Word of the Day

: February 28, 2011

cuspidor

noun KUSS-puh-dor

What It Means

: a receptacle for spit : spittoon

cuspidor in Context

Hannah loves to repurpose old, interesting-looking objects, most recently using an antique brass cuspidor as a planter.

"When a passenger pulled the bell cord, porters were to answer swiftly and cheerfully. Just do what the passengers asked -- or demanded. Shine their shoes, fetch them drinks, make their beds, empty their cuspidors. No questions, no complaints, no protests. No rights." -- From an article published by the States News Service, February 15, 2010

Did You Know?

"Cuspidor" entered English in the early 18th century via the Portuguese word "cuspidouro," meaning "place for spitting." The Portuguese word, unsurprisingly, has its origins in Latin: the word "conspuere" comes from the prefix "com-" and "spuere," meaning "to spit." ("Spuere" is also the source of "spew" and "sputum.") Since the early 19th century, "cuspidor" has been competing with (and losing to) "spittoon," but "cuspidor" beats "spittoon" in one particular category: the receptacle for spit at a dentist's office is more often referred to by the older word.