spada Italian · revision 38937

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1211, Tuscan fragments (surname)|origins=grc σπάθη}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈspa.da/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spada''' ''f'' (plural spade)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also has ''spata'', in Giacomo da Lentini and Guittone d'Arezzo.^(Prati 1951|934)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The TLIO lists northern forms such as ''spadha'' and ''spae''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|spatha|t=weaver's batten; broad sword]], a word Latin took from [[grc|σπάθη|tr=spáthē|t=spatula, broad blade]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The Latin word meant both the weaver's flat wooden blade for beating the weft and a sword with a broad blade.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|934) The same word is [[fr|épée]], [[oc|espaza]], [[ca|espasa]], [[es|espada]], [[pt|espada]], [[sc|ispada]] and [[ro|spată]], which means “shoulder”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The Latin noun also lies behind [[spalla]] and [[spatola]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The /d/ for Latin /t/ is the northern voicing of the consonant between vowels, and the older Tuscan form was [[spata]].^(Devoto 1968)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3573) Migliorini, quoted by DELI, thought the word may have spread in Italy from the arms workshops of Lombardy.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Nocentini notes that the Greek word, like the Latin one, meant any flat tool held by a handle, and compares the Germanic words for a spade, [[en|spade]] and [[de|Spaten]].^(Nocentini 2010) DEI considered the Greek word probably not Greek in origin, while Wiktionary derives it from [[ine-pro|*sph₂dʰh₁éh₂]].^(DEI|3573)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first Italian record is a surname, ''Quido dela Spada'', in Tuscan fragments of 1211.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The TLIO's first text is the Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur super natura feminarum'' of the late 12th century, with the sense of a weapon with a straight, pointed blade.^(TLIO)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the sword stood for war and for soldiers, for the temporal power of the Church, for justice and for moral suffering.^(TLIO) Dante wrote that ''molte volte taglia / più e meglio una, che le cinque spade'' (“many times one sword cuts more and better than five”).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) ''Spadaio'', the sword-maker, is in Dante (1304–1308), after Medieval Latin ''spadarius'' at Bologna in 1283.^(DELI 1999) The large two-edged ''spadone'' and the ''spadaccino'' who handles a sword well appear in the 16th century.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The plural ''spade'' has been one of the suits of Neapolitan playing cards and tarot since 1442.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Redi named the swordfish ''pesce spada'' in the 17th century, probably translating Latin ''gladius'' and ''xiphias'';^(DEI|3574) Sicilian and Calabrian say ''spatu'' and ''piscispatu''.^(DEI|3574) In fencing ''spada'' is the [[m|en|épée]], the weapon that scores only with the point.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ English took the card suit as ''spade'' (1598), and German has ''Spada'' from 1876.^(DIFIT) Through Polish ''szpada'' the word reached Russian ''шпага''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur'' use the word.^(TLIO)

+ * 1211 – The surname ''Quido dela Spada'' is recorded in Tuscany.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1283 – Medieval Latin ''spadarius'' “sword-maker” is recorded at Bologna.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses ''spadaio''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1442 – ''Spade'' are recorded as a suit of playing cards at the Este court.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1535 – Francesco Berni uses ''spadaccino''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1598 – English ''spade'' for the card suit is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 17th century – Francesco Redi names the swordfish ''pesce spada''.^(DEI|3574)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|sword]], a weapon with a long straight pointed blade and a hilt: ''Il cavaliere estrasse la spada dal fodero.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(fencing)'' [[m|en|épée]], the weapon with a triangular blade that scores only with the point.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(by metonymy)'' A swordsman, a soldier: ''Era la miglior spada del reggimento.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(by metonymy)'' Armed force, war.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A defender of a cause or ideal.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' A sword as a charge on a shield.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' Swords, one of the suits of Neapolitan cards and tarot, corresponding to [[m|en|spades]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spadaccino]]

+ * [[spadaio]]

+ * [[spadino]]

+ * [[spadista]]

+ * [[spadone]]

+ * [[spadona]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spadiforme]]

+ * [[spalla]]

+ * [[spatola]]

+ * [[pesce spada]]

+ * [[la|spatha]]

+ * [[fr|épée]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''a spada tratta'' “wholeheartedly, with all one's energy”, ''passare a fil di spada'' “to put to the sword”, ''spada di Damocle'' “a constant threat”, and the proverb ''chi di spada ferisce di spada perisce'' “who lives by the sword dies by the sword”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}