spud

1 of 2

verb

spudded; spudding

transitive verb

1
: to dig with a spud
2
: to begin to drill (an oil well)

intransitive verb

: to use a spud

spud

2 of 2

noun

1
: a tool or device (as for digging, lifting, or cutting) having the characteristics of a spade and a chisel
2

Examples of spud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
When the ice is thicker than four to five inches, nobody wants to keep spudding or drilling new holes every time the fish move on. The Editors, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2019 The old days of spudding a hole in a foot of ice and huddling and freezing over it for hours on an upturned five-gallon pail are just that—the old days. The Editors, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2019
Noun
New spuds, sandwiches and soups are coming to the Milwaukee area. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024 Peel spuds for mashed potatoes the day before and keep them in cold water to prevent browning. Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spud 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spudde dagger

First Known Use

Verb

1652, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spud was in 1652

Dictionary Entries Near spud

Cite this Entry

“Spud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spud. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

spud

noun
ˈspəd

Medical Definition

spud

noun
: any of various small surgical instruments with a shape resembling that of a spade
use of a spud to remove a foreign object from the eye

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