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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gad, Gadde, n. Also: gaud. [ME. gadd-, gad (c 1250), ON. gadd-r a spike.]

1. A rod or bar of iron or steel. 14.. Acts I. 306/2.
Of a schef of stele that is to say xxx gaddys … a halfpeny; of ilk schef of jryn pile … xvi gaddis … a halfpeny c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 205.
Four gret pillaris … fessynnyt with gret gaddis of yrne c1475 Wall. viii. 778.
Stanys and spryngaldis thai cast out so fast, And gaddys off irne 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 223.
To foure menne wirkand … apoun the gun muldis in … bynding thairof with lang gaddis of irne 1540 Edinb. Hammermen 158.
Gevin for ane gaud of irne the tyme of the beggin to the quoreoris 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 133.
For cords to haive ane theif that brak ane buith and staw ane gad of irne 1587 Edinb. Test. XVIII. 196 b.
Ane syllerit stand bed of aik with tua lang round gaddis of irne to rin the courtingis on 1615–6 M. Works Acc. XI. 14 b.
Thrie gaddes of danskene iron 1654 Elgin Rec. I. 297.
He sold … tuo gaddes of iron to Gilbert Schard

b. The lang gad (see Gade n.¹ 2). 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 359.
For euirie chopin they sall drink they sall sit xxiiij houris in the lang gadde

c. Gad iron, iron in bars. 1582 Dundee Shipping Lists 207.
His schip cum from Danskene contenand … four schip pund gad iron 1595 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 30.
Johne Myln … awin me ane schip pund gad iron 1596 Ib. 71.
The eastwart fraucht … to be warit on Suedins gad iron 1616 Ib. 278.
3 ship lib. gad yrone

2. A goad. 1662 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 22.
For … riving of the said John … his cloak and taking of a gad from him, … he being hirding his own goodis