sputtering
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sputter \Sput"ter\ (sp[u^]t"t[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
{Sputtered} (-t[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sputtering}.] [From
the root of spout or spit to eject from the mouth. Cf.
{Splutter}.]
1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small,
scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
[1913 Webster]
2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so
rapidly as to emit saliva.
[1913 Webster]
They could neither of them speak their rage, and so
fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting
apples. --Congreve.
[1913 Webster]
3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a
noise like that made by one sputtering.
[1913 Webster]
Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
24 Moby Thesaurus words for "sputtering":
beating, clicking, dancing, desultory, drumming, flickering,
flickery, flicky, fluttering, fluttery, guttering, palpitant,
pounding, spattering, spluttering, sputtery, staccato, throbbing,
thrumming, thumping, ticking, unsteady, wavering, wavery
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