Spade \Spade\, n. [AS. sp[ae]d; 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.
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.
``Let spades be trumps!'' she said. --Pope.
3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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