spoon
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English spone (“‘spoon, chip of wood’”) from Old English spón (“‘sliver, chip of wood’”), from common Germanic *spē-nu-, derived from Proto-Indo-European *spē- (“‘length of wood’”). Possible cognates include Greek σφήν (sphēn), “‘wedge’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
spoon (plural spoons)
- An implement for eating or serving; a scooped utensil whose long handle is straight, in contrast to a ladle.
- An implement for stirring food while being prepared; a wooden spoon.
- A measure that will fit into a spoon; a spoonful.
- (sports, archaic) A wooden-headed golf club with moderate loft, similar to the modern three wood.
- (fishing) A type of metal lure resembling the concave head of a table spoon.
- (figuratively) A simpleton, a spooney.
[edit] Translations
scooped utensil for eating (or serving)
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measure that will fit into a spoon — see spoonful
[edit] Derived terms
- spoonbill
- spooner
- spoon-feed, spoon-fed
- dessert spoon, dessertspoon
- measuring spoon
- runcible spoon
- silver spoon
- soup spoon, soupspoon
- tablespoon
- teaspoon
- wooden spoon
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to spoon (third-person singular simple present spoons, present participle spooning, simple past and past participle spooned)
- To engage in petting, kissing or what is also called "making out". Etymology traced to OE word "spon" referring to fish reproduction.
- (of sailing vessels) to turn to port and starboard erratically for short periods of time, as a sailing boat does when heading nearly into a wind that varies direction slightly
- (dated slang, late 19th-early 20th century, of people) to have a nervously ambivalent romantic rendezvous, as young people had during the age of chaperones, from turning one's head toward and away from the other person as the sailing ship did
- (slang, from late 20th century, of people) to lie nestled together front to back in a manner reminiscent of spoons layed side by side in a drawer; usually has a mild sexual connotation. This usage is an example of a false or folk etymology in which the older verb form of the word was incorrectly confused with the more modern noun form referring to an eating implement, as a "logical explanation" since the original meaning OE "spon" (which later became "spawn") was unknown or forgotten.
