Meaning

noun a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion

noun a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

verb give heart or courage to

originFrom Middle English gode, from Old English gād (“goad”), from Proto-Germanic *gaidō (compare Old Norse gedda (“pike (fish)”), Lombardic gaida (“spear”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey- (compare Old Irish gath (“spear”), Sanskrit हिन्वति (hinvati), हिनोति (hinoti, “to urge on, throw”), हेति (heti, “missile, projectile”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0