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Spitting image

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neoteric | 18:27 Tue 19th Nov 2002 | Phrases & Sayings
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Do you know the origin of 'spitting image?' Thanks.
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Avatar Image Quizmonster
Click http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=2
0000310 for the answer.
21:46 Tue 19th Nov 2002
Avatar Image morpheus
I believe it was biblical in origin, from 'split and image' which was corrupted to 'splitting image' and thus 'spitting image'.
12:11 Sun 24th Nov 2002
Avatar Image Quizmonster
I'm afraid that the word 'split' does not appear anywhere in the Bible, according to biblical concordances. In much the same way as we now have 'bitten' for the past participle of 'bite', so 'spitten' used to be the past participle of 'spit', whereas we now say 'spat'. 'Splitting' was just a dialect corruption of 'spitten'. For the connection with likeness/similarity, click on the link in my earlier response.
20:22 Mon 25th Nov 2002

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