spade

¹spade

noun \ˈspād\

Definition of SPADE

1

: a digging implement adapted for being pushed into the ground with the foot

2

: a spade-shaped instrument

— spade·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

Origin of SPADE

Middle English, from Old English spadu; akin to Greek spathē blade of a sword or oar

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with SPADE

Ade, aid, aide, blade, braid, cade, clade, fade, glade, grade, jade, lade, made, maid, paid, raid, rayed, shade, stade, staid, suede, trade, wade

²spade

verb

spad·edspad·ing

Definition of SPADE

transitive verb

: to dig up or out or shape with or as if with a spade

intransitive verb

: to use a spade

— spad·er noun

First Known Use of SPADE

circa 1647

³spade

noun

Definition of SPADE

1

a plural but sing or plural in constr : the suit comprising cards marked spades

b : a black figure that resembles a stylized spearhead on each playing card of one of the four suits; also : a card marked with this figure

2

usually offensive : black 4

— in spades

: to an unusually great degree : in the extreme

Origin of SPADE

Italian spada or Spanish espada broadsword; both from Latin spatha, from Greek spathē blade

First Known Use: circa 1598

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce