spade and shovel (was [romconlang] -able)

David Peterson wrote:
>Mark wrote:
><<
>Oh, also: while I reused the term "paved area" in describing the
>patio, a USAnian would not use that term, since "paved" over here
>refers exclusively to blacktop.   Poured concrete as used in
>sidewalks, driveways, patios, etc. is called simply "concrete" IME,
>but there may be other terms for it with which I'm not familiar.
> >>
>
>What on Earth is this bizarre American dialect you speak?
>Anything that's paved is paved, no matter what it's paved with.
I'm with Mark on this....., though there's some wiggle room.  After all,
much of the Interstate system is paved with concrete, not blacktop (asphalt,
[UK macadam?])

>And why can't "spade" have the definition "old word for shovel"?
Technically (as I've learned in recent years of construction and
yard-building activities with more-or-less professional assistance) there is
a difference: A spade has a rectangluar blade, with straight easily
sharpenable edge, short (maybe 3ft.) handle with hand-grip at the top. Pros
use it to dig smaller holes (for planting things e.g.), for cultivating and
for edging. The best ones are imported from England-- that nation of
gardeners knows its tools!  A shovel has a more bowl-like blade with a
curved edge and a long straight handle, and is used for digging big, deep
holes; the long handle gives better leverage when you're trying to remove
dirt from a deep hole, especially if you the digger are down in the hole.

We in Michigan are also well acquainted with the _snow shovel_, yet another
type of beast.......

But it's probably true that casual users don't readily distinguish
spade/shovel-- though the guys at Home Depot will probably snicker if you
ask for a shovel and point to a spade.......:-)))))

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