What is "spud"

Spud \Spud\ (sp[u^]d), n. [Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.]

1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes.

   My spud these nettles from the stone can part.
   --Swift.

2. A dagger. [Obs.]
   --Holland.

3. Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. [Local, U.S.]

4. A potato. [Colloq.]

mid-15c., "small or poor knife," of uncertain origin probably related to Danish spyd, Old Norse spjot "spear," German Spiess "spear, lance"). Meaning "spade" is from 1660s; sense of "short or stumpy person or thing" is from 1680s; that of "potato" is first recorded 1845 in New Zealand English.

n. 1 (context obsolete English) A dagger. (From mid-15th c.) 2 A tool, similar to a spade, used for digging out weeds etc. (From 1660s.) 3 (context informal English) A potato. (From 1845.) 4 A hole in a sock. 5 (context obsolete US dialect English) Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. vb. 1 (context drilling English) To begin drilling an oil well; to drill by moving the drill bit and shaft up and down, or by raising and dropping a bit. 2 (context roofing English) To remove the roofing aggregate and most of the bituminous top coating by scraping and chipping.

1. n. an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland [syn: potato, white potato, Irish potato, murphy, tater]

2. a sharp hand shovel for digging out roots and weeds [syn: stump spud]

3. v. initiate onsite drilling operations, as for petroleum; "The well was spudded in April"

4. produce buds, branches, or germinate; "the potatoes sprouted" [syn: shoot, germinate, pullulate, bourgeon, burgeon forth, sprout]

5. [also: spudding, spudded]

Spud is a 2005 novel by South African author, actor, playwright and producer, John van de Ruit. A comedic sometimes sad yet straight forward novel that captures the humor of life in boarding school, through the diary of John 'Spud' Milton. The book is written in the style of a diary. The story begins on the morning of Spud's first day at a private boarding school, following his year and experiences with the often eccentric characters found in the school environment. The diary also follows Spud's family life.

A sequel, titled Spud - The Madness Continues, was released in mid-2007. It details Spud's second year of boarding school and trip to England paid by Wombat, his crazy grandmother.

In June 2009, the third book in the Spud series was released. Titled Spud - Learning to Fly. This book details Spud's third year at a school based on Michaelhouse, where he is now back at school and Pike returns for Post-Matric years and is a prefect. Pike being made a prefect means the Crazy Eight are vulnerable and cannot do anything without getting in trouble.

The fourth and final book in the series, detailing Spud's Matric year, was released August 2012, under the title "Spud -Exit, Pursued by a Bear."

After commercial success in South Africa (it won the 2006 Booksellers award), the United States saw a release of this book 2007. It is now available in North America.

Spud is a common nickname for the potato.

Spud(s) may also refer to:

1. redirect Beyond the Black Stump (comic strip)

Spud is a 2009 South African film directed by Donovan Marsh, based on the novel of the same name by John van de Ruit. The film stars Troye Sivan as the title character. It was released in South Africa on 3 December 2010.

Spud is a game for children and adults, where players try to eliminate each other by catching and throwing an inflated and generally soft ball. It is related to "call ball" and "ball tag".

As few as three may play, with no upper limit. A large, open area is required. The game begins with each player being assigned a number, in secret, with the highest number corresponding to the number of players. For example, if 5 people are playing, each player will be assigned one of the numbers 1 through 5. A player is chosen as 'It.' The person who is It stands in the approximate center of the playing area, with one foot in front of the other. All of the other players must then touch one of their feet to its inward foot, and then step backwards 3 paces. This 3-step-backward set-up is required. When all of the players have stepped backward 3 paces, the person who is It throws the ball straight into the air and calls the number of another player. The ball must be thrown straight up.

When the ball is thrown skyward, all of the players then dash away until the player whose number is called both (1) gains possession of the ball; and (2) calls out 'Spud!' At that point, all of the players must freeze. If, while they were running, they were unable to stop immediately, those players must retrace their steps and return to the point that they were in contact with when Spud! was called. In no event may any of the players run around corners or hide behind trees. In all instances, they must be in sight of the player who has gained possession of the ball. At this point, the player who has the ball is allowed to take an identified number of giant steps toward one or more of the other players. Smaller, younger, or older players may be given the option of taking more steps. After the steps are taken, the person with the ball will try to hit one of the other players with the ball. The target player may not move his or her feet or duck, but may sway, bend, shimmy, and shift.

If the target player comes into contact with the thrown ball in any way (even if he or she simply catches the ball), he or she is penalized with one letter (i.e., S P U or D), and then is charged with throwing the ball into the air for the next round. If the target player does not come into contact with the thrown ball, the player who threw the ball is penalized with one letter, and then is charged with throwing the ball into the air for the next round.

When a player receives four penalty letters (S P U D), that person is required to go through a spanking machine, and a new game is begun. For another variation, a player who receives four Penalty letters is simply removed from the game, and the other players continue playing with their original penalty letters in place. When there are only 2 players left playing under this variation, there are two ways for the game to end. First, both players can be declared victors. Second, one of the removed players throws the ball into the air for the final round.

In another variation, the highest of the secretly-assigned numbers is 2 greater than the number of players. In this version, the 2 secretly unassigned numbers are referred to as 'ghost numbers.' If the player throwing the ball into the air calls a ghost number, all players will then chase after the ball and try to touch it. While kicking the ball is permitted, players may not kick the ball if it is within 3 feet of another player (for purposes of safety). In this instance, the player may simply touch or punch the ball with another part of the body besides his or her feet. In this version, when a player is removed, his or her number also becomes a ghost number. In all instances, a player who wants to call a ghost number must throw the ball sufficiently high and in the air to remove any advantage that he or she would otherwise have.

Spud or Spuds is a nickname for:

Spud:

• Simon Beggs, former guitarist in the American rock hybrid band Mondo Generator
• Jim Bolger (born 1935), former Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Mark Carroll (rugby league) (born 1967), Australian rugby league player
• Spud Chandler (1907–1990), American baseball player
• James Curtin (born 1983), British professional wrestler
• Spud Davis (1904-1984), American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, scout and manager
• George Raymond Eisele (1923-1942), US Navy sailor killed in World War II
• Michael Firrito (born 1983), Australian rules footballer
• Danny Frawley (born 1963), former Australian rules footballer and coach
• Spud Johnson (1856-?), American Major League Baseball player
• Howie Krist (1916-1989), American Major League Baseball pitcher
• John McConnell (actor) (born 1958), American actor and radio personality
• Arthur Melin, a co-founder of the Wham-O toy company
• Arthur William Murphy (1891-1963), Royal Australian Air Force aviator and temporary air commodore
• Peter Murphy (footballer, born 1922) (1922-1975), English footballer
• Spud Webb (born 1963), American basketball player

Spuds:

• Theodore G. Ellyson (1885-1928), first US Navy aviator
• Andy Hebenton (born 1929), Canadian National Hockey League player