What does the root word cad means?

The root word "cad" doesn't actually stand alone. It's a shortened form of the word "caddie", which originally referred to a person who carried clubs for a golfer.

However, the word "cad" itself has evolved to mean a disreputable or unprincipled man, someone considered rude or dishonest. This meaning comes from the association of caddies as lower-class individuals who were sometimes seen as untrustworthy.

So, while "cad" is derived from "caddie," its meaning has shifted over time to represent a negative character trait.