goad

v. tease, drive, urge; cattle-prod, prodding-stick

n. device used to urge an animal in a certain direction, prod; something which pokes and prods like a goad; something which urges or drives

For Hindu religious associations of elephant goads, see ankus.For similar devices, and electrical devices, used to urge cattle to move, see Cattle prod. The goad is a traditional farming implement, used to spur or guide an animal, usually oxen, which are pulling a plough or a cart. It is a type of cattle prod. Though many people are unfamiliar with them today, goads have been common throughout the world.
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Noun
1. a pointed instrument used to prod into motion
(synonym) prod
(hypernym) device
(hyponym) spur, gad
(derivation) prick
2. a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; "the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves"
(synonym) goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring
(hypernym) encouragement
(derivation) needle
Verb
1. give heart or courage to
(synonym) spur
(hypernym) encourage
(derivation) goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring
2. urge with or as if with a goad
(hypernym) prod, incite, egg on
(hyponym) spur
(derivation) goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring
3. prod or urge as if with a log stick
(synonym) prick
(hypernym) stab, jab
(derivation) prod
4. goad or provoke,as by constant criticism; "He needled her with his sarcastic remarks"
(synonym) needle
(hypernym) harass, hassle, harry, chivy, chivvy, chevy, chevvy, beset, plague, molest, provoke
(derivation) goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring

(v. t.)
To prick; to drive with a goad; hence, to urge forward, or to rouse by anything pungent, severe, irritating, or inflaming; to stimulate.
  

(v. t.)
A pointed instrument used to urge on a beast; hence, any necessity that urges or stimulates.
  

(Judges 3:31; 1 Samuel 13:21) The Hebrew word in the latter passage probably means the point of the plough-share . The former word does probably refer to the goad, the long handle of which might be used as a formidable weapon. The instrument, as still used in countries of southern Europe and western Asia, consists of a rod about eight feet long, brought to a sharp point and sometimes cased with iron at the head.