Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Goose
Goose
(goōs)
, Noun.
pl.
Geese
(gēs)
. [OE.
gos
, AS. gōs
, pl. gēs
; akin to D. & G. gans
, Icel. gās
, Dan. gaas
, Sw. gås
, Russ. guse
. OIr. geiss
, L. anser
, for hanser
, Gr. χήν
, Skr. haṃsa
. √233. Cf. Gander
, Gannet
, Ganza
, Gosling
.] (Zool.)
1.
Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily
Anserinæ
, and belonging to Anser
, Branta
, Chen
, and several allied genera. See Anseres
. ☞ The common domestic goose is believed to have been derived from the European graylag goose (
Anser anser
). The bean goose (A. segetum
), the American wild or Canada goose (Branta Canadensis
), and the bernicle goose (Branta leucopsis
) are well known species. The American white or snow geese and the blue goose belong to the genus Chen
. See Bernicle
, Emperor goose
, under Emperor
, Snow goose
, Wild goose
, Brant
. 2.
Any large bird of other related families, resembling the common goose.
☞ The Egyptian or fox goose (
Alopochen Aegyptiaca
) and the African spur-winged geese (Plectropterus
) belong to the family Plectropteridæ
. The Australian semipalmated goose (Anseranas semipalmata
) and Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis Novæ-Hollandiæ
) are very different from northern geese, and each is made the type of a distinct family. Both are domesticated in Australia. 3.
A tailor’s smoothing iron, so called from its handle, which resembles the neck of a goose.
4.
A silly creature; a simpleton.
5.
A game played with counters on a board divided into compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
The pictures placed for ornament and use,
The twelve good rules, the royal game of
The twelve good rules, the royal game of
goose
. Goldsmith.
A wild goose chase
, an attempt to accomplish something impossible or unlikely of attainment.
– Fen goose
. See under
– Fen
. Goose barnacle
(Zool.)
, any pedunculated barnacle of the genus
– Anatifa
or Lepas
; – called also duck barnacle
. See Barnacle
, and Cirripedia
. Goose cap
, a silly person.
[Obs.]
Beau. & .
– Goose corn
(Bot.)
, a coarse kind of rush (
– Juncus squarrosus
). Goose feast
, Michaelmas.
[Colloq. Eng.]
– Goose grass
. (Bot.)
(a)
A plant of the genus
Galium
(G. Aparine
), a favorite food of geese; – called also catchweed
and cleavers
. (b)
A species of knotgrass (
Polygonum aviculare
). (c)
The annual spear grass (
– Poa annua
). Goose neck
, anything, as a rod of iron or a pipe, curved like the neck of a goose; specially
– (Naut.)
, an iron hook connecting a spar with a mast. Goose quill
, a large feather or quill of a goose; also, a pen made from it.
– Goose skin
. See
– Goose flesh
, above. Goose tongue
(Bot.)
, a composite plant (
– Achillea ptarmica
), growing wild in the British islands. Sea goose
. (Zool.)
See
– Phalarope
. Solan goose
. (Zool.)
See
Gannet
.Webster 1828 Edition
Goose
GOOSE
,Noun.
1.
A well known aquatic fowl of the genus Anas; but the domestic goose lives chiefly on land, and feeds on grass. The soft feathers are used for beds, and the quills for pens. The wild goose is migratory.2.
A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle which resembles the neck of a goose.