spud

(noun) an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland. Synonyms: potato, white potato, Irish potato, murphy, tater.

(noun) a sharp hand shovel for digging out roots and weeds. Synonyms: stump spud.

(verb) initiate drilling operations, as for petroleum. Example: "The well was spudded in april."

(verb) produce buds, branches, or germinate. Synonyms: shoot, germinate, pullulate, bourgeon, burgeon forth, sprout. Example: "The potatoes sprouted."