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/spˈətər/ Listen

verb

Sputter v. t. To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech. "In the midst of caresses, and without the least pretended incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations."

Sputter v. i. (past & past part. sputtered; pres. part. sputtering)

To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.

To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva. "They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples."

To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering. "Like the green wood... sputtering in the flame."

noun

Sputter n. Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

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Etymology of 'Sputter'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Sputter" Quotes from Famous Books

... It did, with a sputter and roar which brought a shouting figure to the door of the house, but Renwick was beyond stopping and turned blindly at the next turning and followed the street through the sleeping town into a well-traveled country road, which led straight ...

— The Secret Witness • George Gibbs

... dark. There was service in the church, and the building glimmered through all its crevices like a dim Kirk Allowa'. I saw few other lights, but was indistinctly aware of many people stirring in the darkness, and a hum and sputter of low talk that sounded stealthy. I believe (in the old phrase) my beard was sometimes on my shoulder as I went. Muller's was but partly lighted, and quite silent, and the gate was fastened. I could by no means manage to undo the latch. No wonder, since ...

— In the South Seas • Robert Louis Stevenson

... giving up the chase, this only spurred them on. They gathered a bundle of wood, piled it up at the foot of the pine, and set fire to it. In a twinkling the tree began to sputter and burn like a candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio saw the flames climb higher and higher. Not wishing to end his days as a roasted Marionette, he jumped quickly to the ground and off he went, the Assassins close to ...

— The Adventures of Pinocchio • C. Collodi--Pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini

... slow-match began to sputter Hilary drew back, closed the door of the lantern, and walked backwards aft, towards where the men were gathered. The desire was strong upon him to run and rush right into the far corner of the cabin; but he was a king's officer, and the men looked up to him for ...

— In the King's Name - The Cruise of the "Kestrel" • George Manville Fenn

... man had passed, applied a lighted match to the train, which began to fizz and sputter, and then ran out and followed the rest, shutting the door of the magazine as he went out, in order that the burning fuse ...

— In Times of Peril • G. A. Henty

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