挖土的工具
這一族就是核心本身。
spade, digging tool · noun · C2
A tool for digging that has a long handle and a wide, flat metal blade that you push into the ground.
鏟子
這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字，意思沒有關係， 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 spade, digging tool · spade, playing card suit
1
spade
n核心畫面
Picture it as a flat, straight-edged blade on a long handle that you drive into the ground with your foot. Blunt, heavy, made for one honest job: moving earth.
一根長柄,底下一片又平又寬、邊緣直直的金屬板;你用腳踩上去,把它整片插進土裡,再撬起一塊土。它笨重、直接、不花俏,只…更多收起
一根長柄,底下一片又平又寬、邊緣直直的金屬板;你用腳踩上去,把它整片插進土裡,再撬起一塊土。它笨重、直接、不花俏,只做一件老實的事——把土挖開。這個「粗鈍、直來直往、沒有轉圜」的手感,是後面幾個用法都還帶著的。From the word’s history
From Old English spadu/spada 'spade', from Proto-Germanic *spadô — related to Greek σπάθη (spáthē) 'broad flat blade'. The core has always been the shape: something broad and flat.
從古英語 spadu 來,再往上是原始日耳曼語 *spadô,和希臘文 σπάθη(意思是「寬而扁的刀身」)同源。所以這個字從一開始抓的就是「形狀」:寬、扁、有一片板。這一支和拉丁文 spatha 一路傳下來的 spatula(抹刀)、épée(西洋劍)其實是遠親,都繞著同一個扁平刀身的畫面打轉。
Wiktionary, entry 'spade' (Etymology 1), citing Old English spadu < Proto-Germanic *spadô, doublet of spatha/spathe/épée
Three branches
只活在片語裡的說法
借的是鏟子那種「粗鈍、不修飾」的質感,但意思已經凝固在固定說法裡,不能拆開理解。
call a spade a spade · noun · C2
If you call a spade a spade, you speak about things in a direct and honest way, even when that may sound impolite.
直言不諱
禁用的蔑稱
從紙牌黑桃的黑色借過來的辱罵用法,不是從挖土的鏟子直接長出來的意思。
spade, offensive slang (race) · noun · C2
A very offensive word for a Black person. Do not use this word.
（禁忌）種族蔑稱
A second word, same spelling
2
spade
n核心畫面
Picture the black, pointed-leaf shape printed on a playing card — and remember that in the game of bridge, spades are the highest suit. So the shape carries a quiet sense of 'the strongest one'.
撲克牌上那個黑色、像尖葉子倒過來、底下帶一小截柄的圖案——黑桃。除了形狀之外還有一層要記住:在橋牌裡,黑桃是四門花色…更多收起
撲克牌上那個黑色、像尖葉子倒過來、底下帶一小截柄的圖案——黑桃。除了形狀之外還有一層要記住:在橋牌裡,黑桃是四門花色中最大的一門。所以這個符號本身就悄悄帶著「最強的那一個」「多到壓過別人」的味道,這正是它後來能拿去講「很多、十足」的原因。From the word’s history
Probably from Italian spade, plural of spada 'sword' (the suit on Italian and Spanish cards is literally swords), from Latin spatha, from Ancient Greek σπάθη 'broad blade'. English kept the Italian name but drew the French pique shape — so the name says 'sword' while the picture shows a pointed leaf.
很可能來自義大利文 spade(spada「劍」的複數)——義大利和西班牙的紙牌,這一門花色畫的真的是劍;再往上是拉丁文 spatha、希臘文 σπᾰ́θη「寬刀身」。有趣的錯位在這裡:英語借了義大利的「劍」這個名字,圖案卻沿用法國牌的尖葉形(法文叫 pique,矛尖)。所以名字說的是劍,畫出來的是葉子。它和挖土的 spade 追到最遠處雖然同源,但進入英語是兩條不同的路,實際上是撞在一起的兩個字。
Wiktionary, entry 'spade' (Etymology 2), citing Italian spade, plural of spada 'sword' < Latin spatha < Ancient Greek σπάθη
原始詞典資料9 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
Spadename
- 1
A surname.
spadenoun詞源 1/speɪ̯d/
- 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.
- 'Make your mind easy,' Ratsey said; 'I have dug too often in this graveyard for any to wonder if they see me with a spade.'
- "[...] And not a single spade has gone in the ground - not a single mile of track built."
- 2
A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
- 3
businesselectricalelectrical-engineeringA device for terminating an electrical conductor resembling a small spade.
spadeverb詞源 1/speɪ̯d/
- 1
To turn over soil with a spade to loosen the ground for planting.
- 2
To move with a spade, or as with a spade.
- ‘Le baccarat,’ intoned the croupier as he spaded the thick chips over the table to Bond.
spadenoun詞源 2/speɪ̯d/
- 1
card-gamesgamesA playing card marked with the symbol ♠.
- I've got only one spade in my hand.
- 2
offensiveslurA black person.
- And as for a divorce, I know plenty spades right here in Harlem get married any time they want to.
- Example: Max was in a hospital in New York and "the night nurse was a groovy spade, and in the afternoon for therapy there was a chick from Israel who was interesting, but there was nothing much to do in the morning, so I left".
這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。