subs. (old).—A eunuch: also SPADO (q.v.). Hence as verb. = to unsex.

1

  1612.  CHAPMAN, The Widow’s Tears, v. 1. I’ll have all young widows SPADED for marrying again.

2

  TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE, verb. phr. (old).—To speak plainly; to eschew paraphrasis and ambiguity.

3

  c. 1588.  Mar-Prelate’s Epitome, 2. I am plaine, I must needs CALL A SPADE A SPADE, a Pope a Pope.

4

  1621.  BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Pref. I CALL A SPADE A SPADE; I respect matter, not words.

5

  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes.

        And CALL A SPADE A SPADE, a Sicophant,
A flatt’ring Knaue, and those are those I want.
    Ibid., ii. 92.
I think it good, plaine English, without fraud,
To CALL A SPADE A SPADE, a Bawd a Bawd.

6

  1706.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus. Hush, says my friend, mind what you say … We must not CALL A SPADE A SPADE.

7

  1725.  N. BAILEY, trans. The Colloquies of Erasmus, ‘Philetymus and Pseudocheus.’ But this Art is what we Dullards call Theft; who CALL a Fig a Fig, and A SPADE A SPADE.

8

  1809.  MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 147. Don Gonzales … could not stomach those beauties who CALL A SPADE A SPADE …; the rites of Venus must be consummated in the temple of Vesta.

9

  1862.  THACKERAY, The Adventures of Philip, xxiii. Chesham does not like to CALL A SPADE A SPADE. He calls it a horticultural utensil.

10

  See SHOVEL.

11