1610s, "a cannon," from spit (v.) + fire (n.); c. 1600 as an adjective. Meaning "irascible, passionate person" is from 1670s. Replaced earlier shitfire (similar formation in Florentine cacafuoco).
雙語例句
1. A year later, in 1944, his Spitfire had been shot down over Italy.
一年后的1944年, 牛脾氣的史密斯先生再次加入了抗擊意大利的行列.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
2. Yet friends say they will most remember the spitfire Margaret of her '60 s and '70 s heyday.