Etymologically
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spatula

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈspætjʊlə/, /ˈspæt͡ʃʊlə/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin spatula (“broad piece, spatula”), spathula,[2][3][4][5] a diminutive of spatha (“broad flat tool or weapon”) (see spathe),[2][3][4][6] from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “broad flat blade”) (see spade).[3][4][7] The Latin word was borrowed earlier as Middle English spatule, a medical instrument (about 1425).[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

An implement for stirring mixtures, especially medicines, and for spreading ointments and plasters (1525 in the OED, Barnhart and Merriam-Webster).[8][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The Greek word was used of a weaver's tool and also of the blade of a sword or oar.[4] English also tried the Anglicized forms spatule, spattle and spature.[4] From 1684 the spatula was used in surgery and in examining the throat, as a tongue depressor,[8][2] and since 1842 in various technical operations.[8] In cooking it is a utensil for spreading, lifting or turning food.[9][10] In Late Latin the word also meant the shoulder blade, the source of epaulet.[11][5]

Timeline

  • c. 1425 – spatule, a medical instrument.[3]
  • 1525 – spatula.[8][3][5]
  • 1684 – a surgical or examining instrument.[8]
  • 1842 – for technical operations.[8]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A small implement with a broad, flat, flexible blade, used to mix, spread or lift material such as food, paint or plaster.
  2. A small flat blade used to press down the tongue during an examination of the mouth or throat; a tongue depressor.

Word family

  • spatulate
  • spade
  • spathe
  • epaulet
  • palette knife

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  7. ^ Skeat, Walter W. (1911), A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, new ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  9. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  10. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  11. ^ Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray