spade
UK[speɪd]US[speɪd]
n
A tool with a sharp-edged, typically rectangular metal blade and a long handle, used for digging or cutting earth, sand, turf, etc.
n
A playing card of the suit denoted by a black inverted heart-shaped figure with a small stalk.
Etymology
The word 'spade' has a direct lineage from Old English, maintaining its core meaning of a digging tool throughout its history. It traveled from a Proto-Indo-European root associated with digging into Proto-Germanic before solidifying in Old English. The logic of its modern meaning is straightforward, as it retains its original, concrete sense. The playing card suit name was adopted in the late 16th century from the Italian 'spade', meaning 'swords', which used a similar black symbol.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It originates from the Old English 'spadu' or 'spada', meaning a digging tool. The Old English term is derived from Proto-Germanic 'spadō', which in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European root 'sph₂-dʰ-', related to digging.
Examples
He turned the soil in the garden with a spade.
The ace of spades is often considered the highest card in the deck.
It's time to call a spade a spade and admit the project has failed.