I. ˈwäd noun
Etymology: Middle English wadde, from Medieval Latin wadda
Date: 15th century
1. : a small mass, bundle, or tuft: as
a. : a soft mass especially of a loose fibrous material variously used (as to stop an aperture, pad a garment, or hold grease around an axle)
b.
(1) : a soft plug used to retain a powder charge or to avoid windage especially in a muzzle-loading gun
(2) : a felt or paper disk used to separate the components of a shotgun cartridge
c. : a small mass of a chewing substance
a wad of gum
2. : a considerable amount (as of money)
3.
a. : a roll of paper money
b. : money
II. transitive verb
( wad·ded ; wad·ding )
Date: 1579
1.
a. : to insert a wad into
wad a gun
b. : to hold in by a wad
wad a bullet in a gun
2. : to form into a wad or wadding ; especially : to roll or crush into a tight wad
3. : to stuff or line with some soft substance
• wad·der noun