spits

English

Noun

spits

1. plural of spit

Verb

spits

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of spit

Anagrams

• stips

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Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɪts/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: spits
• Rhymes: -ɪts

Etymology 1

Borrowed from German spitz.

Adjective

spits (comparative spitser, superlative meest spits or spitst)

1. pointed

Inflection

Declension of spits
uninflected	spits
inflected	spitse
comparative	spitser
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		spits	spitser	het spitst het spitste
indefinite	m./f. sing.	spitse	spitsere	spitste
	n. sing.	spits	spitser	spitste
	plural	spitse	spitsere	spitste
definite		spitse	spitsere	spitste
partitive		spits	spitsers	—

Derived terms

• spitsvondig

Noun

spits n (plural spitsen, diminutive spitsje n)

1. a pointed tip

Derived terms

• het spits afbijten

Etymology 2

Borrowed from German Spitze.

Noun

spits f (plural spitsen, diminutive spitsje n)

1. A top, a peak, a pinnacle or an apex.
2. (architecture) A spire.
3. (sports) A striker (both the position and the player), often referring to the centre forward.
4. (military) A frontline battalion, a front subdivision of a vanguard.

Synonyms

• (spire): torenspits

Coordinate terms

(striker):

• verdediger
• doelman

Derived terms

• spitsuur
• torenspits

Etymology 3

Backformation from spitsuur, but especially avondspits and ochtendspits, which are themselves shortenings from avondspitsuur and ochtendspitsuur. Around 1940 the term spits (“peak”, etymology 2) was also commonly used for annual peak traffic during the summer holiday, which is another likely influence for the shortened form. The use of the article de (earlier used for avondspits and ochtendspits) rather than het (used for spitsuur) was influenced by etymology 2.

Noun

spits m or f (plural spitsen, diminutive spitsje n)

1. rush hour [from mid 20th c.]

   Synonym: spitsuur

Derived terms

• spitsstrook

Related terms

• avondspits
• ochtendspits
• spitsuur