Definition of "splutter"

(countable) A forceful emission of something, especially in small drops or particles; a spluttering or sputtering.  quotations  examples

(countable) A forceful choking or spitting sound.  examples

(figuratively)

1. (countable) A noisy commotion.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

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

   • [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, page 61

2. (countable) A disagreement or dispute.  examples

3. (uncountable) Chaotic and forceful speaking, verbal exchange, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.  examples

(transitive)

1. To forcefully emit (something), especially in small drops or particles; to sputter.  examples

2. To soil or sprinkle (someone or something) with a substance, often a liquid; to bespatter, to spatter.  examples

3. (figuratively)

   1. To direct angry words, criticism, insults, etc., at (someone or something).  examples

   2. Sometimes followed by out: to speak (words) hurriedly, and confusedly or unclearly.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • 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, page 180

(intransitive)

1. Of a thing: to forcefully emit something, especially in small drops or particles.  quotations

   Quotations

   • [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, 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, […], 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, […], 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, page 23

   • 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, section 1, page 198

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

2. Of a substance: to be emitted forcefully in small drops or particles.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • 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, part I, page 26

3. To make a sound or sounds of something forcefully emitting a substance in small drops or particles.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • 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, page 163

4. 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).  examples

5. (figuratively)

   1. To speak hurriedly, and confusedly or unclearly.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • 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 […], act II, scene iii, page 204

      • 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, […], part II (The Queen of the Wells), pages 163–164

   2. To perform in an inconsistent manner to a substandard level.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • 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

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