▪ I. gadding, vbl. n.1
(ˈgædɪŋ)
[f. gad v.1 + -ing1.]
The action or process of splitting rock with gads.
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Gad, in mining..the working by this instrument is thence called gading. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. IV. 364/2 Fig. 1123 shows the drill mounted on car for gadding. |
b. Comb.: gadding-car, -machine (see quots.).
| 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. IV. 364/2 Gadding Car (Quarrying), one arranged to carry a drilling machine so as to present it to drill a series of holes in line. 1887 Sci. Amer. LVI. 21 The gadding machines..drill or bore circular holes along the bottom and sides of the blocks, into which wedges are introduced and the stone split from its bed. |
▪ II. gadding, vbl. n.2
(ˈgædɪŋ)
[f. gad v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. gad. Also gadding-about.
| 1545 Brinklow Lament. 4 b, What is their gaddinge with ‘ora pro nobis’ vnto creatures..? Is it ought elles but abhominacion? 1550 Bale Apol. 108 b, Gapynges, gaddynges, ydoll sensynges. 1589 R. Robinson Gold. Mirr. (1851) 57 No wandring vnto waks, those dayes did women vse, Nor gadding vnto greens, their life for to abuse. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxxviii, Hee charmes the gaddings of opinion, With the loud Cimball of their Liberties. 1662–3 Pepys Diary 1 Jan., Willing to make an end of my gaddings and to set to my business. 1760 Goldsm. Cit. W. xlv, Neither pride, nor debauchery, nor a love of gadding. 1786 Cowper Lett. Wks. (1835–7) VI. 9 Unaccountable gaddings and caprices of the human mind. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 155 There is nothing going on but gossiping and gadding about. 1865 M. E. Braddon Sir Jasper I. vii. 164 ‘No gadding after dark, Doll,’ he said in a warning voice. |
| attrib. 1840 R. Bremner Excurs. Denmark, Norway, etc. II. 375 During this gadding season. 1862 Sala Seven Sons I. viii. 183 A gadding-about mania seized on all ranks and conditions of men. |
▪ III. gadding, ppl. a.
(ˈgædɪŋ)
[f. gad v.2 + -ing2.]
That gads or gads about, wandering, straggling.
| 1598 Florio, Mattana,..a madding or gadding humour. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. ix. lii. 234 Our gadding Thoughts conceite the Cloudes. 1625 Bacon Ess., Envy (Arb.) 512 Envy is a Gadding Passion, and walketh the Streets and doth not keepe home. 1637 Milton Lycidas 37 With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown. 1727 Fielding Love in sev. Masq. Wks. 1775 I. 41 The Traps are no gadding family, our women stay at home and do business. 1777 Warton Inscript. Hermitage iii. 24 Fantastic ivy's gadding spray. 1819 S. Rogers Human Life 545 Soon through the gadding vine the sun looks in. 1829 Carlyle Misc. (1857) II. 26 A gadding, feather-brained set of wantons. 1859 Tennyson Guinevere 310 The good nuns would check her gadding tongue Full often. 1873 Symonds Grk. Poets x. 312 The stone walls..are..fragrant with gadding violets that ripple down their sides. |
Hence ˈgaddingly adv.
| 1552 Huloet, Gaddingly, as they that went on pilgrimage, peregre. 1567 Drant Horace's De Arte Poet. B vij, He that dothe belch out puffinge rymes And gaddingly doth straye. 1755 in Johnson, whence in later Dicts. |