Etymology Inherited from Middle English goot, got, gat, from Old English gāt, from Proto-West Germanic *gait, from Proto-Germanic *gaits, from a substrate language. The sense of lecherous man derives from the slang expression "horny as a goat".
1
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 continuously1918, Agricultural Experiment Station, Director's Biennial Report, page 51:
2
To scapegoat.
John Rocker, meanwhile, was spared from getting goated because he didn't blow a save2001 July 15, “A worthy Rusch to judgment”, in USA Today:
3
To isolate (an opposing blocker) behind one's own blockers, so as to slow down the pack.
GOAT
noun
Etymology Abbreviation.
1
Abbreviation, Acronym, Slang Acronym of greatest of all time.
Messi is the GOAT of football.
2
Government, PoliticsUK, Informal 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.2009, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee, Good government: eighth report of session 2008-09, volume 2
Lord Jones of Birmingham, aka Digby Jones, the former director general of the CBI, said that in his year in the government as a so-called GOAT (a member of the Government Of All The Talents) he found the civil service to be 'honest, stuffed full of decent people who work hard'.2010, Philip Johnston, Bad Laws:
1 more example
2011, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee, Bernard Jenkin, Smaller Government: Report, Together with Formal Minutes One of the problems with the GOATs was that the parliamentary and political role was undersold to them.
Etymology Inherited from Middle English goot, got, gat, from Old English gāt, from Proto-West Germanic *gait, from Proto-Germanic *gaits, from a substrate language. The sense of lecherous man derives from the slang expression "horny as a goat".
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.1980, AA book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 164:
Folkestone: Network Rail and the White Cliffs Countryside Project have procured a herd of goats to keep vegetation on the slopes of Folkestone Warren under control, and to encourage rare species.2025 February 5, Howard Johnston, “Regional News: Southern”, in RAIL, number 1028, page 22:
2
The meat of these animals.
Hungrily, by firelight, we set to with damper and cold goat washed down by hot tea.1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 239:
Joshua could not stop himself from scooping more goat on his plate: Paul had cooked it so long that the meat seemed to melt like hot, syrupy candy in his mouth. Joshua remembered goat as a stringy dark meat, but the red spicy mass before him was nothing like he recalled.2008, Jesmyn Ward, Where the Line Bleeds, Bloomsbury (2018), page 157:
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.2008 August 6, “Tigers already miss Jones”, in Royal Oak Daily Tribune, Michigan:
1997, "1997 World Series", Game 7, bottom 11th inning, TV broadcast on NBC Sports, early morning October 27, 1997; words by Bob Costas Tony Fernández, who has worn hero's laurels throughout the postseason including earlier in this seventh game of the World Series, now cruel as it may seem, perhaps being fitted for goat horns.
A person who is not easily understood by a speech recognition system; contrasted with sheep.
Speech recognition
7
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.”2008, Ned B. Ricks, Trusting Appearances: Things Are Not Always as They Seem, page 259:
...Butch was the goat in that deal and innocent of the trap he was placed in.2013, Larry Pointer, In Search of Butch Cassidy:
1 more example
“If Osterman wants to play the goat, why should you help him out?”2013, Frank Norris, The Octopus:
8
A blocker who is isolated behind the opposing team's blockers, so as to slow down the pack.