Spade

n. [A-S. spadu, spada, spad, L. Ger., D., Dan., & Sw. spade, Icel. spadi, O. H. Ger. spato, spado, N. H. Ger. spaten, spate; Lat. spatha, Gr. σπάθη; whence It. spada, Pr., Sp., & Pg. espada, Fr. épée, O. Fr. espée, a sword.]

1Sense 1. An instrument for digging or cutting the ground, consisting of a broad and nearly rectangular blade of iron, with a handle. “With spade and pick-ax armed.” Milton.

2Sense 2. (pl.) A suit of cards, each of which bears one or more figures resembling a spade.

☞ The figure was originally designed to represent the head of a pike; but the name is, perhaps, derived directly from the Spanish espada, sword,—these cards, among the Spanish, bearing the figure of a sword.

3Sense 3. A deer three years old. [Written also spaid.]

4Sense 4. [Lat. spado.] A gelded beast.

To call a spade a spade, to be plain spoken.

I think it good plain English, without fraud, To call a spade a spade, a bawd a bawd. Taylor.

[imp. & p. p. SPADED; p. pr. & vb. n. SPADING.] To dig with a spade; or to pare off the sward of, as land, with a spade.