wad (wŏd)
n.

1. A small mass of soft material, often folded or rolled, used for padding, stuffing, or packing.
2. A compressed ball, roll, or lump, as of tobacco or chewing gum.
3. 1. A plug, as of cloth or paper, used to retain a powder charge in a muzzleloading gun or cannon.
   2. A disk, as of felt or paper, used to keep the powder and shot in place in a shotgun cartridge.
4. Informal. A large amount: a wad of troubles.
5. Informal.
   1. A sizable roll of paper money.
   2. A considerable amount of money.

v., wad·ded, wad·ding, wads.

v.tr.

1. To compress into a wad.
2. To pad, pack, line, or plug with wadding.
3. 1. To hold (shot or powder) in place with a wad.
   2. To insert a wad into (a firearm).

v.intr.
To form into a wad.

[Origin unknown.]

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---