Splatterings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small scattered drops or spots of a liquid ; a few isolated pieces or fragments distributed unevenly ; brief or limited occurrences or examples spread out irregularly
2. Minor scattered patches or spots formed by a liquid thrown in different directions ; a sparse or uneven distribution of small parts or elements ; occasional or fragmentary instances spread here and there
3. Tiny scattered marks or drops produced by splashing ; a handful of dispersed pieces or particles distributed in no definite order ; slight or scattered samples or instances found at various points

Etymology: "Splatterings" is the plural of "splattering," a noun formed from the verb "splatter" with the suffix "-ing." The verb "splatter" is a blend-like formation: it comes from "splash" combined with "spatter," two older words for wet, noisy impacts, and "splatter" took on its sense of spreading liquid in messy scattered drops. The "-ing" ending turns the action into a thing, so a splattering is the result of splattering, the marks left behind. The plural form carries the sense of many separate marks rather than a single mess. Its meanings stretch from the literal spots of liquid on a wall or floor to a scattering of small elements or occasional instances spread across a wider area, so the word moves easily from the physical to the figurative.

Synonyms: sprinkles, spots, drops, splashes, spatters