Geiß

See also: Geiss and géiss

German

Alternative forms

• Geiss (Switzerland, Liechtenstein)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old High German geiz, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *gaits, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰayd-. Cognate with Dutch geit, English goat, Danish ged, Icelandic geit, Swedish get, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍃 (gaits); and with Latin haedus (“kid”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡaɪ̯s/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Geiß f (genitive Geiß, plural Geißen, diminutive Geißlein n)

1. (regional) goat (species)

   Synonym: Ziege

2. (regional) she-goat

   Synonyms: Zicke, Ziege

   Antonyms: Geißbock, Ziegenbock

3. female roe deer

   Synonym: Ricke

   Antonym: Rehbock

Usage notes

In standard German, the word is now widely restricted to southern Germany and Austria, although many dialects in northern and central Germany have also traditionally used Geiß or cognates thereof (compare Dutch geit). The derivative Geißbock (“billy goat”) remains somewhat more widespread than Geiß itself.

Derived terms

• Geißbock m

See also

• Bock m
• Zicke f
• Ziegenbock f

Further reading

• “Geiß” in Duden online