goose \goose\ g=oos, n.; pl. geese g=es. oe. gos, as.
   g=os, pl. g=es; akin to d.  g. gans, icel. g=as, dan.
   gaas, sw. gas, russ. guse. oir. geiss, l. anser, for
   hanser, gr. chh`n, skr. ha.msa. root233. cf. gander,
   gannet, ganza, gosling. zool.
   1913 webster
   1. any large web-footen bird of the subfamily anserinae,
      and belonging to anser, branta, chen, and several
      allied genera. see anseres.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

   2. any large bird of other related families, resembling the
      common goose.
      1913 webster

   note: the egyptian or fox goose alopochen aegyptiaca and
         the african spur-winged geese plectropterus belong
         to the family plectropteridae. the australian
         semipalmated goose anseranas semipalmata and cape
         barren goose cereopsis novae-hollandiae are
         very different from northern geese, and each is made
         the type of a distinct family. both are domesticated in
         australia.
         1913 webster

   3. a tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle,
      which resembles the neck of a goose.
      1913 webster

   4. a silly creature; a simpleton.
      1913 webster

   5. a game played with counters on a board divided into
      compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
      1913 webster

            the pictures placed for ornament and use,
            the twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
                                                  --goldsmith.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
geese gander gannet ganza gosling anserinae 
anser branta chen anseres anser anser 
a. segetum branta canadensis branta leucopsis bernicle emperor goose 
emperor snow goose wild goose brant alopochen aegyptiaca 
plectropterus plectropteridae anseranas semipalmata cereopsis novae-hollandiae a wild goose chase 
fen goose fen goose barnacle anatifa lepas 
duck barnacle barnacle cirripedia goose cap goose corn 
juncus squarrosus goose feast goose grass galium g. aparine 
catchweed cleavers polygonum aviculare poa annua goose neck 
goose quill goose skin goose flesh goose tongue achillea ptarmica 
sea goose phalarope solan goose 

spur-winged \spur"-winged`\ -wi^ngd`, a. zool.
   having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings.
   1913 webster

   spur-winged goose zool., any one of several species of
      long-legged african geese of the genus plectropterus and
      allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the
      wing, as the gambo goose plectropterus gambensis and
      the egyptian, or nile, goose alopochen aegyptiaca.

   spur-winged plover zool., an old world plover
      hoplopterus spinosus having a sharp spur on the bend
      of the wing. it inhabits northern africa and the adjacent
      parts of asia and europe.
      1913 webster
see also:
spur-winged goose plectropterus plectropterus gambensis alopochen aegyptiaca spur-winged plover hoplopterus spinosus