Gadfly ( TabaHus r 
natural size. 
. Figuratively, one who is constantly going 
bout; a mischievous or annoying gadabout. 
gadean 
gadean (ga'de-an), n. [< Gadus + -c-an.~\ Same 
as gadoid. 
Italians advertising cod-liver oil (or what they wish to he 
taken for cod-liveroil) do the best they can for themselves 
by employing the appellation for the only marine innl,'ii/t 
common in Italy, the hake. N. and Q., 7th ser., IV. 278. 
gaderet, '' A Middle English form of gather, 
gadfly (gad'fli), n. ; pi. gadflies (-fliz). [< gad* 
+ fly 2 . Cf. gw- &nd(/adbee in the same sense.] 
1. The popular name of sundry flies which 
goad or sting domestic animals, as a breeze, 
breeze-fly, or horse-fly; specifically, a dipter- 
ous insect of the 
family Tabani- 
dce and subor- 
der Brachycera, 
representing al- 
so a superfam- 
ily Hexachcctce. 
They are compara- 
tively large, very 
active, voracious, 
and bloodthirsty, 
with great powers 
of biting, the 
mouth-parts being 
more highly devel- 
oped than those of 
any other dipter- 
ous insect. They 
have also great 
power of flight. 
The bite is deep and . 
painful, often draw- 
ing blood, though not poisonous. In strictness, only the 
females are fjadjlieg, the mules being smaller and quite in- 
offensive, living on juices of plants. There are more than 
1,000 species, of the genera Tabanus, Ctirysops, llceittatn- 
pota, and others. One of the commonest gadflies which 
attack cattle and horses is Tabamis boviniu. See also cut 
under Chrygops. 
Light fly his slumbers, if perchance a flight 
Of angry gad-JOes fasten on the herd. 
Thoinnon, Summer, 1. 499. 
2. A common though erroneous name of sun- 
dry flies (bot-flies) of the family (Estridce and 
genus CEstrus or Hippobosca, belonging to a 
different series of the great order Diptera from 
that of gadflies proper. These flies sting animals 
with their ovipositor, and deposit their eggs in the skin. 
3 
about 
Harriet may turn gad-fly, and never be easy but when 
she is forming parties. 
Richardson, Sir Charles Grandison, I. 135. 
Local reporters thrusting themselves into the private 
apartments. ... So insufferable do the gadjties of jour- 
nalism become. New York Tribune, Dec. 9, 1879. 
Gadhelic (gad'el-ik), a. and n. [Adiscriminated 
form (with generalized sense) of Gaelic, adapt- 
ed form of Gael. Gaidliealach, IT. Gaoidhilig, 
Gaelic: see Gaelic.'] I. a. Of or pertaining to 
that branch of the Celtic race which comprises 
the Erse of Ireland, the Gaels of Scotland, and 
the Manx of the Isle of Man, as distinguished 
from the Cymric branch. See Cymry. Ireland 
was the flrst home of the Gadhelic branch, whence it 
spread to Scotland in the sixth century, a portion of the 
branch, under the name of Scots, having then settled in 
Argyll. The Scots ultimately became the dominant race, 
the Picts, an earlier and probably a Cymric race, being 
lost in them. 
II. n. The language of the Gadhelic branch 
of the Celtic race, comprising the Erse, Gaelic, 
and Manx. 
gadid (ga'did), n. A fish of the family Gadidce ; 
a gadoid. T. Gill. 
Gadidae (gad'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Gadus + 
-idee.] A family of anacanthine or soft-flnned 
fishes, of the order Teleocephali and suborder 
Anacanthini, typified by the genus Gadus; the 
cods. They have subgular ventral fins; the dorsal and 
anal fins diversiform ; the raylets of the caudal fin precnr- 
reut above and below; and the body conoidal behind, 
with nearly median anus and terminal mouth. The Oadi- 
d<e are the most diversiform family of the suborder. The 
subfamilies are Gadince, Phycince, and Lotino?, the last 
containing the burbots and the lings. Besides the cod, the 
haddock, whiting, pollack, and ling are the leading rep- 
resentatives of the family. The name has often been used 
with greater latitude of definition than that here given, 
being in the older systems equivalent to the Cuvierian 
Gadoidex or Gadites. See cod. 
Gadin.se (ga-di'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Gadus + 
-j<E.] The typical subfamily of anacanthine 
fishes of the family Gadidce, distinguished by 
the development of three dorsal and two anal 
fins, with moderate ventrals; the true cod- 
fishes. It contains the most important of all food-fishes, 
as the cod, haddock, pollack, whiting, etc., in the aggre- 
gate representing a greater economic value than any other 
family of fishes. The Qadinw are all marine. See cut 
under cod. 
gadine (ga'din), a. and n. [< Gadus + -ine 1 .] 
I. a. Of or pertaining to the subfamily Gadince; 
gadinic. 
II. . A fish of the subfamily Gadince. 
[NL. (J. E. Gray, 
2426 
The common cod-fish . . . may be . . . defined as a 
tfadinc with the lower jaw shutting within the upper, a 
well-developed barbel, and the anus below the second 
dorsal fin ; the chief shoulder-girdle bone is lamelliform. 
Stand. Xat. Hist., III. 268. 
Gadinia (ga-din'i-a), . 
1824), < (jddin, 
a barbarous 
word, used first 
by Adansou in 
the nameiepos 
t/titlin, applied 
by him to a spe- 
cies of this ge- 
nus from Sen- 
egal.] A ge- Ga j inta f, nt ,irmioitama, dorsal and 
nils Or pUlmO- ventral views (the latter showing the in- 
nate (jastro- tempted horseshoe-shaped pallia! impres- 
pods, typical of 
the family Gadiuiidce, having a simple patelli- 
form shell. 
gadinic (ga-din'ik), a. [< gadine + -ic.J 1. 
Derived from codfish: as, gadinic acid. 2. 
Pertaining to cods or Gadidce; gadoid. 
gadiniid (ga-din'i-id), n. A gastropod of the 
family (ladiniidce. 
Gadiniid* (gad-i-ni'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Ga- 
dinia + -idee.] A family of gastropod mollusks, 
of the order Pulmonifera and suborder Basotn- 
matophora, typified by the genus Gadinia, con- 
taining species with a limpet-like shell. 
gadinin (gad'i-nin), . [< gadine + -i2.] A 
provisional name of a ptomain formed in the 
putrefaction of fish-flesh, to which the formula 
OyHj^NOa has been given. 
Gaditanian (gad-i-ta'ni-an), a. and n. [< L. 
Gaditanus, pertaining to Gades, a city in Spain, 
now called Cadiz.] I. a. Belonging or relating 
to Cadiz or ancient Gades in Spain, or to its 
inhabitants. 
II. n. A native of Gades or Cadiz. 
Gadite (ga'dit), a. [< L. Gades, Cadiz, + -ifel.] 
Of or pertainingto Gades or Cadiz; Gaditanian. 
Lo, here his grave, 
Who victor died on Gndite wave. 
Scott, Marmion, i., Int. 
(Jadites (ga-dl'tez), n. pi. [NL. (prop. P. pi.), 
< Gadus + -ites.~\ In McMurtrie s edition of 
Cuvier's system, the first family of Malacop- 
teryqii sub-bracltiati : same as Gadoides. 
gadling't (gad'ling), . [< ME. gadling, gade- 
Kn<7, also gedlitig, gedeling (-yng), a fellow (in 
depreciation or contempt), < AS. gcedeling, a 
comrade, fellow, companion (in the proper 
sense), = OS. gaduling = OHG. "gatuling, gatu- 
linc, a kinsman, MHG. getelinc, a kinsman, a 
fellow, = Goth, gadiliggs, a cousin, nephew, 
cf. MHG. gegate, gate, comrade, partner, con- 
sort, spouse, G. gatte, consort, spouse, husband 
(fern, gattin, wife), = OS. gigado = AS. gegada, 
a fellow, associate, = D. gade, a spouse, con- 
sort: all from the same source (y "gad) as 
gather and together : see gather. Not connect- 
ed with gad 2 .] A man of humble condition; a 
fellow; a low fellow; originally (in Anglo- 
Saxon), a fellow, associate, or companion, in a 
good sense, but later used in reproach. Com- 
pare similar uses of fellow and companion. 
They . . . comen to him armed on stede, . . . 
And flftene thousand of fot laddes, . . . 
And alle stalworthe gadeltmges. 
King Alisaunder, 1. 1192 (Weber's Metr. Rom.). 
Cristes curs mot he have, that clepeth me gadelyng! 
I am no worse gadelyng, ne no worse wight, 
But born of a lady, and geten of a knight. 
Tale of Gamelyn, 1. 106. 
gadling 2 ! (gad'ling), . and a. [Appar. a par- 
ticular use of gadling^, taken as if < gad* + 
-ling 1 .] I. . A vagabond; one who gads about. 
The wandering gadling in the sommer tide. 
Wyatt, The Jealous Man. 
II. o. Given to gadding about; gadding. 
gadling 3 t, [<gadl + -lingl.] Sameas^OfJ 1 ^. 
gad-nail (gad'nal), . A long stout nail. Halli- 
well. [Prov. Eng.] 
gadoid (ga'doid), a. and n. K NL. Gadoides, 
< Gadus + Gr. eMof, form.] I. a. Pertaining 
to or having the characters of the Gadidce or 
Gadoidea. 
II. n. A fish of the family Gadidce; a gadid. 
Also gadean. 
Gadoidea (ga-doi'de-a), w. pi. [NL., < Gadus 
+ -oidea.] A superfaiiiily of anacanthine teleo- 
cephalous fishes. The technical characters are: the 
orbitorostral portion of the skull longer than the poste- 
rior portion ; the cranial cavity widely open in front ; the 
supra-occipital bone well developed, horizontal, and carin- 
iform behind ; the exoccipitals contracted forward and 
overhung by the supra-occipital, their condyles distant 
and feebly developed ; the hypercoracoid entire ; and the 
gadwell 
hypocoracoid with its inferior process convergent toward 
the proscapula. It includes the families Gadiilw, J/cr/i/- 
i-,i,l,i-, Ranicepidce, and Macruridce. 
Gadoides (ga-doi'dez), n. pi. [NL. (Cuvier, 
1817) ; < (Indus + -oides.'] In Cuvier's system of 
classification, a family of subbrachiate mala- 
copterygian fishes, including all the symmetri- 
cal forms of the order, and contrasted with the 
flatfishes. It embraces the Gadidce, Macritriiln . 
Brotulidce, and other families of recent ichthy- 
ologists. Also Gadoidei, Gadites. 
gadolinite (gad'6-lin-it), n. [Named from Jo- 
han Gtidolin, a Finnish chemist (1760-1852).] 
A mineral, a silicate of the yttrium and cerium 
metals, containing also beryllium and iron, it 
occurs usually in masses of a blackish or greenish-black 
color, vitreous luster, and conchoidal fracture ; less fre- 
quently it is found in crystals resembling those of datolitf 
in form and angles. 
gadolinium (gad-o-lin'i-um), . [NL., after 
Johan Gadolin: see gadolinite.'] A supposed 
new element found with yttrium in gadolinite. 
Gadopsidae (ga-dop'si-de), n. pi. [NL., < Cn- 
dopsis + -idee.] A family of acanthopterygian 
fishes, having the form of a cod, but the ante- 
rior portion of the dorsal and anal fins formed 
by spines. The species are inhabitants of the 
fresh waters of Australia. 
Gadopsis (ga-dop'sis), . [NL., < Gadus + Gr. 
oifiif, appearance.] The typical genus of the 
Gadff fit's fracilis. 
family Gadopsid<f, containing such species as 
G. gracilis and G. marmoratus: so called from 
their resemblance to the Gadidce. 
gadrise (gad'riz), n. [< gadi + me 2 .] The Eu- 
ropean dogwood, Comas saiiguinea, and spin- 
dle-tree, Euonymug Europcea. 
gadsman (gadz'man), .; pi. gadsmen (-men). 
[Sc. gaudsman, also gadman; < gad, Sc. also 
gaud, poss. gaud's, + man: see gad 1 and goad.] 
One who drives horses or oxen at the plow. 
For men, I've three mischievous boys, . . . 
A gaudsman ane, a thrasher t'other. 
Burn*, The Inventory. 
gadsot, interj. [Var. of gad?, prob. mixed with 
coteo.J An interjection of surprise: same as 
gadzooks. 
Gadso ! they come by appointment. 
Sheridan, The Critic, i. 1. 
Gado ! these great men use one's house and their time 
as if it were their own property. Well, it's once and away. 
Scott, Antiquary, xxxvi. 
gad-stafft (gad'staf), n. A gad or goad. 
Scho lousit oxin ancht or nyne, 
And hynt ane nad-sta/ in lilr hand. 
WufofAuchtirmucnty(ChM* Ballads, VIII. 118). 
gad-Steel (gad'stel), n. [< jrarfi + steel. Cf. 
AS. gad-isen, a gad or goad, lit. 'goad-iron.'] 
Flemish steel : so named from its being wrought 
in gads or wedge-shaped ingots. 
gad-stick (gad'stik), . An ox-whip ; a goad. 
Gadus (ga'dus), n. [NL., a codfish, < Gr. ya- 
<5of, the same as ovoj, L. asellus, a certain fish.] 
The typical genus of gadines or Gadince. The 
common cod is Gadus morrhva or Alorrhiia vitlgarit. The 
genus was formerly conterminous with the family Gadidce, 
but now includes only the true cods, the haddocks, hakes, 
torn-cods, etc., being referred to other genera, ilorrhua 
is a synonym. See cut under cod. 
gadwale (gad'wal), n. Same as gadwall. 
gadwall (gad'wal), n. [Also gadwal, gadwale; 
spelled gadwall inWillughby (1676); gaddel in 
Merrett (Pinax llerum Nat. Brit., 1667) ; also 
gadwell, accompanied by an erroneous deriva- 
tion (''from gad, to walk about, and well," 
Webster's Diet.). The origin is unknown. A 
similar terminal syllable appears in the name 
of another bird, the tritwall, but there is no- 
thing to show a connection.] The gray duck or 
gray, Anas strepera or diaidelasmus streperus, 
a fresh-water duck of the subfamily Anatince 
and family Anatidce, abundant in the northern 
hemisphere. It is nearly as large as the mallard. The 
plumage of the male is mostly variegated with bla< kisb 
and whitish crescentic markings ; the greater coverts are 
black, the middle coverts chestnut, the speculum pure 
white, the bill blue-black, and the feet yellowish with 
dusky webs. The gadwall is an excellent table-duck, like 
most of the Anatince, and is generally diffused in Europe, 
Asia, and America. Coues's gadwall, C. coven, is a second 
species from the Fanning islands. See cut under Chaule- 
lOMHtfL 
gadwell (gad'wel), n. Same as gadwall. 
The gadwell, the pin -tail duck, the widgeon. 
W. W. Greener, The Gun, p. 606. 
