Wad

(wŏd), n. [Sw. vadd, Dan. vat, D. & Ger. watte, allied to A-S. wæd, garment, clothing, weeds, O. H. Ger. wāt, garment, L. Ger. waad, gewaad.]

1. A little mass, tuft, or bundle, as of hay or tow.
2. Especially, a little mass of some soft or flexible material, such as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope-yarn, used for stopping the charge of powder in a gun and pressing it close to the shot, or for keeping the powder and shot close, or, also, to diminish or avoid the effects of windage; hence, a soft mass, especially of some loose, fibrous substance, used for various purposes, as for stopping an aperture, or the like.

[imp. & p. p. WADDED; p. pr. & vb. n. WADDING.]

1. To form into a mass or wad, or into wadding; as, to wad tow or cotton.
2. To insert or crowd a wad into; as, to wad a gun; also, to stuff or line with some soft substance, or wadding, like cotton, &c.; as, to wad a pelisse.