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gad

1
[ gad ]
/ gæd /
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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.
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Origin of gad

1
1425–75; late Middle English gadden, perhaps back formation from gadeling companion in arms, fellow (in 16th century, vagabond, wanderer), Old English gædeling, derivative of gæd fellowship; see gather, -ling1

OTHER WORDS FROM gad

gadder, noungad·ding·ly, adverb

Words nearby gad

Gabrieli, Gabriella, Gabrilowitsch, gaby, G/A con., gad, gadabout, Gadarene, Gaddafi, Gaddi, G/A dep.

Other definitions for gad (2 of 4)

gad2
[ gad ]
/ gæd /
noun
a goad for driving cattle.
a pointed mining tool for breaking up rock, coal, etc.

Origin of gad

2
1175–1225; Middle English <Old Norse gaddr spike; cognate with Gothic gazds

Other definitions for gad (3 of 4)

Gad1

or gad

[ gad ]
/ gæd /
interjection
(used as a mild oath.)

Origin of Gad

1
First recorded in 1600–10; euphemism for God

Other definitions for gad (4 of 4)

Gad2
[ gad ]
/ gæd /
noun
a son of Zilpah. Genesis 30:11.
one of the twelve tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from him.
a Hebrew prophet and chronicler of the court of David. 2 Samuel 24:11–19.

Origin of Gad

2
From Late Latin, from Greek Gád, from Hebrew Gādh “(good) luck”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to gad

cruise, gallivant, jaunt, maunder, mooch, ramble, range, rove, stray, traipse, wander, hit the road, knock about, knock around, run around

How to use gad in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gad (1 of 4)

gad1
/ (ɡæd) /
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)

Derived forms of gad

gadder, noun

Word Origin for gad

C15: back formation from obsolete gadling companion, from Old English, from gæd fellowship; related to Old High German gatuling

British Dictionary definitions for gad (2 of 4)

gad2
/ (ɡæd) /
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

Word Origin for gad

C13: from Old Norse gaddr spike; related to Old High German gart, Gothic gazds spike

British Dictionary definitions for gad (3 of 4)

Gad1
/ (ɡæd) /
noun, interjection
an archaic euphemism for God by Gad!

British Dictionary definitions for gad (4 of 4)

Gad2
/ (ɡæd) /
noun Old Testament
  1. Jacob's sixth son, whose mother was Zilpah, Leah's maid
  2. the Israelite tribe descended from him
  3. 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)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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