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 by reciting Shakspeare in tap-*rooms (Bee); spouting-club = 'a rehearsal club' (Grose); in great spout = noisy, in high spirits. Also to spout ink = to write: cf. sling ink.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe [Grosart, Works, v. 232]. Never since I spouted incke, was I of woorse aptitude to goe thorow with such a mighty March brewage as you expect.

1610. Beaumont and Fletcher, Coxcomb, iv. 4. Pray spout some French, son.

1673. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [1770], 202. His mouth will one day be a spout Of Eloquence, without a doubt.

1771. Smollett, Humph. Clinker, 'To Sir Watkin Phillips, 30 April.' Mr. Gwynn do, pray, spout a little the Ghost of Gimlet.

1781. Knox, Liberal Education, 20. Introduce him to spouting clubs or disputing societies. Ibid. (1788), Winter Evenings, xxxii. The quoters imitate parrots or professed spouters in committing words only to memory purposely for the sake of ostentation.

1792. Advt. in Dupes of Fancy [Hogg]. The New Spouters' Companion [Title].

1796. Reynolds, Fortune's Fool, iv. 1. In the garret is a spouting author.

1797. D'Arblay, Diary, vi. 187. These and his spout of satire are mere quizziness.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 246. Phenecia prevailed on me to repeat the lines I had already spouted. Ibid., 372. The major-domo, a great spouter, undertook to train me for the stage.

1814. Austen, Mansfield Park, xiii. For anything of acting, spouting, reciting kind I think he has always a decided taste.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, 1. He spouts at the 'Ciceronian' for half a crown a night.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg.,'Milk-*maid's Story.' With scorn on her lip, And a hand on each hip, Spout herself till her nose grew red at the tip.

1858. Mursell, Lecture on Slang. When a man speaks, he spouts; when holds his peace, he shuts up.

1886. D. Telegraph, 12 Jan. The women's rights agitator, the platform spouter in petticoats. Ibid., 9 Feb. Listening to the more forcible than polite spoutings of rabid 'fair traders' and Socialists. Ibid., 14 Oct. While spouting the most intolerant rubbish that can be endured.

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 87. She blewed it on a gent who spouted in the Park.

1903. Morning Advertiser, 4 Feb. Spouting agitators who never did a honest day's work in their lives.

Spouter, subs. (nautical).—See quot. and Spout.

1835. Dana, Before the Mast, Nov., 14. The spouter, as the sailors call a whaleman, had made signal for us to heave to. Ibid., 8 Sep. One had been in a spouter, and of course, had all the whaling stories to himself.

Sprat, subs. (common).—1. See quots.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assist. (3rd ed.), 444. Sixpence, downer, also sprat.

1857. M. Chron., 2 Dec. Several Lascars were charged with passing sprats, the slang term applied to spurious four-*penny pieces, sixpences, and shillings.

1898. Sporting Times, 19 Feb., I, 5. I don't mean lunch with only two and a sprat in my clothes; have a drink?

2. (common).—A sweetheart: cf. Bloater, Duck, Pippin, &c.

3. (common).—In pl. = furniture; effects: cf. Marbles, Sticks, &c.

4. (old).—An undersized or mean-looking man or boy; a scarecrow (q.v.): also Jack Sprat (q.v.).

1598. Shakspeare, All's Well, iii. 6, 112. When his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him.

Spread, subs. (colloquial).—1. A meal; a feast.

1827. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., II. 51. After giving one spread, With fiddling and masques at the Saracen's Head.