spat ‧ u ‧ la /ˈspætjələ, ˈspætjʊlə $ -tʃələ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: 'spoon, spatula' , from Latin spatha 'spoon, sword' , from Greek spathe 'blade' ]
1 . a kitchen tool with a wide flat blade, used for spreading, mixing, or lifting soft substances
2 . British English a small instrument with a flat surface, used by doctors to hold your tongue down so that they can examine your throat