Gad

6 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gad \Gad\, n. [OE. gad, Icel. gaddr goad, sting; akin to Sw.
     gadd sting, Goth. gazds, G. gerte switch. See {Yard} a
     measure.]
     1. The point of a spear, or an arrowhead.
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     2. A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel
        wedge used in mining, etc.
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              I will go get a leaf of brass,
              And with a gad of steel will write these words.
                                                    --Shak.
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     3. A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.
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     4. A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling. --Fairholt.
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     5. A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel. [Obs.]
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              Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads.
                                                    --Moxon.
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     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.
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     {Upon the gad}, upon the spur of the moment; hastily. [Obs.]
        "All this done upon the gad!" --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gad \Gad\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gadded}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Gadding}.] [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. "The gadding vine."
     --Milton.
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           Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?
                                                    --Jer. ii. 36.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  GAD
       n 1: an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating
            anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or
            trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that
            has lasted for more than six months [syn: {generalized
            anxiety disorder}, {anxiety reaction}]
       2: a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a
          horse onward; "cowboys know not to squat with their spurs
          on" [syn: {spur}]
       v : wander aimlessly in search of pleasure [syn: {gallivant}, {jazz
           around}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  84 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Gad
     fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob's seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah's
     handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18).
     In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, "A troop cometh:
     and she called," etc., should rather be rendered, "In fortune
     [R.V., 'Fortunate']: and she called," etc., or "Fortune cometh,"
     etc.
     
       The tribe of Gad during the march through the wilderness had
     their place with Simeon and Reuben on the south side of the
     tabernacle (Num. 2:14). The tribes of Reuben and Gad continued
     all through their history to follow the pastoral pursuits of the
     patriarchs (Num. 32:1-5).
     
       The portion allotted to the tribe of Gad was on the east of
     Jordan, and comprehended the half of Gilead, a region of great
     beauty and fertility (Deut. 3:12), bounded on the east by the
     Arabian desert, on the west by the Jordan (Josh. 13:27), and on
     the north by the river Jabbok. It thus included the whole of the
     Jordan valley as far north as to the Sea of Galilee, where it
     narrowed almost to a point.
     
       This tribe was fierce and warlike; they were "strong men of
     might, men of war for the battle, that could handle shield and
     buckler, their faces the faces of lions, and like roes upon the
     mountains for swiftness" (1 Chr. 12:8; 5:19-22). Barzillai (2
     Sam. 17:27) and Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) were of this tribe. It was
     carried into captivity at the same time as the other tribes of
     the northern kingdom by Tiglath-pileser (1 Chr. 5:26), and in
     the time of Jeremiah (49:1) their cities were inhabited by the
     Ammonites.
     
       (2.) A prophet who joined David in the "hold," and at whose
     advice he quitted it for the forest of Hareth (1 Chr. 29:29; 2
     Chr. 29:25; 1 Sam. 22:5). Many years after we find mention made
     of him in connection with the punishment inflicted for numbering
     the people (2 Sam. 24:11-19; 1 Chr. 21:9-19). He wrote a book
     called the "Acts of David" (1 Chr. 29:29), and assisted in the
     arrangements for the musical services of the "house of God" (2
     Chr. 29:25). He bore the title of "the king's seer" (2 Sam.
     24:11, 13; 1 Chr. 21:9).
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Gad, a band; a troop