spot
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To mark, to recognise. Originally an Americanism, but now general. "I SPOTTED him (or it) at once."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “spot” mean?
To mark, to recognise. Originally an Americanism, but now general. "I SPOTTED him (or it) at once."
Is “spot” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.