spatula
UK[ˈspætʃələ]US[ˈspætʃələ]
n
a kitchen tool with a wide, flat, usually flexible blade, used for lifting, spreading, or mixing foods.
n
a tool with a similar shape used in medical or artistic applications.
Morpheme Breakdown
spat
ula
spat
broad blade
ula
diminutive suffix
Etymology
the word 'spatula' has a direct lineage from classical antiquity. it originates from the latin word 'spatula', which is the diminutive form of 'spatha', a term for a broad, flat tool or a type of sword borrowed from greek 'spathē'. the literal meaning, therefore, is "a little spatha" or "a small flat blade." this etymological logic perfectly maps to the modern object: a small, flat implement. over time, its application narrowed from a general flat tool to specifically denote those used in cooking, medicine, and the arts, retaining the core concept of a broad, thin blade.
Analysis
Structure: spat (broad blade) + ula (diminutive suffix)
spat (from latin 'spatha', meaning a broad, flat tool or sword, of greek origin); ula (a latin diminutive suffix indicating a small version of something).
Examples
use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake.
the artist mixed the paints on the palette with a spatula.
the doctor used a wooden spatula to examine the patient's throat.