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dad

Pronunciation: /dæd/

The English word “dad” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A father, a male parent.
  2. Used to address one's father; often capitalized.
  3. Used to address an older adult male.
  4. A lump or piece.
  5. A blow; act of striking something.

verb

  1. To be a father to; to parent.
  2. To act like a dad.
  3. To throw against something; to dash.

Etymology

From Early Modern English dadd, dadde (circa 1500), undoubtedly older, from unrecorded Middle English *dadde, of uncertain ultimate origin. Compare West Frisian deite (“dad, daddy”), Swabian Dede (“Godfather”). * Perhaps of Celtic origin, compare Welsh and Breton tad (from Proto-Brythonic *tad), Old Irish data; and possibly related to Russian дя́дя (djádja, “uncle”) and/or Russian де́душка…

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