Wad
/wɑd/noun
A soft mass or bundle of material, especially one compressed into a lump.
Did you know?The word likely goes back to an old Germanic root meaning a bundle or mass, and its history is tied to the idea of something tightly packed rather than anything mystical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wadją
“a bundle, lump, or mass of material”
Old English
OE
wæd
“cloth, garment, covering”
Middle English
ME
wad
“a bundle, pad, or soft mass used for stuffing or packing”
Modern English
English
wad
“a small lump or bundle of soft material; also, a thick stack of paper money”