Also 4 swirting. [f. SQUIRT v.] The action of the verb; that which is squirted or spirted. Also fig.
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 173. Asset avera de esclautez, of swirtingges. Ibid., Un garsoun esclaté, bilagged wit swirting.
1598. Florio, Squacquarata, a dashing or blurring, a squattring, a squirting.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 361. Betwixt euery squirting, giue him liberty to hold downe his head.
1611. Cotgr., Injection,… a squirting, or conueying of a liquid medicine, by Syringe, &c. into some part of the bodie.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), Siringe,… an Instrument for the squirting of liquor into any wound.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 295. Party zeal … makes its last retreat in … occasional squirtings of the press.
