Sputter
/ˈspʌt.ər/noun
To make a series of short, explosive sounds or to speak in a halting, breathy way.
Did you know?Despite its noisy feel, English “sputter” is a relatively recent expressive word, likely built to imitate the sound itself rather than inherited from an ancient ritual or occult root.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
sputter
“To spit or make a series of explosive, broken sounds; to speak in a broken, hurried way.”
Late Middle English
English
spouten / spitten / spatteren
“Noisy, liquid-splashing or ejecting actions that likely influenced the sound-pattern of the new word.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*spautaną / *spītaną
“To spit, eject saliva or liquid.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spei-
“To spit, spew, or eject fluid.”
Modern English
English
sputter
“To emit irregular bursts of sound, flame, or speech.”