Shovel

A shovel is a tool for lifting and moving loose material such as coal, gravel, snow, soil, or sand. It is usually a hand tool consisting of a broad blade with edges or sides that is fixed to a medium-length handle. The term "shovel" is also applied to larger excavating machines, such as steam shovels, which are designed for the same purpose—lifting and moving material, see Loader (equipment).

The shovel (or spade) is made of steel, meaning that it is heavy, the handle being made of steel or iron (sometimes even wood). This particular garden tool is used for many purposes on the farm.

Hand shovels have been adapted for many different tasks and environments. They can be optimized for a single task or designed as cross-over or compromise tools to perform multiple tasks, for example:

Toy shovels are common playthings on sandy beaches or in sandboxes.

Slang use: Shovel: 1965-1980 Harley Davidson Engine Design called so by the "Shovel" shaped rocker boxes on the engine heads. Also called Shovelhead Engines.