Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Spade

Spade

,
Noun.
[Cf.
Spay
,
Noun.
]
1.
(Zool.)
A hart or stag three years old.
[Written also
spaid
,
spayade
.]
2.
[Cf. L.
spado
.]
A castrated man or beast.

Spade

,
Noun.
[AS.
spaed
;
spada
; akin to D.
spade
, G.
spaten
, Icel.
spaði
, Dan. & Sw.
spade
, L.
spatha
a spatula, a broad two-edged sword, a spathe, Gr.
σπάθη
. 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.
[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.
σπάθη
. See the Etymology above.]
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

(spād)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spaded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Spading
.]
To dig with a spade; to pare off the sward of, as land, with a spade.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spade

SPADE

,
Noun.
[L. spatula, from the root of pateo.]
1.
An instrument for digging, consisting of a broad palm with a handle.
2.
A suit of cards.
3.
A deer three years old; written also spaid.
4.
A gelded beast. [L. spado.]