gad Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling or lightheadedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months
generalized anxiety disorder; anxiety reaction.
noun a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward
spur.
- cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on
verb wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
jazz around; gallivant.

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.
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.
A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.
A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling. Fairholt.
A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel. Obs.
Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads. Moxon.
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. Shak.

Prob. fr. gad, n., and orig. meaning to drive about.

imperfect & past participle Gadded; present participle & verbal noun Gadding

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.