n. [ AS. spaed; spada; akin to D. spade, G. spaten, Icel. spaði, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

“Let spades be trumps!” she said. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Spay, n. ] 1. (Zool.) A hart or stag three years old. [ Written also spaid, spayade. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Cf. L. spado. ] A castrated man or beast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Spading. ] To dig with a spade; to pare off the sward of, as land, with a spade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Shoulder blade. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) An American market fish (Chaetodipterus faber) common on the southern coasts; -- called also angel fish, moonfish, and porgy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of burrowing toads of the genus Scaphiopus, esp. Scaphiopus Holbrookii, of the Eastern United States; -- called also spade toad. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Spadefuls [ Spade + full. ] As much as a spade will hold or lift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, spades; specifically, a digging machine. [ 1913 Webster ]