spade-handed

spade-handed

English

Etymology

spade +‎ handed

Adjective

spade-handed (comparative more spade-handed, superlative most spade-handed)

1. Having large, spatulate hands.
   • 1904, E. Pritchard, The Physiological Feeding of Infants, page 13:

     Large and square-headed, fatuously complacent, pot-bellied, spade-handed and dumpy-footed, for all the world presenting the appearance of animated jelly.

   • 2013, Ebury Press & Leanne Mitchell, Finding My Voice, →ISBN, page 131:

     I can honestly say that so far-minus the spade-handed doctor perhaps — I had enjoyed every second and for me that was a big deal.

   • 2014, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, A Mortal Glamour, →ISBN:

     He was tall, this Swiss priest, lantern-jawed and spade-handed.

2. Having hands that are used for digging.
   • 1945, Wystan Hugh Auden, The collected poetry of W. H. Auden, page 247:

     Even the spade-handed moles shall declare their folly.

   • 2011, Clare Clark, Savage Lands, →ISBN, page 36:

     They in their turn sought useful wives, the broad-hipped, spade-handed type of wives who might build houses and bear children in the same afternoon and still have supper on the table when they got home.

   • 2012, Dylan Thomas, Collected Poems, →ISBN:

     Deliver me, my masters, head and heart, Heart of Cadaver's candle waxes thin, When blood, spade-handed, and the logic time Drive children up like bruises to the thumb From maid and head,