v. & n.
v. 1 tr. a (often foll. by with) splash (a person etc.) (spattered him with mud). b scatter or splash (liquid, mud, etc.) here and there. 2 intr. (of rain etc.) fall here and there (glass spattered down). 3 tr. slander (a person's honour etc.).
n. 1 (usu. foll. by of) a splash (a spatter of mud). 2 a quick pattering sound.
[ frequent. f. base as in Du., LG spatten burst, spout ]