district east of London, famed for the work of refugee Huguenot weavers who took up residence there, from St. Mary Spital, from spital, a Middle English shortened form of hospital, sometimes also spittle, hence spittle-man "one who lives in a hospital."
spiro-
spirochete
spirometer
spissitude
spit
Spitalfields
spitball
spite
spiteful
spitfire
spittle