My friend tried to use this word the other day, and I put his usage of it to question. So I thought it only fair to look it up. I mean this word in the sense of, as the OED says:
"Manner of walking or stepping, bearing or carriage while moving, walk, step. Also fig., esp in phr. to go one's (own) gait, to go one's own way; to pursue one's own course."
The ultimate etymology of this word isn't really known. It's given connection with Old Norse, Old High German, Old Irish, and a few other languages. It is thought that it might come from the root *ghad which means "to go." I don't know why this seemingly poetic word has gone out of usage, but I admire my friend in his determination to bring the old school back.
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