Spade

spad. n. An instrument with broad iron blade and wooden handle for digging or cutting the ground, pi. A suit of cards, each of which bears one or more figures resembling a spade. — v. To dig with a spade. [ME., D., Dan., and Sw. (2 syl.), AS. spiedu, a spade, Gr. spathe, a blade of a sword, oar, plant, etc., OF. espee, F. epe'e, a sword; span, paddle, epaulet.] — Spa,'dix,n. (Bot.) A fleshy spike of flowers, usually covered by a leaf called a spathe. _[L. and Gr.] — Spadille', -diK, n. The ace of spades at omber and quadrille, [F., fr. Sd. espadilla, dim. of espada, a sword.]— Spathe, spath, n. (Bot.) Aleaf-fhaped bract wrapped about a spadix or other inflorescence. [Gr.] — Spath'ose, spath'os, -ous, -us, Spatha'ceo us, -tha's he-us, — a. Having or resembling, etc. Spat'ula, -u-ia, n. A thin, broad bladed knife, used for spreading plasters, etc. [L. spatula, spathula, dim. of spatha.] — Spafulate, o. Shaped like a spatula, or like a battledoor; roundish, with a long, narrow, linear base.