You likely have a gadabout in your friend group or one who shows up at family holidays — they’re the people who keep the party alive. They know all the gossip, remember everyone’s birthday, and are always planning the next social event. “Gadabout” comes from the Middle English verb “gad,” meaning “to be on the go without a specific aim or purpose.” It was usually used with “about,” turning the verb phrase into a single word. “Gadabout” can be contrasted with “gadfly,” which means “a person who stimulates or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism.”