goose

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.3.5 See also 1.4 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English gōs, from Germanic *gans, from Indo-European *g̑ʰans-.

• Germanic cognates: Old Frisian gōs, Middle Dutch gans (Dutch gans), Old High German gans (German Gans), Old Norse gás (Swedish gås).
• Other Indo-European cognates: Avestan 𐬰𐬁 (zā), Greek χήν, Latin ānser, Russian гусь (gus'), Latvian zùoss, Old Irish géiss.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /guːs/
• Rhymes: -uːs
•  Audio (UK)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

Wikipedia

goose (plural geese)

1. Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, bigger than a duck

   There is a flock of geese on the pond.

2. (slang) A stupid person
   • 1906, Langdon Mitchell, “The New York Idea”, in John Gassner ed., Best Plays of the Early American Theatre, 1787-1911^[1], ISBN 0486410986, published 2000, page 430:

     I'm sorry for you, but you're such a goose.

3. (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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Synonyms

• (tailor's iron): goose iron

[edit] Derived terms

• gooseneck
• goose egg
• goose pimple
• goose-step
• one's goose is cooked
• Mother Goose
• sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• duck
• swan
• waterfowl

[edit] Verb

to goose (third-person singular simple present gooses, present participle goosing, simple past and past participle goosed)

1. (slang) To sharply poke or pinch someone's buttocks. Derived from a goose's inclination to bite at a retreating intruder's hindquarters.
2. (slang) To gently accelerate an automobile or machine, or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
3. (UK 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.