/spyooh"teuhm/ , n. , pl. sputa /-teuh/ .
matter, as saliva mixed with mucus or pus, expectorated from the lungs and respiratory passages.
[ 1685-95; sputum, n. use of neut. of sputus, ptp. of spuere to spit, equiv. to spu- var. s. + -tus ptp. suffix ]