Use spud as a friendly informal word for a potato, especially in British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand English.
Use spud as a friendly informal word for a potato, especially in British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand English.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The restaurant offers spud puree on the tasting menu. | The restaurant offers potato puree on the tasting menu. |
| We harvested a sack of spud. | We harvested a sack of spuds. |
| She spudded the potatoes for dinner. | She peeled the potatoes for dinner. |
| The spuds was ready. | The spuds were ready. |
Use spud for a specific hand tool, often with a clarifying word such as bark spud or spud bar.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He shoveled snow with a spud. | He shoveled snow with a shovel. |
| She cut the plank with a spud. | She cut the plank with a saw. |
| The mechanic tightened the nut with a spud. | The mechanic tightened the nut with a spud wrench. |
| They used a potato to pry up the tile. | They used a spud to pry up the tile. |
Use spud in technical drilling contexts, especially in phrases such as spud a well and spud date.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The driver spudded the car. | The driver started the car. |
| The crew spuds the well yesterday. | The crew spudded the well yesterday. |
| They spudded the meeting at noon. | They started the meeting at noon. |
| The rig will spud on the potato. | The rig will spud the well. |
Use spud casually for potatoes, precisely for the hand tool, and technically for starting a well in drilling.
Spud used in formal food writing can sound too casual, and spud the verb belongs mainly to drilling wells.
From late Middle English spudde, meaning a short knife or dagger, of uncertain origin. The potato sense developed later, probably from the idea of a short, thick object.
What does spud mean?
Spud most often means a potato, but it can also mean a short tool or the act of starting to drill a well.
Is spud slang for potato?
Yes. Spud is an informal word for a potato.
Can spud be plural?
Yes. The plural is spuds, as in a bag of spuds.
What is a spud tool?
A spud can be a short sturdy tool used for digging, prying, loosening roots, or stripping bark.
What does spud a well mean?
To spud a well means to begin drilling it.
What is a spud date?
A spud date is the date when drilling of a well begins.
What is the past tense of spud?
The past tense is spudded, with a doubled d.
Where does spud come from?
Spud comes from late Middle English spudde, meaning a short knife or dagger.