Dictionary

spade en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /sped/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /speɪ̯d/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English spade, from Old English spada, spade, spadu (“spade”), from Proto-Germanic *spadô. Doublet of spatha, spathe, and épée.

Meanings

1. A garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging. Not to be confused with a shovel which is used for moving earth or other materials.
   • Rather than nonstop combat, the day-to-day experience of a Roman soldier was perhaps just as likely to involve spades as swords – though combat readiness was never far from mind. 2025 July 15, James Osborne, “Could you have survived as a Roman soldier? Here's the surprising truth about life in the ancient army”, in History Extra, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2025:
   • "[...] And not a single spade has gone in the ground - not a single mile of track built." 2021 October 6, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Labour: build HS2 and NPR and end "paper promises"”, in RAIL, number 941, page 25:
   • 'Make your mind easy,' Ratsey said; 'I have dug too often in this graveyard for any to wonder if they see me with a spade.' [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
2. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
3. A device for terminating an electrical conductor resembling a small spade.

Forms

Deriveds

call a spade a shovel · spadish · spade-foot · spadeful · call a spade a spade · bucket and spade · spade-man · spade mashie · spade-toothed whale · spadefish · spadework · call a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel · spadesman · spade money · spademan · spaddle · peat spade · spade-handed · spadeworker · spadebone · spade foot · spadeless · spadetail · turf spade · spadeable · call a spade a spade, not a big spoon · spadefoot · spade-worker · respade · spadelike · spade man · spadewise · spade fork

Descendants

sipi · spaid

Translations (163)

it badile (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · haw ʻōʻō (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · is skófla (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uz bel (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fr pelle (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mg angady (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · as কোদাল (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · be лапа́та (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uk лопа́та (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · gl pa (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · id sekop (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · hi फ़ावड़ा (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fo spaki (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · km ប៉ែល (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lv lāpsta (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · pl szpadel (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lo ຫລົ້ວ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cy pâl (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · kmr mer (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · th เสียม (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tr kürek (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · wyi balarra (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · oc palavèrs (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · pt pá (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tk bel (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · rif tqabut (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · da spade (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · bg бел (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ka ბარი (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · crh lesker (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ru за́ступ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uz belkurak (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mt mgħażqa (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mk ашов (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · li sjöp (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uli hood (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uz kurak (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ur فَاوَڑَا (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · kk күрек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · pms vanga (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lb Schëpp (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lo ກະຈອມປ້ອງ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sh а́шов (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fr bêche (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tr bel (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · km ចប (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · et labidas (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cy rhaw (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ce баьхьа (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鏟子 /铲子 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · grc σκαφεῖον (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nl schep (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · krc кюрек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · crh kürek (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sq kaci (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · it vanga (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sl lopata (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · af graaf (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ba көрәк (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鏟 /铲 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ug گۈرجەك (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · dlg күрдьэк (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ko 가래 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · li spaad (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ru лопа́та (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · kmr merr (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sq lopatë (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ja 鋤 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lo ສຽມ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nb spade (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · la pāla (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tly خلیک (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · kum кюрек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · hu ásó (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sh ло̀пата (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · si ඉස්කෝප්පය (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sah күрдьэх (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · be рыдлёўка (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sk rýľ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · my ဂေါ် (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · grc σκαπάνη (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · es azada (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cv кӗреҫе (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · bdk бар (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · th พลั่ว (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · hi फावड़ा (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · vi xẻng (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tt көрәк (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · xsv lopta (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · io spado (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · rue аршув (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fi lapio (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · uk за́ступ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cs rýč (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · eo ŝpato (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fa بیل (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mg fitetika (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ga spád (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ar مِجْرَفَة (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ja スペード (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nl schup (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · id sodok (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nn spade (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鐵鍬 /铁锹 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mg fangady (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lb Spuet (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ty ʻō (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ga láí (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cjs кӱрек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · es pala (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ga rámhainn (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ar مِسْحَاة (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · chr ᎠᎪᏕᏍᏗ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lt kastuvas (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ota بیل (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ce бел (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · pl rydel (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · de Spaten (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · el φτυάρι (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · bg пра́ва лопа́та (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sh ášov (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nl schop (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ia pala (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ast pala (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sv spade (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ky күрөк (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ug كۈرەك (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ms sodok (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · he אֵת (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ro lopată (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ar مِجْرَف (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · pdt Spodem (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · kjh кӱрӌек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nrf bêque (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cjs кӱрчек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · zlw-slv lôpata (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · hy բահ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mi kāheru (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · la rutrum (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mn ᠬᠦᠷᠵᠡ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · rif ařeyzim (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · gd spaid (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ru штыкова́я лопа́та (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ca pala (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鍤 /锸 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · sh lòpata (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · bn কোদাল (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · az kürək (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mzn گرواز (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · mn хүрз (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · grc ἄμη (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · km ត្រសេះ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · alt кӱрек (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · tg бел (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · vi xuồng (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lez ппер (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ota كورك (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鐵杴 /铁杴 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · nl spade (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · ro cazma (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · cmn 鍬 /锹 (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · lo ຊ້ວນ (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging) · fo spaði (garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging)

spade en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /sped/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /speɪ̯d/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English spade, from Old English spada, spade, spadu (“spade”), from Proto-Germanic *spadô. Doublet of spatha, spathe, and épée.

Meanings

1. To turn over soil with a spade to loosen the ground for planting.
2. To move with a spade, or as with a spade.
   • ‘Le baccarat,’ intoned the croupier as he spaded the thick chips over the table to Bond. 1953, Ian Fleming, “Moment of Truth”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 78:

Forms

Deriveds

spader

spade en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /sped/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /speɪ̯d/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Probably from Italian spade, plural of spada (“the ace of spades”, literally “sword, spade”), from earlier *spata, from Latin spatha, from Ancient Greek σπᾰ́θη (spắthē). Cognate with Etymology 1. So called for the shape, though what the shape was exactly meant to represent has been debated.

Meanings

1. A playing card marked with the symbol ♠.
   • I've got only one spade in my hand.
2. (ethnic, offensive, slur) A black person.
   • Example: Max was in a hospital in New York and "the night nurse was a groovy spade, and in the afternoon for therapy there was a chick from Israel who was interesting, but there was nothing much to do in the morning, so I left". 1968, Joan Didion, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”, in Slouching Towards Bethlehem:
   • It had even gotten to the point that Negroes were no longer in the hip scene, not even as totem figures. It was unbelievable. Spades, the very soul figures of Hip, of jazz, of the hip vocabulary itself, man and like dig and baby and scarf and split and later and so fine, of civil rights and graduating from Reed College and living on North Beach, down Mason, and balling spade cats—all that good elaborate petting and patting and pouring soul all over the spades—all over, finished, incredibly. 1968, Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, New York, N.Y.: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, →OCLC, page 12:
   • And as for a divorce, I know plenty spades right here in Harlem get married any time they want to. 1929, Wallace Thurman, The Blacker the Berry, New York: Collier Books, published 1970, →ISBN, page 161:

Forms

Deriveds

royal spade · in spades

Translations (92)

hu feka (black person) · cmn 黑桃 (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · mk пик (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · nv asbáala (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · oj gichi-biig (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · is surtur (black person) · es mulato (black person) · pt crioulo (black person) · es negro (black person) · ru пи́ка (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · sv spader (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · mk лист (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · gl pica (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · yue 葵扇 (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · pt espada (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · hi हुक्म (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · sv neger (black person) · sw shupaza (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · uk пі́ка (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · is negri (black person) · kk қарға (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · lb Schëppen (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · nb svarting (black person) · fo spaðar (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ro cioroi (black person) · is niggari (black person) · nl schoppen (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ga spéireata (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · te ఇస్పేటు (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · pl wino (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · is blámaður (black person) · cs pik (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · th โพดำ (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · it negro (black person) · ko 스페이드 (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · id sekop (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · da neger (black person) · es pica (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · he עָלֶה (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · fo spaðari (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · fr pique (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · nb spar (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · pl pik (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ia negro (black person) · be пі́ка (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · fi laku (black person) · mn гил (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · fa پیک (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · gd spaid (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ca pica (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · uz qargʻa (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · cmn 黑鬼 (black person) · hy ագռավ (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · de Pik (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · sv svartskalle (black person) · nrf picl'ye (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · hy ղառ (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ru пи́ки (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ia spada (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · oj biig (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · be пі́кі (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · et pada (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · bg пи́ка (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ro pică (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · bg черни́лка (black person) · nl schuppen (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · el μπαστούνι (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ar الْبَسْتُونِيّ (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · my ဖူး (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · uk пі́ки (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · lv pīķi (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · uk вино́ (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · et poti (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · cs piky (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · mt spadi (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · sl pik (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · tr maça (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · hu negró (black person) · it picche (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ky карга (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ka ყვავი (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · is svertingjahundur (black person) · sq maç (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · da spar (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · fi pata (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · hu pikk (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · sk pika (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · km ប៊ិក (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · lt pikai (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · is spaði (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · unm shkëp (one of the black suits in a deck of cards) · ja スペード (one of the black suits in a deck of cards)

spade en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /sped/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /speɪ̯d/
• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (form-of, obsolete, participle, past) simple past and past participle of spay
   form of spay