Link Centre Dictionary

goad

UK/ɡəʊd/ US/ɡoʊd/ rare
verb (4) noun (2)

verb

1.

give heart or courage to

Synonyms
2.

urge with or as if with a goad

3.

prod or urge as if with a log stick

Synonyms
4.

goad or provoke,as by constant criticism

  • “He needled her with his sarcastic remarks”
Synonyms

noun

1.

a pointed instrument used to prod into motion

Synonyms
2.

a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

  • “the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English gode, from Old English gād (“goad”), from Proto-Germanic *gaidō (compare Old Norse gedda (“pike (fish)”), Lombardic gaida (“spear”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey- (compare Old Irish gath (“spear”), Sanskrit हिन्वति (hinvati), हिनोति (hinoti, “to urge on, throw”), हेति (heti, “missile, projectile”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.

Phrases

  • cattle goad
  • goad stick

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.