— spatteringly , adv.
/spat"euhr/ , v.t.
1. to scatter or dash in small particles or drops: The dog spattered mud on everyone when he shook himself.
2. to splash with something in small particles: to spatter the ground with water.
3. to sprinkle or spot with something that soils or stains.
v.i.
4. to send out small particles or drops, as falling water: rain spattering on a tin roof.
5. to strike a surface in or as in a shower, as bullets.
n.
6. the act or the sound of spattering: the spatter of rain on a roof.
7. a splash or spot of something spattered.
[ 1575-85; perh. spatt ( en ) to splash + -ER 6 ; cf. D spatterig lit., spattery ]