goat

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Any hoofed mammal of the genus Capra.

   The first thing that greets you on entering the church is a notice asking you not to vex the goat, since it renders valuable service in keeping the churchyard tidy.

2. 2
   noun

   A scapegoat.

   Fernando Rodney, the goat in Sunday's 10th inning loss to Tampa Bay, threw three nearly perfect innings in relief on Tuesday after being demoted from the closer role.

3. 3
   noun

   A fool, loser, or object of ridicule.

   Samaurez said over his shoulder, “In fact, I missed being the class goat by only three places.” Gwen patted his arm, “But, look H-Two, George Pickett was the goat and see how famous he became.”

4. 4
   verb

   To allow goats to feed on.

   Rape and clover has yielded 283 sheep days of pasture, practically dry weather […] For the coming year it is planned to goat this area continuously

5. 5
   verb

   To scapegoat.

   John Rocker, meanwhile, was spared from getting goated because he didn't blow a save

6. 6
   noun

   Alternative form of gote (“sluice, waterway”).

   ... the present new Sluice or Goat (as they call it) at the end of Hamorebeck, at its fall into Boston Haven, taking up the foundation of the old Goat, they met with the roots of Trees, many of them issuing from their several[…]

7. 7
   noun

   Acronym of greatest of all time.

   Messi is the GOAT of football.

8. 8
   noun

   A member of the "government of all the talents" proposed by British prime minister Gordon Brown.

   The best talents; of course he was a GOAT.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *grautaz Proto-West Germanic *graut Old English grēat Middle English grete English great Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *-tHós Proto-Indo-European *-istHos Proto-Germanic *-istaz Proto-West Germanic *-ist Old English -est Middle English -est English -est English greatest Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Germanic *ab Proto-West Germanic *ab Old English æf Old English of Middle English of English of Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-West Germanic *all Old English eall Middl…