Geese

Geese \Geese\ (g[=e]s), n.,
   pl. of {Goose}.
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Goose \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}, {Gosling}.] (Zool.)
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   1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily {Anserin[ae]},
      and belonging to {Anser}, {Branta}, {Chen}, and several
      allied genera. See {Anseres}.
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   Note: The common domestic goose is believed to have been
         derived from the European graylag goose ({Anser
         anser}). The bean goose ({A. segetum}), the American
         wild or Canada goose ({Branta Canadensis}), and the
         bernicle goose ({Branta leucopsis}) are well known
         species. The American white or snow geese and the blue
         goose belong to the genus {Chen}. See {Bernicle},
         {Emperor goose}, under {Emperor}, {Snow goose}, {Wild
         goose}, {Brant}.
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   2. Any large bird of other related families, resembling the
      common goose.
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   Note: The Egyptian or fox goose ({Alopochen Aegyptiaca}) and
         the African spur-winged geese ({Plectropterus}) belong
         to the family {Plectropterid[ae]}. The Australian
         semipalmated goose ({Anseranas semipalmata}) and Cape
         Barren goose ({Cereopsis Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}) are
         very different from northern geese, and each is made
         the type of a distinct family. Both are domesticated in
         Australia.
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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.
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            The pictures placed for ornament and use,
            The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
                                                  --Goldsmith.
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   {A wild goose chase}, an attempt to accomplish something
      impossible or unlikely of attainment.

   {Fen goose}. See under {Fen}.

   {Goose barnacle} (Zool.), any pedunculated barnacle of the
      genus {Anatifa} or {Lepas}; -- called also {duck
      barnacle}. See {Barnacle}, and {Cirripedia}.

   {Goose cap}, a silly person. [Obs.] --Beau. & .

   {Goose corn} (Bot.), a coarse kind of rush ({Juncus
      squarrosus}).

   {Goose feast}, Michaelmas. [Colloq. Eng.]

   {Goose grass}. (Bot.)
      (a) A plant of the genus {Galium} ({G. Aparine}), a
          favorite food of geese; -- called also {catchweed} and
          {cleavers}.
      (b) A species of knotgrass ({Polygonum aviculare}).
      (c) The annual spear grass ({Poa annua}).

   {Goose neck}, anything, as a rod of iron or a pipe, curved
      like the neck of a goose; specially (Naut.), an iron hook
      connecting a spar with a mast.

   {Goose quill}, a large feather or quill of a goose; also, a
      pen made from it.

   {Goose skin}. See {Goose flesh}, above.

   {Goose tongue} (Bot.), a composite plant ({Achillea
      ptarmica}), growing wild in the British islands.

   {Sea goose}. (Zool.) See {Phalarope}.

   {Solan goose}. (Zool.) See {Gannet}.
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