Where does “spitbox” come from?

spitbox (English) comes from English spit, from Middle English spit, from Middle English despit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus, from Latin dēspiciō, from Latin dē-, from Latin dē — afterwards, post; by, at.

spitbox (English): A vessel to receive spittle; a spittoon; A barn...

Definitions

  1. A vessel to receive spittle; a spittoon; A barn...

Ancestry of “spitbox”, step by step

spitbox traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English spit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspitA thin metal or wooden rod on which meat is...
2Middle Englishspit
3Middle Englishdespit
4Old Frenchdespit
5Latindēspectusdisdained, despised
6Latindēspiciōto look down upon
7Latindē-of; from
8Latinof; concerning; about
9Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
10Latinposteablative singular of postis
11Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

via English box

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishboxSenses relating to a three-dimensional object or...
2Frenchboxerboxer; boxer shorts, boxers; to box
3French-erForms infinitives of first-conjugation verbs
4English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
5Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
6Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
7Latin-ārefirst conjugation
8Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
9Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
10Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
12Chichewaiyehe, she
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós
spitbox — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer