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definitions

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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RELATED WORDS

traipse, gallivant, stray, mooch, range, jaunt, rove, cruise, maunder, wander, ramble

Nearby words

gabrilowitsch, gabrilowitsch, ossip, gabun, gaby, gabès, gad, gadabout, gadarene, gaddafi, gaddi, gadfly

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

Definition for gad (2 of 4)

gad

2
[ 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

Definition for gad (3 of 4)

Gad

1

or gad

[ gad ]
/ gæd /

interjection

(used as a mild oath.)

Origin of Gad

1
First recorded in 1600–10; euphemism for God

Definition for gad (4 of 4)

Gad

2
[ gad ]
/ gæd /

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for gad

British Dictionary definitions for gad (1 of 4)

gad

1
/ (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 Formsgadder, 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)

gad

2
/ (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)

Gad

1
/ (ɡæd) /

noun, interjection

an archaic euphemism for God by Gad!

British Dictionary definitions for gad (4 of 4)

Gad

2
/ (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