Gad

• POS: Interjection, Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Gad, n. [OE. gad, Icel. gaddr goad, sting; akin to Sw. gadd sting, Goth. gazds, G. gerte switch. See Yard a measure.].

•  The point of a spear, or an arrowhead.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel wedge used in mining, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will go get a leaf of brass,
  And with a gad of steel will write these words."  [1913 Webster]
•  A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.  [1913 Webster]
•  A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling.  Fairholt.  [1913 Webster]
•  A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel.  [1913 Webster]

  "Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads."  [1913 Webster]
•  A rod or stick, as a fishing rod, a measuring rod, or a rod used to drive cattle with.  Halliwell. Bartlett.  [1913 Webster]

Upon the gad, upon the spur of the moment; hastily. [Obs.] “All this done upon the gad!” Shak.

Gad, v. i. [Prob. fr. gad, n., and orig. meaning to drive about.].

 To walk about; to rove or go about, without purpose; hence, to run wild; to be uncontrolled.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
"Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?"  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Gad, v. & n.
--v.intr. (gadded, gadding) (foll. by about, abroad, around) go about idly or in search of pleasure.
--n. idle wandering or adventure (esp. in on the gad).

Gad, int. (also by gad) an expression of surprise or emphatic assertion.

Etymology

= God

THESAURUS

Gad

Ahasuerus, Ancient Mariner, Argonaut, Flying Dutchman, Goliard, Odysseus, Oisin, Ossian, Ulysses, bat, bat around, bird of passage, bum, count ties, divagate, drift, drifter, flit, floater, gad about, gadabout, gadfly, gallivant, go about, go the rounds, go-about, goad, hit the road, hit the trail, hobo, itinerant, jaunt, knock about, knock around, lash, maunder, meander, mooch, mover, nomadize, oxgoad, peregrinate, peregrinator, peregrine, pererrate, peripatetic, prick, prod, prowl, ramble, rambler, range, roam, roamer, rolling stone, rove, rover, rowel, run about, run around, runabout, saunter, spur, sting, straggle, straggler, stray, stroll, stroller, strolling player, traipse, tramp, troubadour, vagabond, vagabondize, visitant, walk the tracks, wander, wanderer, wandering minstrel, wandering scholar, wayfare, whip, whiplash

ROGET THESAURUS

Gad

Journey

VB travel, journey, course, take a journey, go a journey, take a walk, go out for walk, have a run, take the air, flit, take wing, migrate, emigrate, trek, rove, prowl, roam, range, patrol, pace up and down, traverse, scour the country, traverse the country, peragrate, circumambulate, perambulate, nomadize, wander, ramble, stroll, saunter, hover, go one's rounds, straggle, gad, gad about, expatiate, walk, march, step, tread, pace, plod, wend, go by shank's mare, promenade, trudge, tramp, stalk, stride, straddle, strut, foot it, hoof it, stump, bundle, bowl along, toddle, paddle, tread a path, take horse, ride, drive, trot, amble, canter, prance, fisk, frisk, caracoler, caracole, gallop, embark, board, set out, hit the road, get going, get underway, peg on, jog on, wag on, shuffle on, stir one's stumps, bend one's steps, bend one's course, make one's way, find one's way, wend one's way, pick one's way, pick one's way, thread one's way, plow one's way, slide, glide, coast, skim, skate, march in procession, file on, defile, go to, repair to, resort to, hie to, betake oneself to.