spud

1 of 2

verb

spudded; spudding

transitive verb

1
: to dig with a spud
2
: to begin to drill (an oil well)

intransitive verb

: to use a spud

spud

2 of 2

noun

1
: a tool or device (as for digging, lifting, or cutting) having the characteristics of a spade and a chisel
2

Examples of spud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The boys spudded as many holes as Michigan law allows, the tip-ups were set up, and the hooks were baited. Erwin A. Bauer, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024 The old days of spudding a hole in a foot of ice and huddling and freezing over it for hours on an upturned five-gallon pail are just that—the old days. The Editors, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2019
Noun
Seeing how each step transforms the spuds into crispy chips provides a fascinating lesson in food production. Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025 Dunking your spuds in a deep fryer might be a recipe for elevating your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Aria Bendix, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spud

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spudde dagger

First Known Use

Verb

1652, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spud was in 1652

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spud. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

spud

noun
ˈspəd

Medical Definition

spud

noun
: any of various small surgical instruments with a shape resembling that of a spade
use of a spud to remove a foreign object from the eye

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