Spatula
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
Use
Spatulas are usually used to scrape within the contours of a mixing bowl or to level off the top of a dry mixing cup.
Kitchen use
American English
In American English, spatula refers broadly to a number of broad, flat utensils. The word commonly refers to a turner or flipper (known in British English as a
A frosting spatula is also known as palette knife and is usually made of metal or plastic.
Bowl and plate scrapers are sometimes called spatulas.[4][5]
British English
In British English a spatula is similar in shape to a palette knife, without holes, in a flexible or detachable blade. It is used in medical examinations, for holding down the tongue or taking cell samples. The term is also commonly used in cookery to refer to a scraper, as in American English.
Non-regional
In addition to the regional senses, a spatula can be used in both British and American English to refer to a tool with a flat, blunt blade used for mixing and spreading things as opposed to one used for lifting and flipping food, an example of which is the rubber scraper shown on the right.
Laboratory use
In laboratories, spatulas and microspatulas are small
-
A stainless steel laboratory spatula -
This is one of many uses of stainless steel spatula: it can be used to aid the removal of filter paper from vacuum filtration.
Related utensils
References
- ^ American Heritage Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
- ^ "Spatula", Collins Dictionary of Medicine, Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
- ^ "Etymology OnLine". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary". Retrieved 2007-06-20.
- ^ "AskOxford.com". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
- ^ Harrison, Garry. "Microspatula". Retrieved 10 August 2013.
For example, they are excellent for scraping, applying methyl cellulose to a book spine to remove the old adhesive, delaminating the layers of board, and lifting delicate materials and helping them back into place, during the performance of repair treatments. They are made of stainless or tool steel and are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
- ^ "Lab Spatulas for sampling".
External links
The dictionary definition of spatula at Wiktionary
