noun
cuspidor
KUS-puh-dor/ˈkʌspəˌdɔr/
A container for spitting saliva or chewing-tobacco juice into.
A brass cuspidor beside the chair holds chewing-tobacco juice.
Etymology
Portuguese cuspidor names a spittoon and comes from cuspir, ‘to spit.’ The vessel is thus named for the action it is intended to receive.
More examples
- He spits tobacco juice into the cuspidor.
- She empties and rinses the cuspidor every evening.
- The museum displays several cuspidors from old railroad stations.
Forms
cuspidor · cuspidors
Similar words
- spittoon
- The more familiar word for the same kind of container.