WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Gad
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. gad, Icel. gaddr goad, sting; akin to Sw. gadd sting, Goth. gazds, G. gerte switch. See Yard a measure.]
Definition : 1. The point of a spear, or an arrowhead.

2. A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel wedge used in mining, etc. I will go get a leaf of brass, And with a gad of steel will write these words. Shak.

3. A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.

4. A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling. Fairholt.

5. A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel. [Obs.] Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads. Moxon.

6. A rod or stick, as a fishing rod, a measuring rod, or a rod used to drive cattle with. [Prov. Eng. Local, U.S.] Halliwell. Bartlett. Upon the gad, upon the spur of the moment; hastily. [Obs.] "All this done upon the gad!" Shak.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Gad
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [Prob. fr. gad, n., and orig. meaning to drive about.]
Definition : Defn: To walk about; to rove or go about, without purpose; hence, to run wild; to be uncontrolled. "The gadding vine." Milton. Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way Jer. ii. 36.

i. [imp. & p. p. Gadded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gadding.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913