Spud
/spʌd/noun
A potato; also, a short-handled digging tool.
Did you know?The word likely began in the 15th century as a term for a short dagger or stabbing tool, then shifted to a digging implement before becoming slang for the potato itself.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
spudde
“A short dagger or stabbing implement”
15th Century
English
spud
“A tool for digging or cutting roots and weeds”
18th Century
English
spud
“A potato, especially in colloquial use”
Modern English
English
spud
“A potato; also a digging tool”