from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bernicle \Ber"ni*cle\, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac;
prob. fr. LL. bernacula for hibernicula, bernicula, fr.
Hibernia; the birds coming from Hibernia or Ireland. Cf. 1st
{Barnacle}.]
A bernicle goose. [Written also {barnacle}.]
[1913 Webster]
{Bernicle goose} (Zool.), a goose ({Branta leucopsis}), of
Arctic Europe and America. It was formerly believed that
it hatched from the cirripeds of the sea ({Lepas}), which
were, therefore, called barnacles, goose barnacles, or
Anatifers. The name is also applied to other related
species. See {Anatifa} and {Cirripedia}.
[1913 Webster]