spatula

From Latin spatula (“a flat piece”), the diminutive form of spatha (“broad or flat tool”), from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “a broad wood or metal blade”). Compare spatha and spathe.

• IPA^(key): /ˈspætjʊlə/, /ˈspætʃʊlə/, /ˈspætʃələ/

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spatula (plural spatulas or spatulae or spatulæ)

1. A kitchen utensil consisting of a flat surface attached to a long handle, used for turning, lifting, or stirring food.
2. (Canada, US) A kitchen utensil consisting of a flexible surface attached to a long handle, used for scraping the sides of bowls.
3. (dated) A palette knife.
4. (chemistry) A thin hand tool, often made of nickel, for handling chemicals or other materials, when weighing, etc.
5. A croupier's tool for turning up cards in a casino.
   • 1963, Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service

     The croupier delicately faced her other two cards with the tip of his spatula. A four! She had lost!

• (kitchen utensil for turning and lifting): fish slice, turner, flipper
• (kitchen utensil for scraping): scraper, dough scraper

• spatular
• spatulate

• spathula

Diminutive from spatha (“broad, flat tool”) +‎ -ula.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈspa.tu.la/, [ˈspa.tʊ.ɫa]

spatula f (genitive spatulae); first declension

1. a broad, flat piece.

   spatula porcina — "leg of pork".

2. a little palm frond.
3. (Late Latin) a scapula (shoulder blade).
4. (Late Latin) a spoon or spatula (kitchenware).

First declension.

• spatulātus, spathulātus

• spatha

• spatula in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• spatula in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• spatula in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette