spitfire

See also: Spitfire

English

Etymology

A compound of spit +‎ fire

Noun

spitfire (plural spitfires)

1. A cannon.
2. A person with a fiery temper, someone easily provoked to anger, especially a woman or girl.[1801]
   • 1801, Peter Viereck, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin., Volume ⅩⅠⅠⅠ, by John Nichols (arranged by Thomas Sheridan), p. 143, published in London

     "―But however provoked, are your scribbling spitfires never to be satisfied?"

See also

• shitfire

Further reading

• “spitfire”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• firepits