gad

¹ American  

[gad] / gæd /

verb (used without object)

gadded, gadding

1. to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another.

   to gad about.

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noun

1. the act of gadding.

gad ² American  

[gad] / gæd /

noun

1. a goad for driving cattle.

2. a pointed mining tool for breaking up rock, coal, etc.

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Gad ³ American  

[gad] / gæd /

Or gad

interjection

1. (used as a mild oath.)

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Gad ⁴ American  

[gad] / gæd /

noun

1. 1. (in the Bible) a son of Jacob and Zilpah.

   2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel, traditionally descended from him.

2. (in the Bible) a Hebrew prophet and chronicler of the court of David.

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Gad ¹ British  

/ ɡæd /

noun

1. 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

2. a prophet and admonisher of David (I Samuel 22; II Samuel 24)

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gad ² British  

/ ɡæd /

noun

1. mining a short chisel-like instrument for breaking rock or coal from the face

2. a goad for driving cattle

3. a western US word for spur

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verb

1. (tr) mining to break up or loosen with a gad

gad ³ British  

/ ɡæd /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about or around) to go out in search of pleasure, esp in an aimless manner; gallivant

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noun

1. carefree adventure (esp in the phrase on or upon the gad )

Gad ⁴ British  

/ ɡæd /

noun

1. an archaic euphemism for God

   by Gad!

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Other Word Forms

• gadder noun
• gaddingly adverb

Etymology

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; gather, -ling ¹

Origin of gad²

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

Origin of Gad³

First recorded in 1600–10; euphemism for God

Origin of Gad⁴

From Late Latin, from Greek Gád, from Hebrew Gādh “(good) luck”

Explanation

To gad is to wander without much purpose, aside from having fun. You might gad around town on a Saturday afternoon with your friends, looking for something entertaining to do. If someone's roving from place to place seeking amusement, you can say they gad about. Your brother might gad about the neighborhood all day while you're at home diligently studying for a math test. As a noun, a gad is a tool with a point on it, like a chisel, and in the western U.S. it's also a word meaning "spur," the spike on a cowboy's boot used to encourage a horse to get going. This verb forms the noun gadabout, a person who restlessly seeks amusement.

Example Sentences

The humor doesn’t so much pop as gad about.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2022

Bernice King’s father gad called Vivian “the greatest preacher who ever lived,” a fierce and influential advocate for social justice.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2021

The pair gad from location to location with a cheery boisterousness.

From The Guardian • Jan. 28, 2013

But do you remember how that face looked in 1992, when the supermodel, shown below, was in her 20s, on the gad at the Park Avenue Armory for a Versace gala, aglitter in ruby sequins?

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2012

"By gad, I'll have my lawyers on to her for this! I'll make her pay through the nose!"

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl