{{Short description|Scottish kitchen utensil}} {{about|the traditional Scottish porridge-stirring tool|the similarly-pronounced formation in the Argentine Islands of Antarctica's Ross Peninsula|Spirtle Rock}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[File:Spurtle.jpg|thumb|right|67px|A {{convert|28|cm|adj=on|abbr=on|lk=on}} spurtle, with decorated end resembling a Scottish thistle]]
The '''spurtle''' (or "spurtel", "spurtil", "spirtle", or "{{not a typo|spartle}}")<ref name="DSL" /> is a wooden Scottish kitchen tool, dating from the 15th century, that is used to stir porridge, soups, stews, and broths.<ref name="PorridgeLady" />
The rod-like shape means that porridge can be stirred without congealing and forming lumps,<ref name="PorridgeLady" /><ref name="NT_2007" /> unlike a spoon, which would have a dragging effect during stirring. The low surface area reduces the chances of porridge sticking to the instrument.<ref name="PorridgeLady" />
Spurtles are made from wood, typically beech, cherry wood, or maple. They come in a range of sizes. Traditional spurtles have stylised thistles at the top, while modern ones often have a smooth taper.<ref name="PorridgeLady" />
== Etymology == Old Scots ''spurtell'' is recorded from 1528. The Northern English dialect had a word ''{{not a typo|spartle}}'' that meant "stirrer". The modern West Germanic and North Germanic languages, as well as Middle English, also have ''spurtle'' cognates that refer to a flat-bladed tool or utensil – so more akin to the ''couthie spurtle'' (see below) in shape. Latin {{Lang|la|spatula}}, as used in medicine and pharmacy, is their shared ancestor. {{Lang|la|Spatula}} is a diminutive of Latin {{Lang|la|spatha}}, a broad, flat tool or weapon, which in turn is from Ancient Greek {{Lang|grc|σπαθη}} ("spathe"), the broad, flat tool used in weaving, or a paddle. The ultimate source of {{Lang|grc|σπαθη}} is hypothesized to come from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language ''*spe-dh-'' for spade and its root ''*spe-'' for a long, flat piece of wood. According to this theory, ''spade'' and ''spoon'' are also suggested as having derived from the same hypothetical PIE ''*spe-'', potentially making those words distant cousins of ''spurtle''.<ref name="DSL" /><ref name="spade">''Spade'' on Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved on 2020-05-05 from https://www.etymonline.com/word/spade.</ref>
== Couthie spurtle == Early spurtles were flat, wooden or metal instruments, with long handles and flat blades.<ref name="DSL" /> The spatula-like utensils, known as ''couthie spurtles'', are often used for flipping oatcakes or making pancakes – but not for making porridge.<ref name="PorridgeLady" />
== Modern culture == {{stack|thumb|The Golden Spurtle trophy}} The World Porridge Making Championship awards a "Golden Spurtle" as its main prize.<ref name="PreviousWinners" />
==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist|1|refs= <ref name="NT_2007">{{citation|title=Gentleman's Relish|page=67|author=National Trust|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B8jak2NZfUIC|isbn=978-1-905400-55-3|year=2007|publisher=Pavilion Books }}</ref> <ref name="PreviousWinners">{{cite web | url=http://www.goldenspurtle.com/competition/previous-winners/ |title=Previous Winners | publisher=Golden Spurtle | accessdate=2016-09-30}}</ref> <ref name="PorridgeLady">{{Unreliable source|date=January 2026}}{{cite web | url=http://www.porridgelady.com/2014/01/20/the-spurtle-customs-myths-legends-and-lump-free-porridge/ | title=The Spurtle; customs, myths, legends and lump free Porridge | publisher=The Porridge Lady | date=20 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141203015811/http://www.porridgelady.com/2014/01/20/the-spurtle-customs-myths-legends-and-lump-free-porridge/ | archive-date = 3 December 2014 | url-status = dead}}</ref> <ref name="DSL">{{cite web | url=http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spurtle | title=Dictionary of the Scots Language | accessdate=2020-05-05}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Wiktionary}}
Category:Food preparation utensils Category:Scots language Category:Scottish cuisine Category:Porridges