goose
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[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
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Singular |
Plural |
goose (plural geese)
- Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, bigger than a duck
- There is a flock of geese on the pond.
- (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.
- 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:
- (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:
[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
a grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae
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[edit] See also
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to 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.
- (slang) To gently accelerate an automobile or machine, or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
- (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.