Gadabout
/ˈɡæd.ə.baʊt/noun
A person who goes from place to place for pleasure or in a restless, aimless way.
Did you know?The first part, gad, is an old English verb meaning to roam or go about idly, so the word literally paints someone as a perpetual drifter rather than a settled soul.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
gadan
“to go, move, or wander about”
Middle English
ME
gadden
“to roam, wander, or move idly”
16th Century
English
gad
“a roamer; one who moves about idly”
16th Century
English
gadabout
“one who goes about idly or restlessly”
Modern English
English
gadabout
“a person who travels or flits from place to place for pleasure”