Spuyten Duyvil, now so written, was the early Dutch nickname of the Papirinimen ford or passage, later known as King's Bridge. "By our people called," wrote Van der Donck in 1652, indicating conference by the Dutch prior to that date. It simply described the passage as evil, vicious, dangerous. Its derivatives are _Spui,_ "sluice;" _Spuit,_ "spout;" _Spuiten,_ "to spout, to squirt, to discharge with force," as a waterspout, or water forced through a narrow passage. _Duyvil_ is a colloquial expression of viciousness. The same name is met on the Mohawk in application to the passage of the stream between two islands near Schenectady. The generally quoted translation, "_Spuyt den Duyvil,_ In spite of the Devil," quoted by Brodhead as having been written by Van der Donck, has no standing except in Irving's "Knickerbocker History of New York." Van der Donck never wrote the sentence. He knew, and Brodhead knew, that _Spuyt_ was not _Spijt,_ nor _Spuiten_ stand for _Spuitten._ The Dutch for "In spite of the Devil," is _In Spijt van Duivel._ The sentence may have been quoted by Brodhead without examination. It was a popular story that Irving told about one Antony Corlear's declaration that he would swim across the ford at flood tide in a violent storm, "In spite of the devil," but obviously coined in Irving's brain. It may, however, had for its foundation the antics of a very black and muscular African who was employed to guard the passage and prevent hostile Indians as well as indiscreet Dutchmen from crossing, and who, for the better discharge of his duty, built fires at night, armed himself with sword and firebrands, vociferated loudly, and acted the character of a devil very well. At all events the African is the only historical devil that had an existence at the ford, and he finally ran away and became merged with the Indians. _Spiting Devil,_ an English corruption, ran naturally into _Spitting Devil,_ and some there are who think that that is a reasonably fair rendering of Dutch _Spuiten._ They are generally of the class that take in a cant reading with a relish.