Goad
/ɡoʊd/noun
A goad is a spiked stick used to prod animals or incite action.
Did you know?The word 'goad' is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰed-, meaning 'to unite' or 'to push,' suggesting a powerful force behind its use in driving both animals and people.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰed-
“to unite, to push”
Old English
Old English
gād
“a stimulus or prod for animals”
Middle English
Middle English
gode
“to spur on or provoke”
Modern English
English
goad
“to incite or provoke into action”