goose

goose
goose "a large waterfowl proverbially noted, I know not why, for foolishness" [Johnson], O.E. gos, from P.Gmc. *gans- "goose" (Cf. O.Fris. gos, O.N. gas, O.H.G. gans, Ger. Gans "goose"), from PIE *ghans- (Cf. Skt. hamsah, masc., hansi, fem., "goose, swan;" Gk. khen; L. anser; Pol. gęś "goose;" Lith. zasis "goose;" O.Ir. geiss "swan"), probably imitative of its honking. Sp. ganso "goose" is from a Germanic source. Loss of "n" sound is normal before "s." Plural form geese is an example of ↑http://www.etymonline.com/imutate.php i-mutation.
Meaning "simpleton" is from 1540s. The verbal meaning "jab in the rear" (c.1880) is possibly from resemblance of the upturned thumb to a goose's beak. To cook one's goose first attested 1845, of unknown origin; attempts to connect it to Swedish history and Greek fables have been unconvincing. Goose egg "zero" first attested 1866 in baseball slang. The goose that laid the golden egg is from Aesop.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Goose — steht für Goose (Band) belgische Elektro Rock und Dance Punk Band GOOSE Generic Object Oriented Substation Events, Netzwerkprotokoll das Wasserflugzeug Grumman G 21 Siehe auch XSM 73 Goose Goose Island Blue Goose Grey Goose Goose Creek …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • goose — UK US /guːs/ noun [C] ● the goose that lays the golden egg(s) Cf. the goose that lays the golden eggs ● kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s) Cf. kill the goose that lays the golden eggs …   Financial and business terms

  • goose — [go͞os] n. pl. for 1 3, geese; for 4 & 5, gooses [ME gose < OE gos, akin to Du & Ger gans, ON gas < IE * ĝhans > L anser; GOOSE vt. 1 prob. for the fact that geese sometimes attack children from the rear] 1. any of various long necked,… …   English World dictionary

  • Goose — (spr. Guhs), 1) Insel an der Südküste von Australien; 2) östliches Cap der Nordwestküste Neufoundlands; 3) (Goose Creek, spr. G. Krieck), Fluß im Staate Virginia (Nordamerika), entspringt[472] in der Grafschaft Fauquier u. fällt in den Potomac… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Goose — est un groupe de rock electro belge originaire de Courtrai. Il fut formé en 2000 par Mickael Karkousse, Dave Martijn, Tom Coghe et Bert Libeert. Leur single Audience fut diffusé à travers toute l Europe par Coca Cola dans une de leurs campagnes… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • goose — ► NOUN (pl. geese) 1) a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short, broad bill. 2) the female of such a bird. 3) informal a foolish person. ► VERB informal ▪ poke (someone) in the bottom. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • Goose — Taxobox name = Goose image width = 240px image caption = Canada Goose, Branta canadensis regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves superordo = Galloanserae ordo = Anseriformes familia = Anatidae subfamilia = Anserinae tribus = Anserini… …   Wikipedia

  • goose — gooselike, adj. /goohs/, n., pl. geese for 1, 2, 4, 8, 9; gooses for 5 7; v., goosed, goosing. n. 1. any of numerous wild or domesticated, web footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, esp. of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are… …   Universalium

  • goose — I UK [ɡuːs] / US [ɡus] noun Word forms goose : singular goose plural geese UK [ɡiːs] / US [ɡɪs] 1) a) [countable/uncountable] a large white or grey bird with a long beak called a bill. A male goose is called a gander and a young goose is called a …   English dictionary

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