/kus"pi dawr'/ , n.
a large bowl, often of metal, serving as a receptacle for spit, esp. from chewing tobacco: in wide use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
[ 1770-80;
cusp ( ir ) to spit ( conspuere to cover with spit; con- CON- + spuere to SPIT) + -idor -i-torium; see -I-, -TORY 2 ]