goad

Etymology

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”)).

noun

  1. A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.
  2. (figurative) That which goads or incites; a stimulus.

verb

  1. To prod with a goad.
  2. To encourage or stimulate.
  3. To incite or provoke.
    goading a boy to fight

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