Definition of squirt

The word "squirt" has two different origins, belonging to separate but related parts of speech. The first meaning of "squirt" is a verb used to describe the action of forcing liquid out in a forceful, narrow stream, typically by squeezing a small container. This sense of the word is believed to have originated in the early 19th century as a variant of "spirt," which itself derives from the Middle English "spirten" meaning "to squirt." This usage can be traced back to the use of "spoege" by Dutch settlers in New York. "Spoege" meaning "spatter" or "squirt", eventually evolved into English as "syringe" and then "squirtinette," both of which then became shortened to "squirt" as a verb. The second meaning of "squirt" is a noun used to describe a small, rounded object that shoots out liquid when squeezed, usually as a toy or in connection with childhood amusement. This sense of the word stems from the first, and can be traced back to the 1850s when small devices similar to modern squeeze bottles and partially inflatable balls—often made of rubber or other soft materials—were produced for use as toys. The use of the term as a noun ultimately led to its Swiss German origin "Spürt" and Old High German "spurzen" (to sprinkle). Essentially, a "squirt gun" (the most common usage of the word in this context) is a squeezable toy, closely related to traditional water pistols in form but much smaller in scale, designed to shoot a stream of liquid at a forceful and playful rate.