spud Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
    potato; murphy; Irish potato; tater; white potato.
  2. noun a sharp hand shovel for digging out roots and weeds
    stump spud.
  3. verb initiate drilling operations, as for petroleum
    • The well was spudded in April
  4. verb produce buds, branches, or germinate
    shoot; bourgeon; sprout; pullulate; burgeon forth; germinate.
    • the potatoes sprouted

WordNet

Spud noun
Etymology
Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.
Definitions
  1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes.
    My spud these nettles from the stone can part. Swyft.
  2. A dagger. Obs. olland.
  3. Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. Local, U.S.

Webster 1913