spadeful

[ speyd-fool ]

noun

, plural spade·fuls.

1. the amount that can be dug out with or carried on a spade.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spadeful¹

First recorded in 1635–45; spade ¹ + -ful

Example Sentences

After dinner we dug a small hole in the floor of the outer tent, in which we placed a spadeful of red-hot embers from the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

There would be no getting used to it, every moment, every hour, that passed would but put another spadeful of earth on his coffin.

From Project Gutenberg

Yesterday a spadeful of diamonds dumped upon a velvet cloth was only a spadeful of diamonds to him, and it was nothing more.

From Project Gutenberg

"I can see roses in that, miss," said the gardener, turning up a deep spadeful for her inspection.

From Project Gutenberg

I cant budge a spadeful of this hard ground, Betty, complained Ruth, as her companion joined her.

From Project Gutenberg