Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Goose?

\Goose\ (g[=oo]s), n.; pl. {Geese} (g[=e]s). [OE. gos, AS. g[=o]s, pl. g[=e]s; akin to D. & G. gans, Icel. g[=a]s, Dan. gaas, Sw. g[*a]s, Russ. guse. OIr. geiss, L. anser, for hanser, Gr. chh`n, Skr. ha[.m]sa. [root]233. Cf. {Gander}, {Gannet}, {Ganza}, {Gosling}.] (Zo["o]l.) 1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily {Anserin[ae]}, and belonging to {Anser}, {Branta}, {Chen}, and several allied genera. See {Anseres}. Note: 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. Note: The Egyptian or fox goose ({Alopochen [AE]gyptiaca}) and the African spur-winged geese ({Plectropterus}) belong to the family {Plectropterid[ae]}. The Australian semipalmated goose ({Anseranas semipalmata}) and Cape Barren goose ({Cereopsis Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}) 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 goose. --Goldsmith. {A wild goose chase}, an attempt to accomplish something impossible or unlikely of attainment. {Fen goose}. See under {Fen}. {Goose barnacle} (Zo["o]l.), 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 flesh}, a peculiar roughness of the skin produced by cold or fear; -- called also {goose skin}. {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}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Phalarope}. {Solan goose}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Gannet}.