from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spade \Spade\, n. [AS. spaed; spada; akin to D. spade, G.
spaten, Icel. spa[eth]i, Dan. & Sw. spade, L. spatha a
spatula, a broad two-edged sword, a spathe, Gr. spa`qh. Cf.
{Epaulet}, {Spade} at cards, {Spathe}, {Spatula}.]
1. An implement for digging or cutting the ground, consisting
usually of an oblong and nearly rectangular blade of iron,
with a handle like that of a shovel. "With spade and
pickax armed." --Milton.
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2. [Sp. espada, literally, a sword; -- so caused because
these cards among the Spanish bear the figure of a sword.
Sp. espada is fr. L. spatha, Gr. spa`qh. See the Etymology
above.] One of that suit of cards each of which bears one
or more figures resembling a spade.
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"Let spades be trumps!" she said. --Pope.
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3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
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{Spade bayonet}, a bayonet with a broad blade which may be
used digging; -- called also {trowel bayonet}.
{Spade handle} (Mach.), the forked end of a connecting rod in
which a pin is held at both ends. See Illust. of {Knuckle
joint}, under {Knuckle}.
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