gosling

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Archived revision by 122.56.78.137 (talk) as of 03:28, 13 November 2019.
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See also: Gosling

English

Two geese with four goslings.

Etymology

From Late Middle English gosling, goselyng (gosling), alteration (due to Middle English goos, gose (goose)) of earlier gesling (gosling), of (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "gmq" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. origin, from Old Norse gæsling, géslingr (gosling), from gás (goose) + -lingr (-ling), equivalent to goose +‎ -ling. Cognate with Danish gæsling (gosling), Swedish gässling (gosling). Compare also Low German gossel, gössel (gosling), German Gänslein (gosling).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ɡɒzlɪŋ/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ɡɑzlɪŋ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

gosling (plural goslings)

  1. A young goose.
    Synonym: gooseling
    • 1988, Bruce Chatwin, Utz, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN; republished London: Vintage Books, 2005, →ISBN, page 50:
      Marta's gander was a magnificent snow-white bird: the object of terror to foxes, children and dogs. She had reared him as a gosling; and whenever he approached, he would let fly a low contented burble and sidle his neck around her thighs.
  2. A callow (inexperienced, immature)), or foolish and naive, young person.
  3. (dated) A catkin on nut trees and pines.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bailey to this entry?)

Coordinate terms

Translations

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Middle English

Noun

gosling

  1. Alternative form of goselyng