or spital, subs. (old).—A hospital or lazar-house. Hence, SPITTLE-WHORE (or SINNER) = a foundered harlot; a SPITTLE-ROGUE (or MAN) = (1) a gaol-bird; and (2) a diseased outcast: whence a general term of contempt.

1

  1580.  BARET, An Alvearie, or Triple Dictionarie in English, Latin, and French. SPITTLE WHORE, a very common whore.

2

  1603.  DAVIES, Summa Totalis, in Works [GROSART], i. 26.

        Good Preachers, that liue ill [like SPITTLE-MEN]
Are perfect in the way they neuer went.

3

  1632.  MASSINGER, The Fatal Dowry, iii. 1.

        And I will rather choose a SPITTLE SINNER
Carted an age before, though three parts rotten.
    Ibid. (1632), The City Madam, iii. 1.
  Ramb.  Rank and rotten, is she not?
  Shave.  Your SPITTLE rogueships.

4