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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPLEUT, n., v., adv. Also in intensive or freq. form spleut(t)er, splooter; spyooter (see L, 3.). [′spl(j)ut(ər)]

I. n. 1. A sudden, spluttering gush; the noise caused by this, the liquid shed or spilled in this way (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177; Abd. (spleut), Per. (splooter) 1971). Also fig. Hence spleut(t)erie, spleutrie, spyooterie, n., weak, watery food, a dirty mess (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 178; Bnff., Abd. 1971), adj., weak and watery (Ib.; Kcb. 1929, spleutterie; Abd. 1971), of weather: wet, rainy (ne.Sc., Per., Fif. 1971).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 178:
The hail affair cam oot wee a spleut. The spleutter o't gart ma turn roon; an' there it wiz! a' spread our the fleer.Abd. 1949 Huntly Express (27 May):
The assumption that a “splootery time” was inevitable.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xiv.:
Ye'll hae them a' bilet tae spyooterie.

2. Weak, watery drink of any kind (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177, spleut(ter), Bnff. 1971, spleuter).

3. Diarrhoea (Per. 1971, splooter).

II. v. 1. To burst forth, gush out with a spluttering noise (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177, spleut(ter); Bnff., Abd., Per. 1971, splooter); to spill in a messy, splashing manner (Gregor, spleutter).

2. To fall flat into liquid or mud (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177); to walk in an unbecoming, splashing manner (Ib.); to flounder about. Also fig. Agent n. splooter, a dirty messy person (Per. 1971).Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs ii.:
If he had not spleuttered through his mind like this, how could he have worked out a simile like that?

III. adv. With a spluttering gush; with plashing, unbecoming step (Gregor, spleut (ter)).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 178:
She geed spleut, spleut, spleut through the burn.