01 n. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserinæ, and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several allied genera. See Anseres.
pl.
Geese ((gēs))
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1.
Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserinæ, and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several allied genera. See Anseres. See: Anseres
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2.
Any large bird of other related families, resembling the common goose.
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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.“The pictures placed for ornament and use, The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.” — Goldsmith.
Phrases & compounds
A wild goose chase —
an attempt to accomplish something impossible or unlikely of attainment.
Fen goose —
See under Fen.
Goose barnacle —
any pedunculated barnacle of the genus Anatifa or Lepas; -- called also duck barnacle. See Barnacle, and Cirripedia.
Goose cap —
a silly person.
Goose corn —
a coarse kind of rush (Juncus squarrosus).
Goose feast —
Michaelmas.
Goose grass —
A plant of the genus Galium (G. Aparine), a favorite food of geese; -- called also catchweed and cleavers.
Goose neck —
anything, as a rod of iron or a pipe, curved like the neck of a goose;
Goose quill —
a large feather or quill of a goose; also, a pen made from it.
Goose skin —
See Goose flesh, above.
Goose tongue —
a composite plant (Achillea ptarmica), growing wild in the British islands.
Sea goose —
See Phalarope.
Solan goose —
See Gannet.