Spatula

This article is about the mixing tool. For other uses, see Spatula (disambiguation).
Ancient Roman spatulas at the British Museum

A spatula is a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift material[1] including foods, drugs, plaster and paints.

In medical applications, "spatula" may also be used synonymously with tongue depressor.[2]

The word spatula derives from the Latin word for a flat piece of wood or splint, a diminutive form of the Latin spatha, meaning 'broadsword', and hence can also refer to a tongue depressor. The words spade (digging tool) and spathe are similarly derived. The word spatula has been used in English since 1525.[3]

  1. ^ American Heritage Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  2. ^ "Spatula", Collins Dictionary of Medicine, Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
  3. ^ "Etymology OnLine". Retrieved 2007-05-24.