Definition

1. Noun:
   • A domesticated ruminant mammal: A goat is a hardy, agile mammal with hollow horns that curve backward, often kept for its milk, wool, or meat. It is closely related to sheep but typically has a beard and straighter horns.
   • A lecherous man: (Informal, often offensive) A man who is overly interested in sex.
   • A scapegoat; a fool: A person who is blamed for something or made to bear the blame for others; also, a person who is the butt of jokes or ridicule.
   • (Capricorn): (Capitalized) The tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat or a sea-goat, which the sun transits approximately from December 22 to January 19.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • The farmer keeps a herd of goats for cheese production.
  • Mountain goats are incredibly sure-footed on steep cliffs.
• Noun (Person - informal/offensive):
  • He was labeled an old goat for his inappropriate comments. (Note: This usage is dated and offensive.)
• Noun (Scapegoat/Fool):
  • He was the goat for the team's loss after missing the final shot.
• Noun (Astrology):
  • Her zodiac sign is Capricorn, the Goat.

Advanced Usage

• "to get someone's goat": To irritate or annoy someone intensely.
  • His constant whistling really gets my goat.
• "to act/play the goat" (British, informal): To behave in a silly or foolish manner.
  • Stop playing the goat and be serious for a moment.

Variants and Related Words

• Goatee (n): A small, pointed beard on a man's chin, resembling the beard of a goat.
  • He grew a neat goatee.
• Goatherd (n): A person who tends goats.
  • The goatherd led his flock up the hill.
• Goatskin (n): The skin of a goat, often used for leather.
  • A bag made of goatskin.

Synonyms

• Animal: Billy goat (male), nanny goat (female), kid (young goat).
• Scapegoat: Fall guy, patsy, whipping boy.
• Fool: Buffoon, clown. (for "play the goat")

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• "To separate the sheep from the goats": To distinguish good people from bad, or the superior from the inferior.
  • The difficult exam will separate the sheep from the goats.

Related Idioms

• "Old goat": (Derogatory) An unpleasant or lecherous old man.
  • He's a grumpy old goat who yells at kids.
• "Giddy goat": (In the phrase "play the giddy goat") To act in a frivolous or silly way.
  • The children were playing the giddy goat in the yard.

Noun

1. the tenth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about December 22 to January 19
2. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Capricorn
3. a victim of ridicule or pranks
4. any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns