spud

American  

[spuhd] / spʌd /

noun

1. Informal. a potato.

2. a spadelike instrument, especially one with a narrow blade, as for digging up or cutting the roots of weeds.

3. a chisel-like tool for removing bark.

4. a pointed leg or stake for staying or supporting dredging or earth-boring machinery.

5. a short pipe, as for connecting a water pipe with a meter.

6. Surgery. an instrument having a dull flattened blade for removing substances or foreign bodies from certain parts of the body, as wax from the ear.

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verb (used with object)

spudded, spudding

1. to remove with a spud.

verb phrase

1. spud in to set up earth-boring equipment, especially for drilling an oil well.

spud British  

/ spʌd /

noun

1. an informal word for potato

2. a narrow-bladed spade for cutting roots, digging up weeds, etc

3. Also called: spudder.  a tool, resembling a chisel, for removing bark from trees

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verb

1. (tr) to remove (bark) or eradicate (weeds) with a spud

2. (intr) to drill the first foot of an oil-well

Etymology

Origin of spud

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English spudde “short knife”; further origin unknown

Example Sentences

PepsiCo decided the brand needed to reclaim its roots in the spud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

It is already the world's second biggest spud producer.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

Cantwell is right to defend the spud against this line of attack.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2024

But the case, like so many others, fell by the flesh of the spud.

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2024

Dennis had the craving, so he did, for a nice sheep’s head with a bit of cabbage and a spud so up with me to Barry the butcher with the last few shillings I had.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt