spittoon

noun

spit·​toon spi-ˈtün How to pronounce spittoon (audio)
spə-
: a receptacle for spit

called also cuspidor

Examples of spittoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Camilla Sartori, the facility manager, had set up a tray holding six black wineglasses, a spittoon, and two clear glasses, one filled with water and the other with a slightly sugary solution designed to be a palate cleanser. Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 Carrying a spittoon to spit out chicken like a confused cowboy wasn’t going to accomplish either. Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024 White men tipped him with quarters and nickels, dropped into a spittoon. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 There, Henry cleaned toilets and spittoons in exchange for room and board. Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for spittoon

Word History

Etymology

spit entry 4 + -oon (as in balloon)

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spittoon was in 1823

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spittoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spittoon. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

spittoon

noun
spit·​toon spi-ˈtün How to pronounce spittoon (audio)
: a container to spit into

More from Merriam-Webster on spittoon

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