■ noun a chicken or game bird split open and grilled.
■ verb
1》 prepare (a poultry or game bird) in this way.
2》 informal, chiefly Brit. add (a phrase, sentence, etc.) in a context where it is inappropriate.
Origin
C18 (orig. an Ir. usage): perh. related to dispatch + cock 1 , but cf. spitchcock .