spoon
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: spo͞on
ipa: /spuːn/
ipa: /spun/
rhymes: -uːn
Forms: form: spoons
Etymology: From Middle English spoon, spoune, spone, spon (“spoon, chip of wood”), from Old English spōn (“sliver, chip of wood, shaving”), from Proto-West Germanic *spānu, from Proto-Germanic *spēnuz (“chip, flake, shaving”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peh₂- (“chip, shaving, log, length of wood”).
Cognate with Scots spun, spon (“spoon, shingle”), West Frisian spoen (“chip”), Dutch spaan (“chip, flinders”), German Span (“chip, flake, shaving”), Swedish spån (“chip, flake”), Norwegian Nynorsk spon (“chip, spoon”), Faroese spónur (“wood chip; spoon”), Ancient Greek σφήν (sphḗn, “wedge”)(though the connection to the Greek is likely impossible by modern reconstructions of PIE). Eclipsed non-native Middle English cuculer, coclear (“spoon”), from Old English cuculer, cuceler, cucler, borrowed from Latin cochlear (“spoon”).
The "metaphoric unit of personal energy" sense was coined by writer and disability advocate Christine Miserandino in 2003 (see spoon theory).
Senses: examples: text: He must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.
ref: c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
glosses: An implement for eating or serving; a scooped utensil whose long handle is straight, in contrast to a ladle.
glosses: An implement for stirring food while being prepared; a wooden spoon.
examples: text: While Ms. Fly was with Sharon in the kitchen, Sharon asked the defendant for a “spoon of drugs.” Defendant refused and stated that he did not know where drugs could be obtained.
ref: 1978, Illinois. Supreme Court, Reports of Cases at Law and in Chancery..., page 76:
glosses: A measure that will fit into a spoon; a spoonful.
topics: golf
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A wooden-headed golf club with moderate loft, similar to the modern fairway wood.
examples: text: To this class college rowing offers no attractions or place, nor are they generally looked upon by the artists of the "spoons" as a desirable addition […]
ref: 1877, The Country, volumes 1-2, page 339:
glosses: An oar.
topics: fishing
hobbies
lifestyle
glosses: A type of metal lure resembling the concave head of a tablespoon.
topics: dentistry
medicine
sciences
glosses: A spoon excavator.
glosses: A South African shrub of the genus Spatalla.
examples: text: To get all the advantages of being with men of this sort, you must know how to draw your inferences and not be a spoon who takes things literally.
ref: 1872, George Eliot, “Chapter 23”, in Middlemarch:
glosses: A simpleton, a spoony.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: A safety handle on a hand grenade, a trigger.
examples: text: We therefore have to meticulously plan out each day with the small amount of spoons we have. Each task will cost us at least one spoon.
ref: 2014 March 12, “The Spoon Theory – Rationing my Legs & Energy”, in Spoonie Sophia, WordPress:
text: You work, and play, and clean, and love, and hate, and that's lots of damn spoons . . . but if you are young and healthy you still have spoons left over as you fall asleep and wait for the new supply of spoons to be delivered in the morning.
ref: 2015, Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, page 241:
text: Once you're out of spoons for the day, that's it, no more energy. So when you get down to your last couple of spoons for the day, you have to decide, what's the priority?
ref: 2016, Tymber Dalton, Two Against Nature, page 86:
text: But if you're running low on spoons, take some time out to recharge.
ref: 2018, Donna Alward, Nancy Cassidy, Adulting 101: Writing Through Life and Other Adventures:
text: He has frequent dizzy spells. His friend has Asperger syndrome. Both relate and support each other when they have run out of spoons.
ref: 2018, Dennis J. DeWitt, Zoe Died. What Now?: Finding Hope in Times of Loss:
glosses: A metaphoric unit of finite physical and mental energy available for daily activities, especially in the context of living with chronic illness or disability.
Hypernyms: cutlery
flatware
kitchenware
silverware
tableware
utensil
Hyponyms: coffee spoon
dessert spoon
dessertspoon
egg spoon
grapefruit spoon
measuring spoon
parfait spoon
runcible spoon
salt spoon
saltspoon
serving spoon
soup spoon
soupspoon
tablespoon
teaspoon
wooden spoon
Coordinate terms: foon
fork
knife
ladle
spork
Derived terms: absinthe spoon
apostle spoon
baffing spoon
bar spoon
big spoon
born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
caddy spoon
caviar spoon
deflagrating spoon
dig one's grave with a fork and spoon
ear-spoon
ear spoon
eat something up with a spoon
eat up with a spoon
egg and spoon race
gag me with a spoon
greasy spoon
he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon
level spoon
little spoon
love spoon
monkey spoon
out of spoons
salad spoon
serving spoon
shoe spoon
silver spoon
silver-spoon socialist
slipper spoon
slotted spoon
spoonbill
spoon bowl
spoon-bowl
spoon bread
spoon chime
spoon-feed
spoon-fed
spoonful
spoon-hook
spoon hook
spoonie
spoon lure
spoon-meat
spoon mustard
spoon oar
spoon of Diocles
spoon receiver
spoon rest
spoon sled
spoons position
spoon straw
spoon sweet
spoon theory
spoonula
spoon warmer
spoon-winged lacewing
spoon worm
spork
sugar spoon
table-spoon
there is no spoon
tire spoon