goad

name

1. A surname.

noun

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”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.

1. A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.

   “the daily goad urging him to the daily toil”

2. That which goads or incites; a stimulus.

   “I might have been an unfortunate little bull in a Spanish arena, I got so smartingly touched up by these moral goads.”

verb

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”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.

1. To prod with a goad.
2. To encourage or stimulate.
3. To incite or provoke.

   “goading a boy to fight”