[f. SPOON sb. + -FUL.] As much as fills a spoon; such an amount as can be lifted in a spoon.
α. c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 193. He nadde nouȝt a spone-ful ale.
c. 1380. in Rel. Ant., I. 52. Pouder of seede of lanett a sponfull, and of love-ache a sponfull.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 75. Putte þerin a sponeful of comon salt.
c. 1475. Henryson, Poems (S.T.S.), III. 152. Thre sponfull of þe blak spyce.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, § 207. Drynke halfe a sponeful mornyng and euenynge.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., IV. i. How cleanly he wipes his spoon at euery spoonfull of any whit-meat he eats.
1625. Laws Stannaries, iii. (1808), 17. A true note in writing … certifying the just number of pieces, slabs, or spoonfuls of tin above a pound weight.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 328. It gives help … being taken to the quantity of three or four spoonfulls.
1738. Gentl. Mag., VIII. 661/1. Sometimes a Spoonful, and sometimes but some few Drops.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 430. Throw this mixture by spoonfuls into a crucible.
1890. Science-Gossip, XXVI. 263. When a spoonful of food is dropped in, the water seems in a moment to be alive with fish.
β. 1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, D j. Dronke of the same water foure spones full at nyght is good agaynste the hote cowgh.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 145/2. Administre of this water thre spoonesfulle.
1863. Bates, Nat. Amazons, v. (1864), 125. We had brought with us a bag of farinha,… and a few spoonsful of salt.
1897. ‘Ouida,’ Massarenes, xiii. Two spoonsful of Cognac in it.
b. transf. A very small quantity or number.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xv. If he haue a spone full of latine, he wyll shewe forth a hoggeshede withoute any lernyng.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 79. One that hath but a sponefull of witte, maie answere to this question.
1652. N. Culverwel, Lt. Nature, I. xv. (1661), 127. Babes in Intellectuals must take in … those spoonfuls of Knowledge.
1894. Advance (Chicago), 9 Aug. Those who come [to a service] find only ‘a spoonful’ present, and no leader.
