|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
goose
goose common name for large wild and domesticated swimming birds related to the duck and the swan. Strictly speaking, the term goose is applied to the female and gander to the male. In North America the wild (or Canada) goose, Branta canadensis, is known by its honking call and by the migrating V-shaped flocks in spring and fall. Other wild geese are the brant (any species of the genus Branta, particularly B. bernicla ) and the blue, snow, and white-fronted (or laughing) geese. Among the domestic geese are the popular Toulouse (or gray) goose (descended from the graylag, Anser anser, of Europe), the African goose, the Embden goose, and the Asian breeds (developed from the wild Chinese goose). Geese were raised in ancient times by the Romans and other Europeans and were sacred in Egypt 4,000 years ago. Forcible feeding is used to fatten geese and to enlarge the liver for use in making pâté de foie gras. Geese are classifed in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. |
|
|
Cite this article
"goose." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "goose." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-goose.html "goose." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-goose.html |
|
goose
goose the goose is proverbially contrasted with the swan as being the clumsier, less elegant, and less distinguished bird; it is also traditionally taken as a type of stupidity and folly.
A goose is the emblem of St Werburga, a Mercian princess and nun (d. c.700), who in her legend is said to have brought a goose back to life, St Bridget of Ireland, and St Martin of Tours. goose-girl a girl employed to tend geese, in fairy stories the type of the peasant girl who marries a prince. goose-step a military marching step in which the legs are not bent at the knee, especially associated with German militarism. See also geese, golden goose, kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, Mother Gooseat mother, what's sauce for the goose, wild goose chase. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "goose." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "goose." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-goose.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "goose." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-goose.html |
|
goose
goose / goōs/ • n. (pl. geese / gēs/ ) 1. a large waterbird (esp. the genera Anser and Branta), with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short broad bill. Generally geese are larger than ducks and have longer necks and shorter bills. ∎ the female of such a bird. ∎ the flesh of a goose as food. 2. inf. a foolish person. • v. [tr.] inf. 1. poke (someone) between the buttocks. 2. give (something) a boost; invigorate; increase: goosing up ticket sales. PHRASES: cook someone's goosesee cook. ORIGIN: Old English gōs, of Germanic origin. |
|
|
Cite this article
"goose." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "goose." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-goose.html "goose." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-goose.html |
|
goose
goose Widely distributed waterfowl, related to the duck and swan. Geese have blunt bills, long necks, shortish legs, webbed feet and, in the wild, a combination of grey, brown, black and white dense plumage underlaid by down. They live near fresh or brackish water and spend time on land, grazing on meadow grasses. Wild geese breed in colonies, mate for life, and build grass-and-twig, down-lined nests for 3–12 eggs. They migrate in summer, flying in skeins in V-formation. There are 14 species. Weight: 1.4–5.9kg (3–13lb). Family Anatidae.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"goose." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "goose." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-goose.html "goose." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-goose.html |
|
goose
goose Domesticated water‐fowl, Anser anser. A 150‐g portion is a rich source of protein, iron, vitamins B2, B6, B12, and niacin; a good source of vitamin B1, copper, and zinc; contains more than 30 g of fat, of which one‐third is saturated; supplies 470 kcal (1970 kJ).
|
|
|
Cite this article
DAVID A. BENDER. "goose." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "goose." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-goose.html DAVID A. BENDER. "goose." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-goose.html |
|
goose
goose. pl. geese OE. gōs, pl. gēs = MLG. gōs, (M)Du., (O)HG. gans, ON. gás :- Gmc. *ʒans- :- IE. *ĝhans-, whence also L. anser (:- *hanser), Gr. khḗn, Skr. haṃsá-, Lith. žąsis goose, OIr. géis swan.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "goose." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "goose." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-goose.html T. F. HOAD. "goose." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-goose.html |
|
goose
goose See ANATIDAE.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "goose." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "goose." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-goose.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "goose." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-goose.html |
|
goose
goose
•abstruse, abuse, adduce, Ballets Russes, Belarus, Bruce, burnous, caboose, charlotte russe, conduce, deduce, deuce, diffuse, douce, educe, excuse, goose, induce, introduce, juice, Larousse, loose, luce, misuse, moose, mousse, noose, obtuse, Palouse, papoose, produce, profuse, puce, recluse, reduce, Rousse, seduce, sluice, Sousse, spruce, traduce, truce, use, vamoose, Zeus
•cayuse • calaboose • mongoose
•Aarhus • verjuice • couscous
•footloose • ventouse • refuse
•Odysseus • Idomeneus • hypotenuse
•Syracuse
|
|
|
Cite this article
"goose." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "goose." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-goose.html "goose." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-goose.html |
|