Definition of splutter

The origin of the word "splutter" can be traced back to the mid-19th century when it first appeared in print in the New Zealand Spectator, a weekly newspaper published in Auckland. At the time, it was used to describe the act of spitting out food or liquid uncontrollably, particularly when someone is speaking or coughing at the same time. The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it is thought to be a dialectical variant of the word "spatter," which was already in use at the time. Some linguists suggest that the "spl" in "splutter" may have been influenced by the sound of someone splashing or splattering something, while others propose that it could be derived from the Old Norse word "splutra," which means "to splash or spatter." Regardless of its origins, "splutter" quickly became established in the English language as a vivid and expressive word to describe the inadvertent spraying of food or drink during conversation. Today, it is commonly used in literature, journalism, and everyday speech to convey the frenzied and often comical spectacle of unintended droplets of eatables and drinkables flying out of mouths.