Bespawl

/bɪˈspɔːl/ verb

Definition

An archaic or dialectal verb meaning to cover with spittle or saliva, or to defile by spitting.

Etymology

From 'be-' prefix plus 'pawl,' which may relate to 'pall' (a covering) or derive from dialect speech. This word is largely obsolete, surviving mainly in historical texts and Shakespeare's era.

Kelly Says

'Bespawl' appears in some historical dictionaries but is so obscure that most spell-checkers flag it—it's a ghost word from English, showing how languages constantly shed words that describe unpleasant actions or feelings we'd rather forget.

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