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}.] (Zool.)
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1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily {Anserinae},
and belonging to {Anser}, {Branta}, {Chen}, and several
allied genera. See {Anseres}.
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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}.
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2. Any large bird of other related families, resembling the
common goose.
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Note: The Egyptian or fox goose ({Alopochen Aegyptiaca}) and
the African spur-winged geese ({Plectropterus}) belong
to the family {Plectropteridae}. The Australian
semipalmated goose ({Anseranas semipalmata}) and Cape
Barren goose ({Cereopsis Novae-Hollandiae}) are
very different from northern geese, and each is made
the type of a distinct family. Both are domesticated in
Australia.
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3. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle,
which resembles the neck of a goose.
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4. A silly creature; a simpleton.
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5. A game played with counters on a board divided into
compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
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The pictures placed for ornament and use,
The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
--Goldsmith.
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{A wild goose chase}, an attempt to accomplish something
impossible or unlikely of attainment.
{Fen goose}. See under {Fen}.
{Goose barnacle} (Zool.), 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 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}. (Zool.) See {Phalarope}.
{Solan goose}. (Zool.) See {Gannet}.
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