spitfire

A compound of spit +‎ fire

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spitfire (plural spitfires)

1. A cannon.
2. A person with a fiery temper, someone easily provoked to anger, especially a woman or girl. [1801]
   • 1801, Peter Viereck, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin., Volume ⅩⅠⅠⅠ, by John Nichols (arranged by Thomas Sheridan), p. 143, published in London

     "―But however provoked, are your scribbling spitfires never to be satisfied?"

3. A larva of the spitfire sawfly, Perga affinis.

• shitfire

• “spitfire”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• firepits, fire pits