# wad

> English word · Noun · IPA /wɒd/ · frequency rank #27,022

## Definitions
1. An amorphous, compact mass.
2. A substantial pile (normally of money).
3. A soft plug or seal, particularly as used between the powder and pellets in a shotgun cartridge, or earlier on the charge of a muzzleloader or cannon.
4. A sandwich.
5. An ejaculation of semen.

## Etymology
Probably short for Middle English wadmal (“woolen cloth”), from Old Norse váðmál (“woolen stuff”), from váð (“cloth”) + mál (“measure”). See wadmal.
Cognate with Swedish vadd (“wadding, cotton wool”), German Wat, Watte (“wad, padding, cotton wool”), Dutch lijnwaad, gewaad, watten (“cotton wool”), West Frisian waad, Old English wǣd (“garment, clothing”) (English: weed). More at weed, meal.

## Easily confused with
- **we** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-we)
- **wi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wi)
- **Wu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wu)
- **wo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wo)
- **WC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wc)
- **wt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wt)
- **WS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-ws)
- **WV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wv)
- **WD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wd)
- **WL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wl)
- **wy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wy)
- **WF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wf)
- **was** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-was)
- **who** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-who)
- **way** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-way)
- **why** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-why)
- **war** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-war)
- **win** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-win)
- **won** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-won)
- **wow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wad-vs-wow)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wad