I. ˈspil verb
( spilled ˈspild, ˈspilt ; also spilt ˈspilt ; spill·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English spillan; akin to Old English spildan to destroy and perhaps to Latin spolium animal skin, Greek sphallein to cause to fall
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : kill , destroy
b. : to cause (blood) to be lost by wounding
2. : to cause or allow especially 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 spill ed him
5. : to let out : divulge
spill a secret
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost
water spill ing over the dam
b. : to cause or allow something to spill
2. : to spread profusely or beyond bounds
crowds spill ed into the streets
3. : to fall from one's place (as on a horse)
• spill·able ˈspi-lə-bəl adjective
• spill·er noun
•
- spill one's guts
- spill the beans
II. noun
Date: circa 1845
1. : the act or an instance of spilling ; especially : a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position
2. : something spilled
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English spille; akin to Middle Low German spīle thin stick, peg
Date: 14th century
1. : a wooden splinter
2. : a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire