goad

Goad is a term with both a tangible tool and a figurative concept. As a noun, a goad is a long, pointed stick or rod used by shepherds and drivers to urge draft animals such as oxen or cattle to move forward. It can be wooden or metal and may have a sharpened tip or point. Goads were an essential farming and transport implement before modern machinery, and their use required skill to avoid injuring the animal. In many historical settings, goads supplemented or replaced verbal cues to maintain momentum or direction.

As a verb, to goad means to provoke, prod, or urge someone into action. It can describe persistent questioning, taunts, or encouragement intended to elicit a response or decision. Figuratively, goading can apply in politics, negotiations, or personal relations, and it often carries a sense of pressure or provocation, though it can also mark a form of impetus or motivation when used constructively.

Etymology: The word goad derives from Old English gad or related Germanic forms, originally referring to a pointed instrument used for spurring animals. The extended metaphor arose from the action of urging on an animal.

See also: goad (metaphor), prod, spur.