> On Jun 5, 2017, at 07:17 , Cliff  wrote:
> 
> For reasons  I can't articulate I stumbled onto a web site that had it 180
degrees opposite.  In disbelieve I started googling around. Seems that there are
countless websites all repeating the same information that the spade is not
spade shaped, but rater flat nosed.

I always thought the distinction is whether it holds dirt or not. A
spade is relatively flat-bladed, for turning or chewing up ground. Line
crews used to dig pole holes with a pointed spade and a spoon.

A shovel is for lifting dirt. Hence, we dig fence post holes and ditches
with a round point shovel, and use a square shovel for scooping off of a
flat surface.

Source: my parents (mom used a spade in the garden, dad used a shovel to
dig ditches at work). I've also run into this terminology conflict,
but if you ask for a spade when all I have is a shovel, I'll look at you
like a cow with a bastard calf.

Adam
Port Angeles, WA