Goading
/ˈɡoʊdɪŋ/noun
The act of provoking or urging someone on, often by taunting or pressure.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Celtic root meaning a spear or pointed stick, so the modern idea of “goading” still carries the image of being stabbed forward by force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰedʰ-
“to drive, impel, or urge on”
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*gaiso-
“spear, pointed stick”
Old English
OE
gād
“a goad, a pointed prod for driving animals”
Middle English
ME
gode
“a goad; also, to urge or spur on”
Modern English
English
goading
“urging or provoking someone by taunts, pressure, or annoyance”