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Synonyms for spade


Grammar : Noun
Spell : speyd
Phonetic Transcription : speɪd



Définition of spade

Origin :
  • "tool for digging," Old English spadu, from Proto-Germanic *spadon (cf. Old Frisian spada, Middle Dutch spade, Old Saxon spado, Middle Low German spade, German Spaten), from PIE *spe- "long, flat piece of wood" (cf. Greek spathe "wooden blade, paddle," Old English spon "chip of wood, splinter," Old Norse spann "shingle, chip").
  • To call a spade a spade "use blunt language, call things by right names" (1540s) translates a Greek proverb (known to Lucian), ten skaphen skaphen legein "to call a bowl a bowl," but Erasmus mistook Greek skaphe "trough, bowl" for a derivative of the stem of skaptein "to dig," and the mistake has stuck.
  • noun tool
Example sentences :
  • Here, professor, throw off that coat and nglig manner, and grasp this spade.
  • Extract from : « In the Midst of Alarms » by Robert Barr
  • When a man struck some new thing with his spade, he called out.
  • Extract from : « Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae » by Jennie Hall
  • She called a spade a spade, and liked frankness and no under meaning to things.
  • Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt
  • Then lift each plant with a spade or mattock slowly and skillfully.
  • Extract from : « The Mayflower, January, 1905 » by Various
  • "Not one," said the Prince, leaning on his spade in despair.
  • Extract from : « Prince Vance » by Eleanor Putnam
  • The Prince took the spade and began to dig, though not very hopefully.
  • Extract from : « Prince Vance » by Eleanor Putnam
  • John snatched the spade out of his hand and fell to doing his work instead of him.
  • Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine
  • It was Brother Paul coming up with a spade to shovel away the snow.
  • Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine
  • He rested on his spade and looked up, but did not speak for a moment.
  • Extract from : « The Woman Thou Gavest Me » by Hall Caine
  • He had a spade over his shoulder and a great key in his hand.
  • Extract from : « The Shadow of a Crime » by Hall Caine

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019