gad¹

[gad]

See more synonyms for gad on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of gad¹

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

Related formsgad·der, noungad·ding·ly, adverb

gad²

[gad]

noun

a goad for driving cattle.
a pointed mining tool for breaking up rock, coal, etc.

Origin of gad²

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

Gad¹

or gad

[gad]

interjection

(used as a mild oath.)

Origin of Gad¹

First recorded in 1600–10; euphemism for God

Gad²

[gad]

noun

a son of Zilpah. Gen. 30:11.
one of the twelve tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from him.
a Hebrew prophet and chronicler of the court of David. II Sam. 24:11–19.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gad

Contemporary Examples

GAD affects 6.8 million adults, and women are twice as likely to suffer as men.
How to Overcome Anxiety, Starting Now
DailyBurn
April 5, 2014
Gad said that the Army has announced it has footage from the scene that "shows exactly what happened, so let's wait and see."
Death on the Nile
Christopher Dickey, Mike Giglio
July 8, 2013
"There was a warning from the Army that the Muslim Brotherhood would try to invade" the building, Gad says.
Death on the Nile
Christopher Dickey, Mike Giglio
July 8, 2013
(Ynet) Last known gay Jewish Holocaust survivor dies - World War II resistance fighter Gad Beck dies in Berlin at 88.
When the Pious Do Graffiti
Orly Halpern
June 27, 2012
Rannels and Gad were shut out of the Tony Awards, although the musical won nine.
‘The Book of Mormon’ Gives Back to the Faithful
Jimmy So
July 3, 2011

Historical Examples

Then it's better to take him out back of the barn and shoot him, by Gad!
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
My master and I obtain our knowledge from the same source;—though, gad!
The Contrast
Royall Tyler
She itched all over, longing to break loose and gad all the time, as father Coupeau said.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
Do you suppose a housewife has nothing better to do than gad about?
The Great Hunger
Johan Bojer
He purpled with laughing and said: ‘Gad, she’ll always have her way!
The Gorgeous Girl
Nalbro Bartley

British Dictionary definitions for gad

gad¹

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 Formsgadder, noun

Word Origin

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

gad²

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

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

Gad¹

noun, interjection

an archaic euphemism for God by Gad!

Gad²

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

Word Origin and History for gad

v.

"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.

n.

"goad, metal rod," early 13c., from Old Norse gaddr "spike, nail," from Proto-Germanic *gadaz "pointed stick" (see yard (n.2)).

gad.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}gad1

gad2

Origin of gad2

Gad1

or gad

Origin of Gad1

Gad2

Examples from the Web for gad

Contemporary Examples

GAD affects 6.8 million adults, and women are twice as likely to suffer as men.

Gad said that the Army has announced it has footage from the scene that "shows exactly what happened, so let's wait and see."

"There was a warning from the Army that the Muslim Brotherhood would try to invade" the building, Gad says.

(Ynet) Last known gay Jewish Holocaust survivor dies - World War II resistance fighter Gad Beck dies in Berlin at 88.

Rannels and Gad were shut out of the Tony Awards, although the musical won nine.

Historical Examples

Then it's better to take him out back of the barn and shoot him, by Gad!

My master and I obtain our knowledge from the same source;—though, gad!

She itched all over, longing to break loose and gad all the time, as father Coupeau said.

Do you suppose a housewife has nothing better to do than gad about?

He purpled with laughing and said: ‘Gad, she’ll always have her way!

gad1

Word Origin

gad2

Word Origin

Gad1

Gad2

Word Origin and History for gad

v.

n.

gad¹

Origin of gad¹

gad²

Origin of gad²

Gad¹

Origin of Gad¹

Gad²

gad¹

gad²

Gad¹

Gad²