Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sputter \Sput"ter\, v. t.
   To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a
   spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without
   control over the organs of speech.

         In the midst of caresses, and without the last pretend
         incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations.
                                                  --Swift.

Sputter \Sput"ter\, n.
   Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also,
   confused and hasty speech.

Sputter \Sput"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sputtered}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Sputtering}.] [From the root of spout or spit to
   eject from the mputh. Cf. {Splutter}.]
   1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small,
      scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.

   2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so
      rapidly as to emit saliva.

            They could neither of them speak their rage, and so
            fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting
            apples.                               --Congreve.

   3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a
      noise like that made by one sputtering.

            Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame.
                                                  --Dryden.

Source : WordNet®

sputter
     n 1: the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively;
          "he heard a spatter of gunfire" [syn: {spatter}, {spattering},
           {splatter}, {splattering}, {splutter}, {sputtering}]
     2: an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage)
        [syn: {splutter}]
     v 1: make an explosive sound; "sputtering engines"
     2: cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed; "The
        solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of
        the dust"
     3: climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling [syn: {clamber}, {scramble},
         {shin}, {shinny}, {skin}, {struggle}]
     4: utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage [syn: {splutter}]
     5: spit up in an explosive manner [syn: {splutter}, {spit out}]