1724 W. Stukeley I. 29 Making a procession to this hill with may gads (as they call them) in their hands, this is a white willow wand the bark peel'd off, ty'd round with cowslips.
1848 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. i. 4 Boys, with their May-gads (peeled willow wands twined with cowslips).