# spade

> English word · Noun · IPA /speɪ̯d/ · frequency rank #18,960

## Definitions
1. A garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging. Not to be confused with a shovel which is used for moving earth or other materials.
2. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
3. A device for terminating an electrical conductor resembling a small spade.

## Etymology
From Middle English spade, from Old English spada, spade, spadu (“spade”), from Proto-Germanic *spadô. Doublet of spatha, spathe, and épée.

## Easily confused with
- **SPD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spd)
- **span** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-span)
- **spam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spam)
- **spat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spat)
- **sped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-sped)
- **spar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spar)
- **spas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spas)
- **spud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spud)
- **state** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-state)
- **stage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-stage)
- **spoke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spoke)
- **Spain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spain)
- **spare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spare)
- **stake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-stake)
- **spite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spite)
- **spark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spark)
- **spike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spike)
- **spice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spice)
- **spine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-spine)
- **stare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spade-vs-stare)

## Common misspellings (7)
`psade`, `sapde`, `spadde`, `spaed`, `spdae`, `sppade`, `sspade`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spade