verb (used without object), gad·ded, gad·ding.
- to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another: to gad about.
noun
- the act of gadding.
verb gads, gadding or gadded
- (intr; often foll by about or around) to go out in search of pleasure, esp in an aimless manner; gallivant
noun
- carefree adventure (esp in the phrase on or upon the gad)
noun
- mining a short chisel-like instrument for breaking rock or coal from the face
- a goad for driving cattle
- a western US word for spur (def. 1)
verb gads, gadding or gadded
- (tr) mining to break up or loosen with a gad
noun, interjection
- an archaic euphemism for God by Gad!
noun Old Testament
-
- Jacob’s sixth son, whose mother was Zilpah, Leah’s maid
- the Israelite tribe descended from him
- the territory of this tribe, lying to the east of the Jordan and extending southwards from the Sea of Galilee
- a prophet and admonisher of David (I Samuel 22; II Samuel 24)
“to rove about,” mid-15c., perhaps a back-formation from Middle English gadeling (Old English gædeling) “kinsman, fellow, companion in arms,” but which had a deteriorated sense of “rogue, vagabond” by c.1300 (it also had a meaning “wandering,” but this is attested only from 16c.); or else it should be associated with gad (n.) “a goad for driving cattle.” Related: Gadding.
“goad, metal rod,” early 13c., from Old Norse gaddr “spike, nail,” from Proto-Germanic *gadaz “pointed stick” (see yard (n.2)).