[f. SPILL v. Cf. SPILLED ppl. a.]
† 1. Spoiled, ruined; destroyed. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4060. Menelay the mighty … sped hym fro Spart his awne spilte rewme. Ibid., 10131. A space for his spilt men spedely to graue.
b. Sc. Rendered unwholesome or unfit for food through being kept too long.
1595. Duncan, App. Etym. (E. D. S.), Rancida caro, spilt flesh. Ibid., Vappa, spilt wine.
1887. Scott. Leader, 11 Oct., 5/1. Selling ‘Spilt’ Pears. Ibid. Dr. Anderson stated that … ‘spilt’ pears were unwholesome.
2. Of a liquid: That has been allowed to flow over or run out, esp. in an accidental or wasteful manner. Also in fig. context.
1483. Cath. Angl., 355/1. Spyllt, butus, perfusus.
1636. B. Jonson, Discov., Wks. (Rtldg.), 743. Of this spilt water, there is a little to be gathered up: it is a desperate debt.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xix. ¶ 1. The spilt Mettal sticking about the out-sides of the Mouth.
1718. Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk Gr., III. xiii. Boord, and floor, and a’ did sail, Wi’ spilt ale i’ the dark.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. x. His words are like spilt water.
1859. Dickens, T. Two Cities, I. v. Is all the spilt wine swallowed?
b. To cry over spilt milk (or † water), or variants of this: To fret about some loss, mistake, etc., which cannot be remedied.
1820. Clarion, and Tennessee Gaz., 15 Feb., 3/2. Kentucky gains all, and this state nothing. The arrangement is, however, final; and it is folly to cry after spilt milk.
1836. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. I. xxx. What’s done, Sam, can’t be helped, there is no use in cryin over spilt milk.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. iv. (1866), 76. Not stop … to weep over spilt water.
1860. Trollope, Castle Richmond, I. vi. 113. It’s no use sighing after spilt milk.
