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Aspade (/speɪd/) is a tool primarily for digging, consisting of a long handle and blade, typically with the blade narrower and flatter than the commonshovel.[1]
Englishspade is fromOld Englishspadu, spædu (f.)[2] orspada (m.). The same word is found inOld Frisianspade andOld Saxonspado.High Germanspaten only appears inEarly Modern German, probably loaned fromLow German. In the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway the word isspade as well. Other Scandinavian forms are in turn loaned fromGerman.The term may thus not originate inCommon Germanic and appears to be aNorth Sea Germanic innovation or loaned. Closely related isGreekσπάθη :spáthē, whenceLatinspatha.
Depending on dialect,shovel may or may not overlap semantically withspade. Generally, "shovel" is a generic term for a variety of tools that include numerous broad-bottomed versions for scooping and moving loose materials, such as a "coal shovel", "snow shovel", "grain shovel", etc. By contrast, spades tend to have a sharpened edge, curved profile, and pointed end better designed for digging. The term "garden spade" is used for certain sharp-edged but square-ended tools suited to cutting through sod. A classic spade, with a narrow body and flat (or near flat) tip is suited for digging post holes, and is not to be confused with a "roundpoint" shovel, which has a wider body and tapered tip.
Spades are made in many shapes and sizes, for a variety of different functions and jobs, and there are many different designs used in spade manufacturing. The most commongarden spade typically has a long handle, is wide, and is treaded (has rests for the feet to drive the spade into the ground). AnIrish spade is similar to a common garden spade, with the same general design, although it has a much thinner head. Aborder spade has a similarly shaped blade, but much smaller, as a garden spade; the handle is proportionately longer, though.
Asharpshooter is a long, narrow spade - sometimes with thick flanged treads extending beyond the width of the blade to allow for a boot to fit on - for getting into tight spots or for cutting post holes.
Aturfing iron has a short, round head, and is used for cutting and paring off turf.
Adigging fork, orgrape, not referred to as a spade, is forked much like a pitchfork, and is useful for loosening ground and gardening.
Thefishtail spade has a flared triangular blade combining the versatility of the dutch hoe and power of the common round point shovel into a multipurpose tool.
Small spades are also made as toys for children, and are useful for small indoor plantings.
Early spades were made ofriven wood or of animal bones (oftenshoulder blades). After the art ofmetalworking was developed, spades were made with sharper tips of metal. Before the introduction of metal spades manual labor was less efficient at movingearth, with picks being required to break up the soil in addition to a spade for moving the dirt. With a metal tip, a spade can both break and move the earth in most situations, increasing efficiency.
Loy ploughing was a form of manual ploughing carried out inIreland using a form of spade called a loy. It was done on very small farms where horses could not be afforded or did not have enough work, and on very hilly ground where horses could not work.[3] It was used on poorer land until the 1960s.[4] This suited the moist climate of Ireland as the trenches formed by turning in the sods providingdrainage. It also allowed potatoes to be grown on mountain slopes where nothing else could be cultivated.
The blade of the spade was used ascurrency in ancient China.[5] Later, they were miniaturized and then stylized into a flat piece. TheQin dynasty replaced them with round coins.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Spade".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 526.| International | |
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