spade
UK: speɪd | US: speɪd
n. a tool with a sharp-edged, typically rectangular metal blade and a long handle, used for digging
n. (in card games) a black figure shaped like an inverted heart with a short stem
vt. to dig or cut with a spade
The word "spade" traces back to Old English spadu, meaning "blade" or "digging tool," which itself originated from Proto-Germanic spadō. Unlike many modern English words, "spade" has remained largely unchanged in form and meaning, retaining its core association with digging tools. Its secondary meaning in card games (from Italian spada, "sword") reflects the shape's resemblance to a blade. The word's simplicity and direct lineage make it a rare example of an unbroken linguistic thread from ancient Germanic roots.
He used a spade to turn over the soil in the garden.
The ace of spades is often considered the highest card in many games.
She spaded the compost into the flower beds.
Archaeologists carefully spaded through the layers of sediment.
The old spade leaned against the shed, its wooden handle weathered by years of use.