spittoon

noun

spit·​toon spi-ˈtün How to pronounce spittoon (audio)
spə-
: a receptacle for spit

called also cuspidor

Examples of spittoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Carrying a spittoon to spit out chicken like a confused cowboy wasn’t going to accomplish either. Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024 White men tipped him with quarters and nickels, dropped into a spittoon. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 There, Henry cleaned toilets and spittoons in exchange for room and board. Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023 This used to be the billiards room, where my paternal grandfather—Carolina’s great-grandfather—worked. CAROLINA: Racking up balls for white men, cleaning their spittoons. Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for spittoon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spittoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

spit entry 4 + -oon (as in balloon)

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spittoon was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near spittoon

Cite this Entry

“Spittoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spittoon. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

spittoon

noun
spit·​toon spi-ˈtün How to pronounce spittoon (audio)
: a container to spit into

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