Spatula

Spatula

A spatula, also known as a Turner, Flipper and fish slice in (British English), is a kitchen utensil with a long handle and a broad flat edge, used for lifting fried foods. [cite web
url=http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/fishslice?view=uk
title=AskOxford.com
accessdate=2007-05-24] [cite web|url=http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=spatula|title=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|accessdate=2007-06-20] Though the word "spatula" is used in British English, it refers solely to a mixing and spreading implement. [cite web
url=http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/spatula?view=uk
title=AskOxford.com
accessdate=2007-05-24] Often the plate scraper is referred to as a spatula. In small parts of poo land (e.g. Glasgow or Victoria Halls) the spatula is also known as a tosser which refers to the tossing of omelettes or pancakes.

The word "spatula", known in English since 1525, is a diminutive form of the Latin term "spatha", which means a broad sword (as in spatharius) or a flat piece of wood and is also the origin of the words spade (digging tool) and spathe. [cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=spatula&searchmode=none|title=Etymology OnLine|accessdate=2007-05-24]

Design

Spatulas have a handle that is long enough to keep the holder's hand away from what is being lifted, flipped, or scraped.

The blade of the device is wide and/or thin. The shape of the blade varies, with square and rectangular shapes being most common. The blade is usually somewhat flexible. Spatula blades are often longer on the right side than the left, as this is more effective for right-handed people. There are also left-handed spatulas, but these are rare. Most have long slots on the blades to allow liquids to flow through, though some have holes or no perforations at all.

Spatulas are usually made of plastic or metal, with a wooden or plastic handle to insulate them from heat. Thus, spatulas made for outdoor grilling have very long handles.

Spatulas can be colorful or have very artistic designs. They can be used as decorations in the home or in some abstract art forms.

Related utensils

*Peel
*Putty knife
*Scraper
*Scoopula
*Hamburger

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • spatulă — SPATÚLĂ, spatule, s.f. Mică unealtă în formă de lopăţică, folosită în sculptură, farmacie etc. pentru a lua, a amesteca şi a întinde diferite substanţe pulverulente sau vâscoase. [acc. şi: spátulă] – Din fr. spatule. Trimis de dante, 25.07.2004.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Spatula — Spat u*la (?; 135), n. [L. spatula, spathula, dim. of spatha a spatula: F. spatule. See {Spade} for digging.] An implement shaped like a knife, flat, thin, and somewhat flexible, used for spreading paints, fine plasters, drugs in compounding… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spatula — (n.) 1520s, from L. spatula broad piece, spatula, dim. of spatha broad, flat tool or weapon, from Gk. spathe broad blade (see SPADE (Cf. spade) (n.1)). Erroneous form spattular is attested from c.1600 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Spatŭla — Spatŭla, 1) so v.w. Spathula; 2) Echiniten. stacheln von Löffelgestalt …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Spatŭla — Spatŭla, Löffelente, s. Enten, S. 833 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • špatula — špàtula ž <N mn e> DEFINICIJA glatka daščica proširena na krajevima, dio laboratorijskog pribora …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • spatula — ► NOUN ▪ an implement with a broad, flat, blunt blade, used especially for mixing or spreading. ORIGIN Latin, from spathula small spathe …   English terms dictionary

  • spatula — [spach′ə lə] n. [L, dim. of spatha, flat blade: see SPADE2] any of various implements with a broad, flat, flexible blade, used for spreading or blending substances, as foods or paints, for scraping, etc. spatular adj …   English World dictionary

  • spatula — [[t]spæ̱tʃʊlə[/t]] spatulas N COUNT A spatula is an object like a knife with a wide, flat blade. Spatulas are used in cooking. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing over the top with a spatula …   English dictionary

  • spatula — UK [ˈspætjʊlə] / US [ˈspætʃələ] noun [countable] Word forms spatula : singular spatula plural spatulas 1) a) a kitchen tool with a handle at one end and a wide flat part at the other for lifting hot foods or for spreading soft substances b) a… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”