Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Mining) A nail one or two inches long, of iron, brass, tin, or tinner iron, with a hole through the flattened head, used to mark stations in underground surveying.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The "spad" had not stopped a second in that attack, and he might not in this; the next thing he knew the knife might be between his ribs.
Tides of Barnegat Francis Hopkinson Smith 1876
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French "spad," Arch Cobden what lived up to Yardley, and that red-headed Irish cub, Tod Fogarty --
Tides of Barnegat Francis Hopkinson Smith 1876
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The report also raised a broader point about the role played by special advisers and said that the behaviour of one "spad" working in the then Department of Trade and Industry, Jim Godfrey, had been "irresponsible".
The Guardian World News Tim Webb, Allegra Stratton, Ian Griffiths 2009
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In Gove's case, Tory insiders say Andy Coulson, Cameron's communications chief, blackballed his choice of policy spad, a clever maverick called Dominic Cummings despite Gove's threat to resign.
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Ed Miliband, himself an ex-spad, called them "intellectual valets".
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When you were looking at a carrier-based fighter, you went with the spad / skyraider and then the skyhawk.
Cheeseburger Gothic » SJPOneill asks two very important questions. 2009
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I imagine many CoffeeHousers baulked at that last bit – but “good, honest spad” is not a contradiction in terms.
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I imagine many CoffeeHousers baulked at that last bit – but “good, honest spad” is not a contradiction in terms.
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I was a lot more disappointed when Rhuanydd Richards joined then as a spad.
How could they? Glyn Davies 2007
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The remainder of the march consisted of a series of winding round spurs: at about an average elevation of 6,000 feet found a Pythonium foliis pedalis, spad. apice filiformo recurvo, vel erecto, spathe viridi,
Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith
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But it is the fact that she came from the Westminster political milieu – a former special adviser (spad) to two cabinet ministers – and that there was a rivalry with Johnson’s best-known adviser, Dominic Cummings, which marked Johnson out for media attention during her husband’s chaotic tenure.
Carrie Johnson: why did the media take such an interest in Boris Johnson’s wife? Dan Sabbagh 2022
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The issue is he’s increasingly becoming the story. The cardinal sin of any Spad [special adviser].
Dominic Cummings clearly broke rules, says ex-police chief Matthew Weaver 2020
vanishedone commented on the word spad
B.B.C. News: 'So what do special advisers do and is the characterisation fair?
'The code of conduct spells out the job description. They are employed as temporary civil servants but do not have to be politically impartial like their civil service colleagues.
'They link together the minister, the party and the department. They are also the bridge between the neutral civil service and the politicians.
'One former "spad" - as they are known around Westminster - from the Blair years told me that they bring a political antenna to proceedings that essentially protects the civil servants by maintaining their independence.'
April 15, 2009
yarb commented on the word spad
'Company personnel will provide survey mark-up for drill hole bearing (azimuth) lines comprising labeled spads for front and back sights at drill station locations prior to drilling and collar surveys for completed drill holes.'
- Excerpt from contract for diamond drilling
See Free Dictionary link for definition.
July 17, 2009