spade foot

plural spade foots · plural spade feet

1. alternativeAlternative form of spadefoot.

   There also is the potential to disturb or destroy specific sites used by such species as the western diamond back rattlesnake, spade foot toad, and the desert tortoise.

   1973, United States Dept. of the Interior, Final Environmental Statement for the Geothermal Leasing Program

2. furnitureA block-shaped foot higher than wide and tapering slightly toward the bottom. The spade foot usually terminates a tapering leg, and the top of the foot is wider than the leg.

   The spade foot leg may be used as an alternate design.

   1929 June, Charles A. King, “Constructing a Piano Bench”, in Popular Science, volume 114, number 6, page 79

   2 more examples

   Also, the glazing pattern of the bookcase traces simple diamonds rather than more elaborate arches or other curved elements, and the tapered legs end without a spade foot or an additional taper at the cuff.

   2004, Philip D. Zimmerman, Charles Thomas Butler, Catherine E. Hutchins, American Federal Furniture and Decorative Arts from the Watson Collection, →ISBN, page 93

   First was his straight tapered leg, sometimes with a spade foot, at other times tipped in brass.

   2011, George Grotz, The Furniture Doctor, →ISBN

3. The foot that is habitually used to put pressure on a spade when digging.

   I believe every boy will hop on his spade foot. at least I do so, and I am not left-handed; and I instinctively do so because I dig with this foot.

   2012, Daniel Wilson, The Right Hand: Left-Handedness, →ISBN, page 36

   2 more examples

   Nevertheless, one foot is generally used in preference to the other in such movements as digging (hence sometimes called the spade foot), in hopping, in making a leap, &c.

   1896, Chambers's Journal, page 10

   Rife says as regards the spade foot, "the fact is always overlooked that the foot used in spading is determined entirely by the bimanual dextrality"

   1927, Granville Stanley Hall, Edward Bradford Titchener, Karl M. Dallenbach, The American Journal of Psychology - Volume 38, page 336