n. 1 a a hardy lively frisky short-haired domesticated mammal, Capra aegagrus, having horns and (in the male) a beard, and kept for its milk and meat. b either of two similar mammals, the mountain goat and the Spanish goat. 2 any other mammal of the genus Capra, including the ibex. 3 a lecherous man. 4 colloq. a foolish person. 5 (the Goat) the zodiacal sign or constellation Capricorn. 6 US a scapegoat. get a person's goat colloq. irritate a person. goat-antelope any antelope-like member of the goat family, including the chamois and goral. goat-god Pan. goat moth any of various large moths of the family Cossidae. goat's-beard 1 a meadow plant, Tragopogon pratensis. 2 a herbaceous plant, Aruncus dioicus, with long plumes of white flowers. goatish adj. goaty adj.
[ OE gat she-goat f. Gmc ]