ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
1. : work done with the spade
2. : the hard plain preliminary drudgery in any undertaking
between the periods of actual negotiations much spadework may be done by both sides in the form of collecting data and preparing for negotiations — D.C.Miller & W.H.Form
• spadeworker ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun