delve

kaivaa puhekieltä To dig the ground, especially with a shovel.
1381, John Ball

When Adam dalf and Eve span, / Who was then a gentleman?

Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.

I got a spade from the tool-house, and began to delve with all my might - it scraped the coffin; I fell to work with my hands; the wood commenced cracking about the screws; I was on the point of attaining my object, when it seemed that I heard a sigh from some one above, close at the edge of the grave, and bending down.

I cannot delve him to the root.

She was intensely eager to delve into the mystery of Mr. Joplin and his brief case.

And then they made an oratory behind the altar, and would have dolven for to have laid the body in that oratory ...

Let him take off his plates and delve himself, if delving must be done.

the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say) / To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground, / In a deepe delue, farre from the vew of day ....

I put the clods on top the delve and gave it all a good thumping down with my feet.