spitfire
pronunciation
How to pronounce spitfire in British English:
UK [ˈspitˌfaiə]
How to pronounce spitfire in American English:
US [ˈspɪtˌfaɪr]
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- Noun:
- a highly emotional and quick-tempered person (especially a girl or woman)
Word Origin
- spitfire (n.)
- 1610s, "a cannon," from spit (v.) + fire (n.); c. 1600 as an adjective. Meaning "irascible, passionate person" is from 1670s. Replaced earlier shitfire (similar formation in Florentine cacafuoco).