Spade, n. [AS. spæd; spada; akin to D. spade, G. spaten, Icel. spaði,
Dan. & Sw. spade, L. spatha a spatula, a broad two-edged sword, a
spathe, Gr. spa`qh. Cf. Epaulet, Spade at cards, Spathe, Spatula.] 1.
An implement for digging or cutting the ground, consisting usually of
an oblong and nearly rectangular blade of iron, with a handle like that
of a shovel. "With spade and pickax armed." Milton.
2. [Sp. espada, literally, a sword; -- so caused because these cards
among the Spanish bear the figure of a sword. Sp. espada is fr. L.
spatha, Gr. spa`qh. See the Etymology above.] One of that suit of cards
each of which bears one or more figures resembling a spade.
"Let spades be trumps!" she said.
Pope.