[spill] vb spilled also spilt ; spill.ing [ME, fr. OE spillan; akin to OE spildan to destroy and perh. to L spolium animal skin, Gk sphallein to cause to fall] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a archaic: kill, destroy b: to cause (blood) to flow
2: to cause or allow esp. accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted 3 a: to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it b: to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines
4: to throw off or out "a horse ~ed him"
5: to let out: divulge "~ a secret" ~ vi 1 a: to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost b: to cause or allow something to spill
2: to spread profusely or beyond bounds "crowds ~ed into the streets"
3: to fall from one's place (as on a horse) -- spill.able adj -- spill.er n -- spill the beans : to divulge secret or hidden information
[2]spill n (ca. 1845) 1: the act or an instance of spilling; esp: a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position
2: something spilled [3]spill n [ME spille] (14c) 1: a wooden splinter
2: a slender piece: as a: a metallic rod or pin b (1): a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire (2): a roll or cone of paper serving as a container c: a peg or pin for plugging a hole: spile