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Hoe vs Spade - What's the difference?

hoe | spade |

As nouns the difference between hoe and spade

is that hoe is an agricultural tool consisting of a long handle with a flat blade fixed perpendicular to it at the end, used for digging rows while spade is 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.

As verbs the difference between hoe and spade

is that hoe is to cut, dig, scrape, turn, arrange, or clean, with this tool while spade is to turn over soil with a spade to loosen the ground for planting.

hoe

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) howe, from (etyl) houe, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • An agricultural tool consisting of a long handle with a flat blade fixed perpendicular to it at the end, used for digging rows.
  • * 2009 , TRU TV, 28 March:
    • It was obvious that it consisted of several blows to the head from the hoe .
  • The horned or piked dogfish.
    • Derived terms
    * backhoe

    Verb

    (d)
  • (ambitransitive) To cut, dig, scrape, turn, arrange, or clean, with this tool.
    • to hoe the earth in a garden
    Every year, I hoe my garden for aeration.
    I always take a shower after I hoe in my garden.
  • To clear from weeds, or to loosen or arrange the earth about, with a hoe.
    • to hoe corn
    Derived terms
    * long row to hoe

    See also

    * mattock * pick * rake

    External links

    *

    Etymology 2

    From non-rhotic whore.

    Alternative forms

    * ho

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, slang) A prostitute.
  • * 2002 , Eithne Quinn, Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang: The Culture and Commerce of Gangsta Rap
    • […] this chapter […] will […] explore why pimp (and hoe ) characters, with their dramatic staging of gendered and occupational relations […] have taken such hold of the black youth imagination
  • * 2003 , Dan Harrington, The Good Eye
    • At school they had been among the only couples that had not done “it” at the Pimp & Hoe parties that popped up occasionally at the dorm
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Verb

    (d)
  • (US, slang) To act as a prostitute.
  • * 2003 , Da’rel the Relentless One, M. T. Pimp
    • Pimpin’ came so naturally to MT when he and his sisters played pimp and hoe games that one of his sisters wanted to hoe for him when they grew up.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A piece of land that juts out towards the sea; a promontory.

    • Usage notes

    * Now used only in placenames e.g. "Plymouth Hoe". ----

    spade

    English

    (wikipedia spade)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) spadu, spada, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.
  • * 1898 , , Chapter 4
    • '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 .'
  • A playing card marked with the symbol .
    • I've got only one spade in my hand.
  • (offensive, ethnic slur) A black person.
  • A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
    • Related terms
    * in spades * call a spade a spade

    Verb

    (spad)
  • To turn over soil with a spade to loosen the ground for planting.
  • (videogaming) To collect and statistically analyze data, for the purpose of determining the underlying random number generator structure or numeric formula.

    • Etymology 2

    Compare spay, noun.

    Alternative forms

    * spaid * spayade

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hart or stag three years old.
  • A castrated man or animal.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----