goad

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
2. n. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
3. v. To prod or urge with or as if with a long pointed stick.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A stick, rod, or staff with a pointed end, used for driving cattle; hence, anything that urges or stimulates.
2. n. A decoy at an auction; a Peter Funk.
3. n. [Cf. yard, rod, perch, as measures of length.] A little-used English Measure of length. In Dorsetshire the goad of land was 15 feet 1 inch. A statute of James I. speaks of goods at 15 pence the yard or 20 the goad.
4. To prick; drive with a goad; hence, to incite; stimulate; instigate; urge forward or rouse to action by any harassing or irritating means.
5. Synonyms To impel, spur, arouse, stir up, set on.
6. n. A sort of false die.
7. n. A plaything.

Wiktionary

1. n. A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.
2. v. To prod with a goad.
3. v. To encourage or stimulate.
4. v. To incite or provoke.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A pointed instrument used to urge on a beast; hence, any necessity that urges or stimulates.
2. v. To prick; to drive with a goad; hence, to urge forward, or to rouse by anything pungent, severe, irritating, or inflaming; to stimulate.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
2. v. urge with or as if with a goad
3. n. a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
4. v. goad or provoke,as by constant criticism
5. n. a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion
6. v. give heart or courage to