a frolic.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > [noun]
treschec1290
laetificationc1485
gossiping1557
special occasion1574
merry-meeting1597
merrymaking1618
frolic1645
merriment1663
rush1788
convivialities1830
merrymake1833
upshot1837
ball1879
spurt1885
sing-sing1899
jolly1905
rage1980
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay ix. 147 After that spurt I went back to Melbourne.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 286 Puts me in mind of one of our Hurry~ghur dances. We used to have such jolly spurts at the old station.
3. by spurts:
a. In or with brief unsustained or spasmodic efforts; fitfully, spasmodically. †Also by fits and spurts, by fits and starts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > intermittently
by (formerly also at) startsc1422
startmeal?c1422
off and on1535
every otherwhile1542
by, or in, snatches1577
by fits and turns1583
by halves and fits1583
one time with another1591
fit-meal1593
by fits and spurts1605
planetarily?1609
scatteredly1612
startinglya1616
by snaps1631
intermittingly1654
from space to space1658
on and off1668
at (by) intervals1744
cessantly1746
by spells1788
fitfully1792
by fits and spasms1797
everylikea1800
intermittently1800
intermittedly1829
interjectionally1837
jerkily1839
at seasons1850
sporadically1852
parenthetically1860
spasmodically1877
snatchily1880
variously1892
1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles ii. i [He] hath stolne, By his meere industry, and that by spurts, Such qualities as no wit else can match With plodding at perfection every houre.
1653 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) I. 523 I am like to bee 3 or 4 months in a yeare at Claydon & that only by fits & spurts.
1660 R. Coke Justice Vindicated 21 Forsooth it is by spurts, and not long enough to be accounted a settled Magistrate.
1882 Atlantic Monthly L. 753 He [a negro] can work hard for a while by spurts.
b. In intermittent jets. (Cf. spurt n.3 1.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > [adverb] > in spurts
by spurts1644
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > [adverb]
by spurts1644
a-spout1870
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xxvi. 234 When a wound is made in the hart, bloud will gush out by spurtes att euery shooting of the hart.
1772 W. Buchan Domest. Med. (ed. 2) xlvii. 629 A sudden constriction takes place, and the urine is voided by spurts, and sometimes by drops only.
4. Nautical. A short spell of wind; = spirt n.2 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > short spell of
slent1596
spurt1699
spirt1726
slant1823
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. iv. 37 When we come abreast of the Head-Lands, we..see the Breez curling on the Water on both sides of us, and sometimes get a spurt of it to help us forward.
1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 148 We made the best of every little Spurt of Wind.
5. slang or dialect. A small amount or quantity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount
speckc725
littleOE
somethingc1200
lutewihtc1230
little whatc1384
ouncec1387
lap1393
smalla1400
modicumc1400
nekedc1400
spota1413
tinec1420
nieveful?a1425
handfulc1443
mouthful?c1450
smatchc1456
weec1480
quern1503
halfpennyworth1533
groatsworth1562
dram1566
shellful1578
trickle1580
snatch1592
sprinkling1594
fleck1598
snip1598
pittance1600
lick1603
fingerful1604
modicum1606
thimbleful1607
flash1614
dasha1616
pipa1616
pickle1629
drachm1635
cue1654
smack1693
starn1720
bit1753
kenning1787
minikin1787
tate1805
starnie1808
sprat1815
harl1821
skerrick1825
smallums1828
huckleberry1832
scrimp1840
thimble1841
smite1843
nattering1859
sensation1859
spurt1859
pauchlea1870
mention1891
sketch1894
sputterings1894
scrappet1901
titch1937
tad1940
skosh1959
smattering1973
1859 in Slang Dict. 100.
1889 in Surrey Gloss. (1893) 39 I had a little spurt of drink, that was all.
6. U.S. A quick and sudden dash on the part of wildfowl; a flight of this nature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > wild or domestic birds > [noun] > wild-fowl > manner of flight of
spurt1874
1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl Shooting i. 37 It is often desirable, where ducks are flying in spurts,..to load as fast as possible.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spurtn.2
Now dialect and rare.
A shoot or sprout.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > shoot, sprout, or branch > [noun]
sproteeOE
wiseOE
spronkOE
wrideOE
brodc1175
wanda1300
breerc1320
scion?c1335
spraya1387
spriga1398
springa1400
sprouta1400
spiringc1400
shoota1450
youngling1559
forth-growing1562
spirk1565
sprouting1578
surcle1578
chive1583
chit1601
spurt1601
sprit1622
germen1628
spurge1630
spirt1634
brairding1637
springet1640
set1658
shrubble1674
underling1688
sobolesa1722
branchlet1731
springlet1749
sproutling1749
sprang1847
shootlet1889
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 27 The Garden Sperages..send out at first certaine greene spurts or buds peeping forth of the ground.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 196 The same yong springs eaten..in a salad, in manner of the tender crops and spurts of the Colewort,..do fasten the teeth.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
spurtn.3
/spəːt/, U.S. /spərt/ 1. figurative.1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xvi. xii. 443 Thrice-private Œuvre de Poésies, in which are satirical spurts affecting more than one crowned head.in extended use.1881 J. Ruskin Bible of Amiens ii. §25 The rocks all the way from Rhine, thus far, are jets and spurts of basalt through irony sandstone.1890 Times 17 May 13/3 An adaptation of the dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet to flashes of light and spurts of sound.
a. A stream or shower of water, etc., ejected or thrown up with some force and suddenness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > fountain > [noun] > jet or spout
waterspout1607
jettoa1660
girandolac1660
jet d'eau1669
gerbe1699
jetteau1710
grille1712
spirt1716
water jet1727
spurt1775
girandole1813
spring1818
water-bow1855
sea-spout1867
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Spurt, a sudden stream.
1828 N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Spurt, a sudden or violent ejection or gushing of a liquid substance from a tube, orifice, or other confined place.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise i. 111 Then from light feet a spurt of dust there sprang.
1871 D. G. Rossetti Dante at Verona in Poems xxviii The conduits round the gardens sing..Where wearied damsels rest and hold Their hands in the wet spurt of gold.
1877 W. Black Green Pastures xxxviii As the Esquimaux began to receive shooting spurts of spray from the rocks overhead.
b. A spatter or splash made by a pen.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > ink > [noun] > fact of scattering ink over paper > spatter or splash made by pen
spurt1871
1871 G. Stephens in Archaeologia 43 101 The spurts have been taken away in my woodcut.
2. A sudden outbreak or outburst of feeling, action, etc.In this sense frequently suggestive of spurt n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [noun] > bursting violently from rest or restraint > instance of
outbreakinga1387
breaking-out1552
outbreak1562
eruption1598
storm1602
out-breach1609
fulmination1623
outflying1641
outburst1657
float1763
overboiling1767
irruption1811
gush1821
outflash1831
outflush1834
shooting forth1837
outbursting1838
blow-off1842
outblaze1843
upburst1843
upthrow1855
upbreak1856
spurt1859
outlash1868
spitfire1886
Brock's benefit1948
1859 Ld. Tennyson Merlin & Vivien 374 in Idylls of King A sudden spurt of woman's jealousy.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar ix. 104 A spurt of insurrectionary fire had broken out in Italy.
1880 M. E. Braddon Just as I Am xix Little spurts of angry feeling flashed out of her now and then in her talk.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spurtn.4
Coal Mining.
(See quot. 1883.)
ΚΠ
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 233 Spurt, a peculiar kind of stone, much disintegrated and mixed with colouring matter.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
spurtv.1
/spəːt/, U.S. /spərt/ 1. figurative.1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. i. i. 7 Some sharpness of temper, spurting at times from a stagnating character.1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. ix. v. 453 Rumours are rife and eager, occasionally spurting out into the Newspapers.
a. intransitive. = spirt v.1 1a. Frequently with out and up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > squirt or issue in a jet [verb (intransitive)]
spurt1570
spirt1582
squitter1596
jet1692
splirt1791
squirt1858
skeet1880
skoosh1890
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > violently > in a jet
outspinc1330
spinc1400
spout?a1513
spout1561
spurt1570
spirt1582
sprouta1595
jet1692
splirt1791
squizzle1856
squirt1858
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 2287/1 He was.. so manacled that ye bloud spurt out of his fingers endes.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 76 Round huskes, the which do open of themselves, and the seede being ripe, it spurteth and skippeth away.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Surgeonner, to shoot out, spring, spurt vp.
1684 tr. T. Bonet Guide Pract. Physician xiv. 502 Hardly any [blood] would spurt out of the opened Vein.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. iii. 89 I perceived two White Specks in the middle of the Boil; and squeezing it, two small white Worms spurted out.
1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. at Rejaillir He made the Dirt spurt up, or fly into his Face.
1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller Piccolomini i. iv. 27 My blood shall spurt out for this Wallenstein.
1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) vii. 89 The milk went on spurting and fizzing into the pail.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid v, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 242 A crimsoning flood Spurts from his lips in a torrent.
b. To sputter. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > violently > in drops or small particles
sparklea1200
spark1513
spatter1600
spit1611
spurtle1651
spark1833
splurta1849
spurt1854
1854 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims iv. 119 Christmas hemlock spurting in the fire.
2. transitive. = spirt v.1 2. Also const. out, up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > squirt liquid [verb (transitive)]
sprout1578
spirt1582
squirt1583
squit1594
spurt1601
spirt1646
jeta1684
scoot1805
squitter1809
skeet1880
spritz1886
skoosh1985
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > emit > in a jet
sprout1578
spirt1582
squirt1583
spurt1601
spirt1646
jeta1684
snort1818
skeet1880
splurt-
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 441 The remedie to keepe Wespes from them, is to spurt or squirt oile out of a mans mouth vpon them.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures li. 201 The Chaubainhaa then took water in his mouth and spurted it on his wife.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 82 At every two fathoms distance there are Pipes which spurt up Water very high.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Headach In the next Place spurt Wine..into his Nostrils.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 256 They often fill their trunks with [water]..to divert themselves by spurting it out like a fountain.
1886 M. F. Sheldon tr. G. Flaubert Salammbô i. 7 A Lusitanian..stalked about the tables, the while spurting fire from his nostrils.
Derivatives
ˈspurted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > [adjective] > squirted or issued in a jet
sprouted1644
spurted1693
spirted1847
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > [adjective] > emitting > emitting in a jet > emitted in a jet
sprouted1644
spurted1693
spirted1847
jetted1864
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. v. x. 102 That Gum is nothing but a spurted Sap.
ˈspurter n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of squirting or issuing in a jet > [noun] > one who
squirter1712
spurter1890
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > [noun] > emission > emission in a jet > one who or that which
spurter1890
1890 Blackwood's Mag. 147 420/2 It is only sentimentalists and spurters of rose-water that object to it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spurtv.2
Now dialect and rare.
intransitive. To sprout or shoot.
ΚΠ
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 22 By this means indeed last they [sc. onions] will longer without spurting.
1606 J. Marston Parasitaster ii. i Nym. But is not Faunus prefer'd with a right hand? Her. Did you euer see a fellow so spurted vp in a moment?
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 485 The best barly; of which steeped in water and lying wet therein untill it spurt againe, then, after the said sprout is full come, dried and parched over a kill, they make store of mault.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
spurtv.3
/spəːt/, U.S. /spərt/ 1. intransitive.
a. To make a spurt; to put on increased speed, to make greater exertions, for a short time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (intransitive)] > increase speed > for a short time
spirt1599
spurt1664
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > for a short time
spirt1599
spurt1664
1664 H. More Apol. in Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 549 To spurt out and run on in a career without attending the direction of their Superiours.
1793 R. Burns Let. 26 Apr. (2003) II. 212 I have written many a letter..; but then—they were original matter—spurt—away! zig, here; zag, there.]
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. II. xi. 202 The crowd on both sides cheered as the..boat spurted from the Cherwell, and took the place of honour.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 841 It [i.e. alcohol] may enable a man ‘to spurt’ but not ‘to stay’.
b. Of stocks and shares: to rise suddenly in price or value. Cf. spurt n.1 2d.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (intransitive)] > state of market or prices > fall or rise (of prices)
to look downwards1796
to look downward1801
to look down1808
rally1826
sag1870
give way1883
slump1888
firm1896
move1904
spurt1931
perform1933
dip1956
to pull back1966
to go in the tank1974
1931 Economist 27 June 1385/2 Dunlops and Imperial Chemicals spurted on bear closing.
1977 Belfast Tel. 19 Jan. 4/1 Beecham 406p spurted 10p to 15p among top industrials.
1982 Times 27 Apr. 15/2 Building contractor J. Jarvis spurted 41p to 341p in response to a dawn raid.
2. transitive. To cause to spurt; to overtake by means of a spurt. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake > by a spurt
spurt1888
1888 P. Furnivall Physical Training 7 If..he decides to wait on the goer all through, and try to spurt him at the end, he should practise short, sharp bursts of speed,..always finishing up with a sharp spurt.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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