spoil English · revision 39474

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1330, Robert Mannyng's Chronicle|origins=la spolium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /spɔɪl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|spoilen]], [[bor|fro|espoillier|t=to strip, plunder]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) also [[m|xno|espoiller]],^(Etymonline) from [[la|spoliō|t=to strip, rob, plunder]],^(AHD 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|la|spolium|t=skin stripped from an animal; arms taken from an enemy; booty]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Ayto 2005) In some uses it may be a shortening of [[despoil]].^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)^(ODE 2010) The noun is [[m|enm|spoile]], from [[m|fro|espoille]], a noun formed from the French verb, or made in English from the verb;^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the sense "arms stripped from an enemy" follows the Latin plural [[m|la|spolia]].^(OED 2026)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces the Latin noun to [[itc-pro|*spoljo-|t=skin, hide]], probably from [[ine-pro|*spel-|t=to split, break off]], the idea being something split off,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart compares [[grc|σπολάς|tr=spolás|t=a leather garment]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to strip a slain or defeated enemy of arms and armour: c. 1330, in Robert Mannyng's ''Chronicle''.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Barnhart finds ''spoulen'' "to undress someone" probably about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, goods taken from an enemy in war, appears in the plural in Richard Rolle's ''Psalter'' before 1340.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Through the Middle Ages ''spoil'' meant to rob, pillage or plunder (from a1340, and of a place from 1382, in the Wycliffite Bible), and to strip a person of clothes.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) In the 16th century it took over the territory of the similar-sounding ''spill'', which had meant "destroy, ruin", and came to mean to damage something so that it is useless (1560s).^(Ayto 2005)^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) Weekley compares the French verb [[m|fr|gâter]], literally "lay waste", which went through similar changes.^(Weekley 1921) Harming a child's character by indulgence followed in the 1640s, and the intransitive sense "go bad", of food, in the 1690s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The American phrase ''spoiling for'' a fight, longing for it, is recorded from 1865.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The plural noun was applied from 1770 to the public offices given to supporters of a winning party, later the ''spoils system'' of United States politics,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and, in Gray's ''Elegy'' (1751), to things gained by special effort.^(OED 2026) In the 19th century ''spoil'' also became waste earth from digging.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – ''spoulen'', to undress someone.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1330 – to strip a slain enemy of arms.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1340 – to plunder a person; noun, ''spoils'' of war.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1382 – to pillage a place (Wycliffite Bible).^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560s – to damage or ruin.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+ * 1640s – to harm a child by indulgence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – of food, to go bad.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1751 – things gained by effort (Gray).^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1770 – public offices as a reward for party support.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1865 – (US) ''spoiling for'' a fight.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[damage]] something so that it loses its value, usefulness or attractiveness; to [[ruin]] or [[mar]]: ''The rain spoiled the picnic.''^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To harm a child's character by giving in to all its wishes.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)

+ # To treat someone with great generosity or kindness; to [[pamper]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of food, to become unfit to eat; to go bad.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)

+ # To make a ballot paper [[invalid]] by marking it wrongly.^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''be spoiling for'': to be eager for, especially a fight.^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # (archaic) To strip of goods by force; to [[plunder]] or [[pillage]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''spoils'': goods or territory taken by force, especially in war; [[booty]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''spoils'': benefits or offices gained by a winning party or person.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Waste material, such as earth or rock, dug up in [[excavation]] or mining.^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spoilable]]

+ * [[spoilless]]

+ * [[spoilfive]]

+ * [[spoilsport]]

+ * [[spoiler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[despoil]]

+ * [[spoliation]]

+ * [[spill]]

+ * [[spoilage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Both ''spoiled'' and ''spoilt'' are used as the past tense and past participle.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002) The proverb ''too many cooks spoil the broth'' uses the verb in the sense "ruin".^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}