Spitzer

/ˈspɪtsər/ noun

Definition

A device with a rubber bulb at one end and a nozzle at the other, used to spray or squirt liquids, or a person who spits or sprays.

Etymology

From German 'Spitzer,' derived from 'spitzen' meaning 'to spray' or 'to spit.' Also famously the name of the Spitzer Space Telescope launched by NASA.

Kelly Says

The Spitzer Space Telescope is named after this humble spray device—NASA chose the name to honor Lyman Spitzer, a physicist, but it's a fun pun because the telescope 'sprays' across space looking at infrared radiation. It's one of science's most important telescopes despite sharing a name with a kitchen gadget!

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