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.

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.

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.