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Feb 6, 2013 · The OED says spitting image (1901) it's an alteration of spitten (image, picture) (1878). This in turn is a corruption of spit and (image, picture, fetch) (1859). The very spit of is 1825. Curiously, splitting image (or splitten image) is recorded later (1880). Antedating
The term "spitting image" is a mispronunciation of "splitting image." This term describes the practice of creating a mirror image of wood grain by splitting it. It is a well-established decorative effect used by cabinet and musical-instrument makers.
Mar 22, 2020 · 29 December 2012. Spitting image or spit and image (sometimes reanalyzed as splitting image) stems from the metaphor of spitting out an exact likeness of oneself.