2. Specifically: A little mass of some soft or flexible material, such
as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope yarn, used for retaining a
charge of powder in a gun, or for keeping the powder and shot close;
also, to diminish or avoid the effects of windage. Also, by extension,
a dusk of felt, pasteboard, etc., serving a similar purpose.
3. A soft mass, especially of some loose, fibrous substance, used for
various purposes, as for stopping an aperture, padding a garment, etc.
Wed hook, a rod with a screw or hook at the end, used for removing the
wad from a gun.