(b) The end wall of a building, as distinguished from the front or rear side. (c) A decorative member
having the shape of a triangular gable, such as that above a Gothic arch in a doorway.
Bell gable.
See under Bell. — Gable roof, a double sloping roof which forms a gable at each end.
— Gable wall. Same as Gable (b). — Gable window, a window in a gable.
Gablet
(Ga"blet) n. (Arch.) A small gable, or gable-shaped canopy, formed over a tabernacle, niche,
etc.
Gablock
(Gab"lock) n. [See Gavelock.] A false spur or gaff, fitted on the heel of a gamecock. Wright.
Gaby
(Ga"by) n. [Icel. gapi a rash, reckless man. Cf. Gafe.] A simpleton; a dunce; a lout. [Colloq.]
Gad
(Gad) n. [OE. gad, Icel. gaddr goad, sting; akin to Sw. gadd sting, Goth. gazds, G. gerte switch.
See Yard a measure.]
1. The point of a spear, or an arrowhead.
2. A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel wedge used in mining, etc.
I will go get a leaf of brass,
And with a gad of steel will write these words.
Shak. 3. A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.
4. A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling. Fairholt.
5. A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel. [Obs.]
Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads.
Moxon. 6. A rod or stick, as a fishing rod, a measuring rod, or a rod used to drive cattle with. [Prov. Eng. Local,
U.S.] Halliwell. Bartlett.
Upon the gad,
upon the spur of the moment; hastily. [Obs.] "All this done upon the gad!" Shak.
Gad
(Gad), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gadded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gadding.] [Prob. fr. gad, n., and orig. meaning
to drive about.] To walk about; to rove or go about, without purpose; hence, to run wild; to be uncontrolled.
"The gadding vine." Milton.
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?
Jer. ii. 36. Gadabout
(Gad"a*bout`) n. A gadder [Colloq.]
Gadbee
(Gad"bee`) n. (Zoöl.) The gadfly.
Gadder
(Gad"der) n. One who roves about idly, a rambling gossip.
Gadding
(Gad"ding), a. & n. Going about much, needlessly or without purpose.
Envy is a gadding passion, and walketh the streets.
Bacon.
The good nuns would check her gadding tongue.
Tennyson. Gadding car,
in quarrying, a car which carries a drilling machine so arranged as to drill a line of holes.
Gaddingly
(Gad"ding*ly) adv. In a roving, idle manner.