goat
goat Lexical Profile
goat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hardy domesticated ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, typically having backward-curving horns and a beard, kept widely for its milk, meat, and hair.
"The farmer milked the goat early every morning to make fresh cheese."
An individual who is considered the absolute best in their particular field, sport, or discipline (often stylized as G.O.A.T., standing for 'Greatest Of All Time').
"Many sports analysts consider her to be the goat of women's tennis due to her unparalleled record of Grand Slam titles."
North American A person who is unfairly blamed for a loss, failure, or mistake; a scapegoat.
"After dropping the crucial pass in the final seconds of the championship, he went from hero to goat in the eyes of the fans."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern usage, 'goat' can carry opposite connotations depending on the context: it can refer to a person blamed for a failure (a scapegoat), or as a contemporary acronym (G.O.A.T.), it stands for 'Greatest Of All Time'.
• Rhymes for goat
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'gāt', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'geit' and German 'Geiß'.