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.Definition 2024
goose
goose
English
Noun
Flying goose
goose (plural geese)
- Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, which have feathers and webbed feet and are capable of flying, swimming, and walking on land, and which are bigger than ducks.
- There is a flock of geese on the pond.
- The flesh of the goose used as food.
- 1843, Charles Dickens, “Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits”, in A Christmas Carol:
- Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table; the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves, and mounting guard upon their posts, crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped.
-
- (slang) A silly person.
- 1906, Langdon Mitchell, “The New York Idea”, in John Gassner, editor, Best Plays of the Early American Theatre, 1787-1911, published 2000, ISBN 0486410986, page 430:
- I'm sorry for you, but you're such a goose.
-
- (archaic) A tailor's iron, heated in live coals or embers, used to press fabrics.
- a. 1606, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II Scene 3:
- Come in, tailor. Here you may roast your goose.
- a. 1606, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II Scene 3:
- (South Africa, slang, dated) A young woman or girlfriend.
Usage notes
- A male goose is called a gander. A young goose is a gosling.
- A group of geese can be called a gaggle when they are on the ground or in the water, and a skein or a wedge when they are in flight.
Synonyms
- (tailor's iron): goose iron
Derived terms
Terms derived from goose
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Translations
a grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae
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See also
Verb
goose (third-person singular simple present gooses, present participle goosing, simple past and past participle goosed)
- (slang) To sharply poke or pinch someone's buttocks. Derived from a goose's inclination to bite at a retreating intruder's hindquarters.
- To stimulate, to spur.
- (slang) To gently accelerate an automobile or machine, or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
- (British slang) Of private-hire taxi drivers, to pick up a passenger who has not pre-booked a cab. This is unauthorised under UK licensing conditions.