Category:Spade

Spade, n. Etym: [cf. Spay, n.]

1. (zoöl.)

Defn: a hart or stag three years old. [written also spaid, spayade.]

2. Etym: [cf. L. spado.]

Defn: a castrated man or beast.

Spade Spade, n. Etym: [as. spæd; spada; akin to d. spade, g. spaten, icel. Spaedhi, dan. & sw. spade, l. spatha a spatula, a broad two-edged Sword, a spathe, gr. spa`qh. Cf. Epaulet, spade at cards, spathe, Spatula.]

1. An implement for digging or cutting the ground, consisting usually Of an oblong and nearly rectangular blade of iron, with a handle like That of a shovel. "with spade and pickax armed." Milton.

2. Etym: [sp. espada, literally, a sword; -- so caused because these Cards among the spanish bear the figure of a sword. Sp. espada is fr. L. spatha, gr. spa`qh. See the etymology above.]

Defn: one of that suit of cards each of which bears one or more Figures resembling a spade. "let spades be trumps!" She said. Pope.

3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale. Spade bayonet, a Bayonet with a broad blade which may be used digging; -- called also Trowel bayonet. -- spade handle (mach.), the forked end of a connecting rod in which A pin is held at both ends. See illust. of knuckle joint, under Knuckle.

Spade Spade, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Spading.]

Defn: to dig with a spade; to pare off the sward of, as land, with a Spade.