subs. (common).—An idle slattern. An abbreviation of GAD-ABOUT (q.v.).

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  Intj. (common).—An abbreviation of BY GAD! Cf. AGAD, EGAD—themselves corruptions of by GOD, Lit.

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  ON THE GAD, adv. phr. (old).—1.  On the spur of the moment.

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  1605.  SHAKESPEARE, King Lear, i. 2. All this is done UPON THE GAD.

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  2.  (colloquial).—On the move, on the gossip.

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  1818.  AUSTEN, Persuasion. I have no very good opinion of Mrs. Charles’ nursery maid…. She is always UPON THE GAD.

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  3.  (colloquial).—On the spree (especially of women); and, by implication, on the town.

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  TO GAD THE HOOF, verb. phr. (common).—To walk or go without shoes; TO PAD THE HOOF (q.v.). Also, more loosely, to walk or roam about.

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  1852.  SNOWDEN, Magistrates Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 447. Going without shoes, GADDING THE HOOF.

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